Diangana class puts West Brom on top

West Bromwich Albion returned to the top of the Championship with a goal in each half as managerless Stoke City continued in the dismal form that has seen them win only five matches in 2019.

An early goal from Matt Phillips made life difficult for the home side and, although they produced some positive moments either side of half-time, the result was sealed by a penalty midway through the second half. Grady Diangana, the outstanding attacking player in Slaven Bilic’s team, set up the opening goal and won the penalty for the second.

It would be easy to assume it was a routine victory, yet Bilic insisted that it was not until the second goal that he felt his side had the points in the bank.

“At the end the crowd are giving the oles and it looks like a comfortable win, but it was not like that until we scored the second goal,” Bilic said. “Stoke are in crisis, but they have some great players.

“So I am not underestimating this win. It is a difficult game – Monday night in Stoke in November and all that, against a wounded opponent. We responded in the way I wanted, with a clean sheet and three points.”

Rory Delap, Stoke’s first-team coach, former player and the man holding the fort until a new appointment is made, was less impressed than Bilic with his own team’s contribution. He made five changes in personnel and one in formation, dropping the diamond favoured by the sacked Nathan Jones. He had Jack Butland back in goal for the first time in six matches, but saw little encouragement in the way the night went.

“I didn’t feel we gave them a game,” he said. “The players are lacking confidence and to see the ground empty at the end, for me, was heartbreaking. It is vital that the club appoint a new manager as quickly as possible.”

Alex Neil, in charge of Preston, and Tony Pulis remain favourites to succeed Jones. Both men were due to have been at the game; Pulis, twice manager here before, as a TV pundit, Neil on a scouting trip. Both decided not to attend.

Tyrese Campbell and Sam Vokes had early attempts as Stoke showed some early potency. Between times, though, they went behind through a goal from Phillips that was almost walked through their defence.

Diangana showed clever footwork before being put in behind by a one-two with Jake Livermore. He then brushed aside a weak challenge and slid the ball square for Phillips to tap in at the far post, his sixth goal of the season.

Stoke began the second half on the front foot, albeit without managing to make the early breakthrough they needed. The game was effectively over at the midway point in the half, when Cameron Carter-vickers brought down Diangana inside the penalty area and Hal Robson-kanu, who had replaced Charlie Austin five minutes earlier, scored from the spot.

Stoke City

Booked West Bromwich Albion

Booked Referee

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