Stoke City vs West Bromwich Albion

30th September

Valérien Ismaël’s Baggies will be looking to record a third straight win on Friday night when they travel to face Stoke City at the bet365 Stadium (ko 7.45pm).

After some late Karlan Grant heroics during last week's triumph over QPR, the in-form attacker started the scoring again to help Albion onto consecutive victories in Tuesday evening's 4-0 win against Cardiff City.

Curtis Nelson's own goal, along with a stunning strike from Alex Mowatt and a close-range finish by Matt Phillips completed a convincing night’s work in the Welsh capital for Ismaël’s side.

But the Baggies boss will be demanding another performance heading into Friday’s clash with the Potters, as Albion look to round-off a perfect week ahead of the October international break.

How to follow the match

Fans in the UK and overseas wanting to follow the game can listen live to Baggies-biased commentary on WBA TV Matchday.

A Full Match Replay will be available to watch on Saturday, October 2, on WBA TV for all subscribers to WBA TV Matchday, season ticket holders and members.

Supporters who have a seasonal or monthly pass can access the live commentary from 7.30pm here.

If you haven’t subscribed you can purchase a Match Pass for just £2.50 here.

Opposition

Stoke City have made the bet365 Stadium a fortress since the start of the 2021/22 Sky Bet Championship season.

Barnsley are still the only team to have taken a point away from Staffordshire this term. They held the Potters to a 1-1 draw midway through September, with Michael O’Neill’s men winning their other four league matches against Reading, Nottingham Forest, Huddersfield and Hull.

Nick Powell stands out as one of City’s main attacking threats, chalking up five direct goal involvements (four goals, one assist) in six Championship starts.

But Stoke have good options up front - the lively Jacob Brown and towering target man Sam Surridge providing different avenues for the craft of Josh Tymon and Mario Vrancic in midfield. And with the height and steel of Harry Souttar and Leo Ostigard at the back, it will require another clinical showing from Albion to inflict a first home defeat on the Potters.

Classic match

In-form attacker Phillips was on target during the Baggies’ last visit to the Potteries in November 2019.

The 30-year-old converted following some skilful attacking play by Grady Diangana to give Albion the lead, before Hal Robson-Kanu’s spot-kick completed a 2-0 win.

Did you know

Albion have suffered just one defeat from their last five trips to Stoke.

Salomon Rondon proved to be an influential figure in this fixture, scoring the game’s only goal to condemn nine-man City to a 1-0 defeat back in August 2015. He then earned a 1-1 draw for the Throstles - netting a 90th-minute equaliser at the bet365 in September 2016.

City bagged a 3-1 home win during the last Premier League meeting between the sides in 2017, but the Baggies have triumphed during the last two clashes in Staffordshire - winning 1-0 and 2-0 in February and November 2019 respectively.

Traffic and travel

Supporters are advised the M6 will be closed southbound at junction 10 following the match.

Away kit colours

The Baggies will wear their black away kit for the trip to the bet365 Stadium.

Haven't got yours yet? You can grab one here.

LV Bet's latest odds

Our official betting partner LV BET have the latest stats and match odds ahead of the outing.

After a 4-0 win at Cardiff City on Tuesday, the Baggies returned to the top of the table. LV BET shared odds of 4/1 on Karlan Grant to score first and with Albion still unbeaten in the league, they travel to a Potters side who drew at Preston in midweek.

West Brom are 13/10 to beat Stoke and secure three wins on the spin.

Will Grant score in three consecutive games? LV BET price him at 9/2 to net first and maintain his excellent form.

Looking at a couple of correct scores, a 2-0 Baggies win is 11/1 and a 2-1 win for Albion is 8/1.

LV Bet have a new customer offer for Baggies fans here (18+ begambleaware.org). Terms apply.

Odds shown above are subject to change.

1st October

Albion’s unbeaten run in the Sky Bet Championship came to an end after they were edged out by Stoke City on Friday evening.

Sam Johnstone pulled off a string of fine saves for the visitors during the game – including saving Sam Surridge’s 70th-minute penalty.

But he couldn’t prevent Nick Powell from striking in the closing stages for the hosts, as Valérien Ismaël’s men left the bet365 Stadium empty-handed.

The unchanged Baggies started brightly in the Potteries and Callum Robinson had the first opportunity of the game when he struck just over from 25 yards inside three minutes.

But the Baggies’ positive opening was almost cut short on 10 minutes as Jacob Brown struck the post from a throughball before Joe Allen smashed a right-foot volley just wide from outside the area.

Sam Johnstone was forced to dart off his line on 16 to smother a Josh Tymon effort after the Stoke winger got on the end of a defence-splitting pass.

Albion returned fire four minutes later but Robinson’s left-foot volley from 15 yards was comfortably gathered by Adam Davies.

The home side were up in arms five minutes before the interval when Darnell Furlong’s header into his own net was ruled out for an earlier foul by Mario Vrančić on Robinson – but replays confirmed referee Tim Robinson got it spot on.

Michael O’Neill’s men went close again five minutes after the break but Johnstone made a stunning, finger-tip save to push a 25-yard Vrančić free-kick onto the crossbar.

The Albion No.1 was perfectly-positioned to pull off another fine save on 66 – but in truth, Sam Surridge should converted a low left-wing cross from close range.

The Baggies went close themselves two minutes later with Livermore flashing just wide of the right poster after a brief six-yard-box scramble.

And the hosts were awarded a controversial penalty on 70 when Johnstone was adjudged to have fouled Surridge inside the area.

But Johnstone’s impressive night continued when he parried the resulting spot-kick from Surridge.

But even Johnstone, who was in fine form all evening, could not prevent the hosts taking all three points away from the game.

A long ball over the top was read and pounced on by Powell, who carefully lobbed the onrushing Johnstone to condemn the Baggies to their first league defeat of the campaign.

Albion: Johnstone; Ajayi, Bartley, Townsend; Furlong, Livermore, Mowatt (Molumby 80), Reach; Robinson, Hugill (Phillips 55), Grant (Diangana 57).

Subs: Button; Clarke, Kipré, Bryan.

Friday 1st October 2021 - 19:45