JAYSON’S GOAL-DEN FLEECING

STOKE 1 Brown 30 WEST BROM 2 Molumby 59, 69

MATCH-WINNER Jayson Molumby was pleased as punch to re-ignite West Brom’s play-off hopes.

The Republic of Ireland international midfielder (above) inspired a spirited fightback as the Baggies stunned Stoke for their first away win in seven games.

The Potters led thanks to Jacob Brown’s 30th-minute strike, but Molumby scored twice inside 10 second-half minutes to leave Carlos Corberan’s ambitious side just three points off the top six with five games left.

“It’s a massive win, it keeps our season alive,” Molumby said. “We’re back in the play-off race, we’re still fighting. We need to go on a little run again.

“We had that when the gaffer first came in, a four or five-game winning run.

“That’s what we need now and I’m fully confident that we’re able to do that.”

Brown’s seventh goal of the season, a smart finish from the Scotland international, laid the platform for the Potters to secure their first home win for a month.

But the home side lost their way after the break and Molumby made them pay with two clinical closerange strikes to end a run of four fixtures without a win.

His equaliser got the ball rolling after Brandon Thomas-Asante had struck the bar with a deflected strike. And he netted again when substitute Karlan Grant hit the bar and Molumby was there to fire home the rebound.

“We had to dig deep and fight together,” Molumby added. “The message at half-time was to go for it.”

The Potters’ miserable afternoon got even worse when midfielder Ben Pearson was sent off for a second yellow in stoppage time, just one of a string of decisions from referee Andy Woolmer which infuriated boss Alex Neil.

“The referee’s performance is as poor as I’ve seen at senior level,” he blasted. “He was like a pantomime villain for both teams. There was a lot of frustration and anger at some of his decisions.”