STOKE CITY v WEST BROMWICH ALBION
Barclays Premier League
Saturday 29th August 2015, 3:00pm
Britannia Stadium

MATCH NOTES

Saturday's game at the Britannia Stadium will be the 139th competitive meeting between the two sides. The Potters currently have 60 wins to their name compared to the Baggies' 43. There have been 12 Premier League meetings of which Albion have won two and Stoke seven.

Albion's last game on this date came in 2010 when they suffered a 1-0 defeat against Liverpool in a Premier League clash at Anfield, Spanish striker Fernando Torres scoring the only goal of the game.

The Baggies' last victory on August 29 came back in 1998 when two goals from substitute Fabian de Freitas gave Albion a 2-0 win over Norwich City at The Hawthorns in a League Division One encounter.

Stoke's last game on this date came in 2009 when Dave Kitson hit the only goal of the game in a 1-0 win over Sunderland at the Britannia Stadium.

The two clubs have met twice previously on August 29, most recently in 1983 when the Baggies crashed to a 3-1 defeat at the Victoria Ground, Ian Painter (2) and Paul Maguire hitting the hosts' goals whilst Nicky Cross scored Albion's consolation. They also met on this date in 1951 when Albion recorded a 1-0 win at The Hawthorns thanks to a goal from Ronnie Allen.

Stoke have won more Premier League games against Albion (7) than against any other team.

Albion's last six games: Port Vale (H, LC) 0-0 aet, WBA won 5-3 on pens; Chelsea (H) 2-3; Watford (A) 0-0; Manchester City (H) 0-3; Bristol Rovers (A, Fr) 4-0; Walsall (A, Fr) 2-0.

Stoke City's last six games: Luton Town (A, LC) 1-1 aet, Stoke won 8-7 on pens; Norwich City (A) 1-1; Tottenham Hotspur (A) 2-2; Liverpool (H) 0-1; FC Porto (N, Fr) 0-3; FC Koln (A, Fr) 1-2.

TEAM NEWS

Albion

Baggies' boss Tony Pulis has doubts over Chris Brunt (hamstring) and Callum McManaman (knock) ahead of the trip to the Potteries.

Want-away striker Saido Berahino could return to the squad after club chairman Jeremy Peace insisted the player would not be sold.

Former Stoke keeper Ben Foster remains missing with a long-term knee injury.

Stoke City

Summer signing Xherdan Shaqiri could make his home debut for the Potters and Bojan Krkic could make his first league appearance of the season following injury.

Former Hawthorns' favourite Peter Odemwingie is missing due to a hamstring problem whilst Ryan Shawcross remains out due to a back injury.

MATCH ODDS

Result

Albion Win: 16/5, Stoke City Win: 19/20, Draw: 9/4.

First Goalscorer

Albion: Rondon 15/2, Berahino 9/1, Ideye 9/1, Anichebe 9/1, Lambert 9/1, Gnabry 10/1, McManaman 11/1, Gardner 12/1, McClean 12/1, Morrison 12/1, Brunt 25/1, Dawson 25/1, Fletcher 25/1, McAuley 25/1, Yacob 33/1, Chester 33/1, Lescott 33/1.

Stoke City: Diouf 9/2, Joselu 5/1, Crouch 11/2, Shaqiri 11/2, Bojan 6/1, Walters 6/1, Arnautovic 13/2, Adam 15/2, Afellay 9/1, van Ginkel 9/1, Ireland 12/1, Sidwell 14/1, Cameron 25/1, Johnson 25/1, Whelan 25/1, Wollscheid 33/1.

No Goalscorer: 15/2.

www.williamhill.com

REFEREE

Michael Oliver (Northumberland)

Oliver refereed four Albion games last season - the 1-0 win over Stoke at The Hawthorns in March, the 0-0 draw at Everton in January, December's 0-0 draw at Hull City and the 2-1 defeat at Liverpool in October.

The Northumberland official took charge of five Stoke City games during 2014/15 - their 0-0 draw at Burnley in May, the aforementioned defeat to Albion in March, the 1-1 draw at home to Manchester United on New Year's Day, the 2-1 win at home to Swansea City in October and the 1-0 defeat at home to Leicester City in September.

He has refereed two previous Albion v Stoke City games - the 1-0 Albion win at The Hawthorns last season and the 1-1 draw at the Britannia Stadium in February 2011.

Oliver issued 137 yellow cards and six red in the 39 games he officiated last season.

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

TICKET INFORMATION

Albion have been allocated 2,800 tickets priced at £30 adults, £21 seniors (65+), £17 under-17s and £14 for juniors (under-11s).

WEATHER FORECAST

Light cloud, 19°C.

FIXTURE HISTORY

LAST MEETING AT THE BRITANNIA STADIUM

Stoke City 2-0 Albion
Barclays Premier League
Sunday 28th December 2014, 3:00pm

Stoke City: Begovic; Cameron, Shawcross, Muniesa, Pieters; Nzonzi, Whelan (Wilson 85’); Diouf, Bojan (Adam 78’), Arnautovic; Crouch (Walters 63’). Subs not used: Butland, Huth, Assaidi, Shenton.

Goalscorers: Diouf 51 & 66

Albion: Foster, Wisdom, Lescott, McAuley, Baird, Gardner, Morrison (Berahino 63’), Brunt, Dorrans (Mulumbu 79’), Sessegnon (Varela 63’), Ideye. Subs not used: Myhill, Gamboa, Dawson, Yacob. 

Booked: Brunt 67 (foul), Baird 76 (foul)

Attendance: 27,070

Referee: Roger East (Wiltshire)

Alan Irvine's days as West Brom head coach could be numbered after Mame Biram Diouf's second-half brace condemned the Baggies to a 2-0 defeat at Stoke. Diouf slotted home in the 51st minute before a lucky deflection off the Senegal forward from Marko Arnautovic's shot 15 minutes later took the ball past Ben Foster once again. West Brom had put in a creditable away performance up to that point without being able to convert it into goals, and came agonisingly close to scoring between Diouf's two efforts as Gareth McAuley hit the post. But the simple fact was that the Baggies had suffered a seventh loss in nine Barclays Premier League matches, and Irvine's fears about his job will only have deepened. Albion are now 16th, just a point clear of the Barclays Premier League relegation zone, and at the end of a fairly wretched 2014 the club may well be ready for a change at the helm once again. Things look far rosier for Stoke, who are up to 10th having registered back-to-back league wins for the first time this season.

Albion's record signing Brown Ideye was preferred to Saido Berahino in the starting line-up and was presented with an opportunity in the opening few seconds as he latched onto a ball over the top, but the Nigeria international sent his effort off-target. Glenn Murray felt he could have had a penalty after he was challenged by Craig Gardner, and he then brought a save out of Foster with a header that appeared to be going wide anyway. Foster's opposite number Asmir Begovic comfortably dealt with a Stephane Sessegnon attempt before the ball ricocheted to Bojan Krkic on the edge of the Albion box and the Spaniard lashed a shot just wide. A West Brom break saw another chance come Ideye's way in the 18th minute but Begovic denied him with his legs and both sides continued to show a lack of cutting edge. James Morrison's shot was caught by Begovic, Ideye tumbled in the area but play continued and Whelan saw a volley go behind off the head of Joleon Lescott. Baggies skipper Chris Brunt unleashed a swerving strike in the 36th minute that went close but wide, before Sessegnon tried his luck with less accuracy. Whelan got a long-range effort on target towards the end of the half that Foster claimed and Stoke were then relieved after losing possession in their own half to see Gardner loop a shot wide.

It did not take long for the standard of finishing to improve after the interval as Diouf notched his fifth goal of the season. Bojan lofted the ball out wide, Erik Pieters delivered it into the box and Diouf got away from two defenders before slotting in a shot that took a slight deflection off Lescott. The Potters saw two decent chances to extend their advantage go begging in quick succession soon after, both coming from Diouf crosses. The first came to Peter Crouch, who was just unable to finish at the near post as a challenge diverted the ball wide, and it was subsequently Arnautovic unable to capitalise, nodding the delivery wide. Things were looking ominous for West Brom, but - with Berahino having been sent on for Sessegnon - they then almost snatched an equaliser as Begovic parried a Gardner shot and McAuley prodded against the post. Moments later, Stoke had their second goal in somewhat fortunate circumstances, Bojan passing to Arnautovic and his strike taking a deflection off Diouf that deceived Foster. There looked little prospect of West Brom getting back into the match after that and they mustered virtually nothing in terms of posing an attacking threat in the remaining minutes. There were boos from their fans at the final whistle and what appeared to be a barrage of abuse from the away section directed at Irvine as he walked past it and down the tunnel.

 Sporting Life

CURRENT CONNECTIONS

Albion boss Tony Pulis spent two spells as Stoke City manager (2002-05 & 2006-13). He led the Potteries club to the Premier League in 2008 and to the FA Cup Final in 2011.

David Kemp and Gerry Francis have worked on the coaching staff under Pulis at both clubs.

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 and supporters 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: Keith Andrews, George Baddeley, Gary Bannister, Paul Barron, Tommy Broad, Fred Brown, Garth Crooks, Neil Cutler, Bill Davies, Paul Dyson, Wayne Ebanks, Fred Fenton, Graham Fenton, Ross Fielding, Sean Flynn, Peter Ford, Tony Ford, Ricardo Fuller, Marton Fulop, Philip Griffiths, Gary Hackett, Graham Harbey, Willie Hendry, Carl Hoefkens, Paul Holsgrove, Russell Hoult, Geoff Hurst, Joe Johnson, Eric Jones, Tony Kelly, Neil Mackenzie, James O'Connor, Steve Parkin, Paul Peschisolido, Graham Potter, David Powell, Kevin Pressman, Paul Reece, Brian Rice, Fred Rouse, Maurice Setters, Barry Siddall, Larus Sigurdsson, Andy Smith, Andrew Smith, Derek Statham, Mickey Thomas, Arthur Turner, Isaiah Turner and Gavin Ward.

ALL-TIME LEAGUE & CUP RECORD VS STOKE CITY