This game is a special one for both sets of fans as West Brom manager Tony Pulis returns to the Britannia Stadium.
Pulis took the Potters up into the Premier League and in the 2008-09 season they stayed there. Pulis also became the first manager in Stoke’s history to reach an FA Cup final. However, the emotion towards the former manager will only last until kick-off.
West Brom and Stoke are struggling in the league with one and two points respectively. The last league game for Stoke was against Norwich City where they were surprisingly dominated by the Canaries. Norwich were unlucky to not score again as the game ended 1-1.
Chelsea travelled to the Hawthorns and a thrilling encounter ensued. The underdogs held their own against the reigning champions in a 3-2 loss. A win at the Britannia could give one team a kick-start into the season and a loss could keep one team near the bottom of the table.
Key Battle – West Brom’s strike force vs Stoke’s defence
Salomon Rondon and Saido Berahino are at opposite ends of the spectrum. Rondon, having recently moved to the Hawthorns, will be keen to get his first goal for the club after a solid performance against Chelsea. On the other hand, Berahino is of interest to Tottenham and could be leaving the club. Rondon will likely start the match after Pulis declared “he’s (Berahino) not been in the right frame of mind”. Indeed, Berahino was left out of the squad that took on Chelsea and again against Port Vale midweek.
Stoke City’s defence, meanwhile, has been struggling without premier centre-back Ryan Shawcross. In the last two games, opposition players have found it easy to get behind enemy lines without springing the offside trap. Will Stoke’s defence crack under the pressure or will West Brom’s strike force fail to score?
Team News
Bojan Krkic is still recovering from his long-term injury and will play for Stoke’s under-21s against Wolverhampton. Peter Odemwingie could make his return from a hamstring injury, albeit from the bench. Shawcross remains sidelined and will be for some time with a back problem.
Stoke City Expected XI (4-2-3-1): Butland (GK); Johnson, Cameron, Muniesa, Pieters; van Ginkel, Whelan; Shaqiri, Afellay, Arnautovic; Diouf.
The Baggies are faced with some injury worries as well.
“Brunty’s struggling with his hamstring … and Callum (McManaman) is struggling a little bit after playing two games and got a bit of a knock,” Pulis said.
Berahino could be left out again due to the aforementioned transfer saga.
West Bromwich Albion Expected XI (4-2-3-1): Myhill (GK); Dawson, McAuley, Olsson, Lescott; Yacob, Fletcher; Gnabry, Morrison, Sessegnon; Rondon.
Head-to-Head
West Brom have won 43 games versus Stoke City and the Potters have won 60 against the Baggies. The two teams have drawn 35 times.
Previous Meeting
Last time they met was in a Premier League match last season on the 14 March this year. West Brom defeated Stoke 1-0 in a tight encounter. Brown Ideye was the only goalscorer as he ended his goal drought in the 19th minute. This was also the first win for Tony Pulis at West Brom against his former team.
Prediction
Both teams are travelling a similar path in the league but a close, contested match should be the end product. The potters may just shade this one.
Stoke City 1 West Bromwich Albion 0
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