STOKE CITY v WEST BROMWICH ALBION
Barclays Premier League
Sunday 28th December 2014, 3:00pm
Britannia Stadium

MATCH NOTES

Sunday's game at Stoke will be the 137th competitive meeting between the two sides. The Potters currently have 59 wins to their name compared to the Baggies' 42.

Albion's last game on this date came last year when they shared six goals with West Ham United in a 3-3 Premier League draw at Upton Park, the game most remembered for Nicolas Anelka's controversial 'quenelle' gesture.

The Baggies' last victory on December 28 came in 2009 when two goals from Graham Dorrans helped Roberto Di Matteo's team to a 3-1 win over Scunthorpe United in a Championship clash at Glanford Park.

Stoke's last game on this date came in 2010 when they suffered a 2-0 Premier League defeat at home to Fulham.

City have lost their last five games played on December 28, their last victory coming back in 2003 when an Ade Akinbiyi goal gave them a 1-0 win at Burnley in a League Division One fixture.

Only Southampton (8) have conceded fewer league goals away from home than the Baggies (10).

Stoke have only scored nine goals in their eight home league matches. Only three teams (Aston Villa, Burnley & Hull) have scored fewer.

If Chris Brunt is named in the Albion starting line-up, it will be his 150th Premier League start for the club.

Albion's last six games: Manchester City (H) 1-3; Queens Park Rangers (A) 2-3; Aston Villa (H) 1-0; Hull City (A) 0-0; West Ham United (H) 1-2; Arsenal (H) 0-1.

Stoke City's last six games: Everton (A) 1-0; Chelsea (H) 0-2; Crystal Palace (A) 1-1; Arsenal (H) 3-2; Manchester United (A) 1-2; Liverpool (A) 0-1.

TEAM NEWS

Albion

Scotland midfielder Graham Dorrans could return to the Baggies' squad after missing the defeat to Manchester City due to a calf strain.

Jonas Olsson remains out, the Swedish defender still recovering following his Achilles injury.

Stoke City

Boxing Day match-winner Bojan Krkic faces a late fitness test after picking up a back injury in the win at Everton.

Ryan Shawcross should be fit despite suffering a head injury against the Toffees but fellow defender Phil Bardsley is a doubt with an ankle problem.

MATCH ODDS

Result

Albion Win: 16/5, Stoke City Win: EVS, Draw: 21/10.

First Goalscorer

Albion: Berahino 13/2, Ideye 15/2, Anichebe 9/1, Samaras 10/1, Sessegnon 10/1, Gardner 12/1, Blanco 12/1, Varela 12/1, Dorrans 14/1, Brunt 16/1, Morrison 16/1, Dawson 25/1, McAuley 25/1, Mulumbu 25/1, Lescott 28/1, Baird 33/1, Yacob 33/1.

Stoke City: Crouch 5/1, Krkic 11/2, Diouf 11/2, Walters 6/1, Arnautovic 15/2, Adam 9/1, Assaidi 9/1, Ireland 10/1, Shenton 14/1, N'Zonzi 14/1, Cameron 20/1, Bardsley 20/1, Whelan 25/1, Huth 25/1, Shawcross 25/1, Muniesa 33/1, Wilson 33/1, Palacios 33/1.

No Goalscorer: 8/1.

www.williamhill.com

REFEREE

Roger East (Wiltshire)

East has officiated one Baggies' match so far this season - the 0-0 draw at Southampton in August.

He refereed just one Albion game last season - the 0-0 draw with Everton at Goodison Park.

The Wiltshire official last took charge of a Stoke game back in October 2013 - their 1-0 Premier League defeat at Fulham.

East has issued 57 yellow cards and one red in the 14 games he has officiated so far this season.

A full run-down of East's history refereeing the Baggies can be found here

TICKET INFORMATION

Tickets for the game are no longer available through the club but there will be a cash-only turnstile open to visiting supporters on the day.

WEATHER FORECAST

Sunny spells, 1°C.

FIXTURE HISTORY

LAST MEETING AT THE BRITANNIA STADIUM

Stoke City 0-0 Albion
Barclays Premier League
Saturday 19 October 2013, 3:00pm

Stoke City: Begovic; Wilkinson, Shawcross (c), Huth, Pieters; Nzonzi, Adam (Wilson 79); Arnautovic (Palacios 90+2), Ireland, Assaidi; Walters (K Jones 57). Subs not used: Sorensen (gk), Whelan, Crouch, Etherington.

Booked: Wilkinson 73 (foul)

Albion: Myhill; B Jones, McAuley, Olsson (c), Ridgewell; Yacob, Mulumbu; Amalfitano (Morrison 62), Sessegnon, Berahino (Anelka 62); Anichebe (Long 75). Subs not used: L Daniels (gk), Brunt, Vydra, Dawson. 

Attendance: 25,904

Referee: Howard Webb (South Yorkshire)

West Brom were left to curse a penalty decision and a late miss and Stoke to rue a wasted Stephen Ireland chance in a drab goalless draw. The Baggies' Youssouf Mulumbu was unfortunate not to be awarded a spot-kick after being clipped by Charlie Adam in the second half of a dull Barclays Premier League clash at the Britannia Stadium. Ireland could have increased West Brom's ire moments later but blazed over while Stephane Sessegnon could have won it in the last minute when he shot at Asmir Begovic after beating the defence. Despite that a draw was perhaps a fair result for a game that failed to spark, aside from the occasional flashes of excellence from players such as Sessegnon, Ireland and Marko Arnautovic. The result meant goal-shy Stoke have still only struck the net four times this season.

The first half lacked major incident although the visitors, with Sessegnon looking lively, made a promising start. Sessegnon weaved his way through the Stoke box early on but the hard-working Steven Nzonzi got back to end his charge. Sessegnon flashed a snap-shot wide and then almost broke through when he jinked past two tackles after good work by Victor Anichebe and Saido Berahino, but Begovic blocked. Begovic, showing no signs of weariness after an eventful week in which he helped Bosnia qualify for the World Cup, then needed to be alert to deny Morgan Amalfitano. Sessegnon was again at the heart of the attack and could have shot before laying off to Amalfitano, but Begovic rushed out to smother the Frenchman's shot. Stoke realised they needed to cut out the supply to Sessegnon and, with Nzonzi busy in their midfield, they came into the game more. Jonathan Walters had a long-range effort easily saved by Boaz Myhill and Adam headed well over from a corner. A clever free-kick by Arnautovic, played low to Ireland as West Brom lined up expecting a cross, almost paid off but Myhill cut out the Irishman's ball across goal.

The fare improved little after the break and the frustration of both sides was perhaps evident in the increased number of fouls. Adam was perhaps fortunate to escape punishment for catching Sessegnon on the ankle in an incident by the touchline. The Scot got even luckier 10 minutes into the second half when he clipped the heel of Mulumbu in the area. Referee Howard Webb was unmoved, and Mulumbu's theatrical fall and disbelieving reaction may not have helped his cause, but replays did suggest a penalty should have been awarded. Adam almost rubbed salt into West Brom's wounds moments later with a fine ball to release Arnautovic into space down the right. The Austrian picked out Ireland with a superb ball but the midfielder put his first-time shot and a glorious chance over the bar. Adam, as if energised by his reprieve, started to dictate the pace of the game. He even almost caught out Myhill from the halfway line as play broke up but the Wales goalkeeper scrambled back to palm over his spectacular opportunistic effort. Despite that, Adam continued to tread a fine line and manager Mark Hughes decided to replace him after he bundled over Billy Jones to halt a West Brom attack. West Brom tried to change the flow by sending on Nicolas Anelka and Shane Long in attack but Stoke continued to press better. Ireland almost turned provider for Arnautovic but the Austrian was inches away from sliding onto his ball. Sessegnon attempted to test Begovic with a powerful 25-yard shot but the goalkeeper was not troubled. Sessgenon almost grabbed a brilliant winner in the last minute when he weaved his way through the Stoke area but, with just Begovic to beat, he shot into the keeper's midriff.

 Sporting Life

CURRENT CONNECTIONS

Baggies' keeper Ben Foster started his professional career with Stoke but failed to make a single first team appearance.

Boaz Myhill spent a short spell on loan at City from Aston Villa in January 2002 but like Foster failed to make a first team appearance.

City striker Peter Odemwingie spent  three years at The Hawthorns after joining Albion from Lokomotiv Moscow in August 2010. His first two seasons at the club were hugely successful but after falling out with the club's hierarchy he left for Cardiff City in September 2013. Just four months after joining the Welsh side Odemwingie left to join Stoke.

PAST CONNECTIONS

Amongst the players to have turned out at various levels for both clubs are: George Baddeley, Gary Bannister, Paul Barron, Tommy Broad, Fred Brown, Garth Crooks, Neil Cutler, Bill Davies, Paul Dyson, Wayne Ebanks, Fred Fenton, Ross Fielding, Sean Flynn, Tony Ford, Ricardo Fuller, Gary Hackett, Graham Harbey, Willie Hendry, Carl Hoefkens, Russell Hoult, Geoff Hurst, Joe Johnson, Tony Kelly, Neil Mackenzie, Steve Parkin, Paul Peschisolido, Graham Potter, David Powell, Paul Reece, Brian Rice, Fred Rouse, Maurice Setters, Barry Siddall, Larus Sigurdsson, Andy Smith, Andrew Smith, Derek Statham, Mickey Thomas, Isaiah Turner and Gavin Ward.

ALL-TIME LEAGUE & CUP RECORD VS STOKE CITY