Resurgent Stoke exploit Albion’s lack of invention
West Bromwich Albion remain top of the Championship by a point from Leeds, but still cannot shake off the mid-season torpor that has cost them two defeats in their past three matches at the Hawthorns and meant they have won only one of their past eight overall.
They dominated possession, but were a blunt force in attack as Stoke City continued their revival under
Michael O’neill, his side defending an early Tyrese Campbell goal to extend their tally under the Ulsterman to 20 points from 13 matches.
Campbell, who has four goals in his past six appearances, had to withdraw with a hamstring injury before half-time and O’neill was keen to show his appreciation for the young striker, who has been offered a new contract, but is reportedly a target for Rangers and Celtic.
“Tyrese showed his worth,” O’neill said. “We want him to stay. I appreciate he has been frustrated at Stoke in recent seasons because of his lack of game time, but he has had that under me and I see him as part of what I want to build here.”
Slaven Bilic, the Albion manager, spoke about his interest in Dinamo
Zagreb forward Mislav Orsic before the match. On this evidence, he needs to find something that will provide his side with a new spark.
“We will try to get the couple of players we need, but we are still top of the table and the players we have are the ones who got us here and they have to work hard, commit themselves and embrace the challenge to get it back again,” Bilic said.
The wobble has coincided for the most part with the loss to injury of Grady Diangana, the fleet-footed winger they have on loan from West Ham United.
The 21-year-old’s first start in a month ended after less than four minutes after he pulled up in the middle of the field with an injury to the same hamstring that had sidelined him previously.
The Stoke goal also stemmed from an individual mistake, as Jake Livermore gave away possession. Nick Powell released Tom Ince, who had some luck when Ahmed Hegazi’s clearance hit him on the thigh, but then had enough awareness to slide the ball across for Campbell to knock it home.
But the Croatian offered no excuses. “We can talk about the loss of Grady, or the goal where we gave possession away, but we had enough time to react and we just did not have the quality,” Bilic said.
Albion found their playmaker, Matheus Pereira, tightly marked and there are signs he is feeling frustrated at being limited in how much he can influence matches. He was lucky that it did not cost him a red card on this occasion after he landed an elbow on Joe Allen in the first half. Referee Tim Robinson let the Brazilian off with a warning.
West Bromwich Albion (4-2-3-1) Johnstone; Furlong, Bartley, Hegazi, Townsend (Brunt 75); Livermore, Sawyers; Phillips, Pereira, Diangana (Zohore 4); Robson-kanu (Austin 75). Subs Bond (g), Ajayi, Krovinovic, Edwards. Booked Bartley. Stoke City (4-2-3-1) Butland; Smith, Batth, Lindsay, Martins Indi; Allen, Clucas; Ince (Collins 87), Powell (Cousins 72), Mcclean; Campbell (Gregory 25). Subs Davies (g), Vokes, Ngoy, Thompson. Booked Lindsay, Allen, Smith.
Referee Tim Robinson (West Sussex).