PREVIEW: Stoke City vs West Bromwich Albion

Stoke City vs West Bromwich Albion
Saturday 24th September 2016
bet365 Stadium
Kick Off 3.00pm

PLENTY OF POSITIVES will be taken from Stoke City’s EFL Cup clash with Hull City in midweek despite the agonising loss at the end of it.

The Potters were brave on the ball and created enough chances on another occasion to win two or three games in a much improved performance after last weekend’s defeat at Crystal Palace.

Signs are there of a group working for their manager and for one another, with a victory seemingly all that’s needed to propel the Potters onto an upward curve.

Midlands neighbours West Bromwich Albion stand in the way of that this time around and whether it’s through style and substance or grit and graft, Mark Hughes’ side will be desperate to get three points in the bag against the Baggies.

LAST VISIT

Stoke City 0
West Bromwich Albion 1 (Rondon 45+3)

Michael Oliver sent off both Ibrahim Afellay and Charlie Adam in a controversial six minute spell midway through the first half of last season’s corresponding fixture in the Potteries.

Salomon Rondon made matters worse when he headed in his first Baggies goal during stoppage time and despite a spirited effort after the break, the Potters’ nine men were unable to find a way back into the game.

Stoke City: Butland; Johnson (Wilson 63), Cameron, Muniesa, Pieters; Whelan, van Ginkel; Shaqiri (Arnautovic 68), Adam, Afellay; Diouf (Ireland 81). Unused: Given, Joselu, Crouch, Bojan.

MEMORABLE MATCH

Stoke City 4 (Russell 2, Foley, Cranson)
West Bromwich Albion 3 (Taylor 2, Garner)

The Baggies’ trip to the Potteries in September 1992 produced a seven-goal thriller with Bob Taylor breaking the deadlock for the visitors after loan keeper Tony Parks fluffed a clearance on his debut.

Steve Foley levelled proceedings before Kevin Russell put Stoke back ahead just after half-time. Taylor and Simon Garner swung proceedings the other way only for Russell to then score his second of the afternoon shortly afterwards.

Ian Cranson’s bullet header seven minutes from time won it for Lou Macari’s men, however, with the Potters going on to win the Division Two championship with 93 points at the end of the season. West Brom joined the Potters in Division One after navigating their way through the play-offs.

Stoke City: Parks, Butler, Harbey, Cranson, Overson, Sandford, Foley, Ware, Stein, Biggins, Russell.

CONNECTIONS

Peter Odemwingie departed the bet365 Stadium in the summer wondering what might have been had it not been for the serious knee ligament injury suffered whilst in action for the Potters at Manchester City in August 2014.

Prior to that blow he had figured prominently in Mark Hughes’ starting eleven, since his arrival at the Club from Cardiff City in a swap deal that sent Kenwyne Jones in the opposite direction.

Important goals were scored by the Nigerian as he helped Stoke secure their first ever ninth place finish in the Premier League whilst his bubbly personality also made him hugely popular in the first team dressing room.

Prior to his move to Cardiff, Odemwingie enjoyed three fruitful seasons with the Baggies, netting 30 Premier League goals in 87 appearances.

Others to have played for both clubs include Sir Geoff Hurst, Paul Peschisolido, Carl Hoefkens, Larus Sigurdsson, Paul Dyson, Graham Potter, Tony Ford and James O’Connor.

Source://www.stokecityfc.com