Match Reports

Match Report : 24/09/2016

Salomon Rondon strikes in added time

  • Allen put Potters ahead (73), Rondon heads leveller (90+1)
  • Tony Pulis' 1,000th competitive match in charge
  • Albion move on to eight points from six games
  • Attendance: 27,645 (1,657 Albion fans)
  • Albion Star Man: Claudio Yacob
SALOMON Rondon scored an injury-time header as Albion salvaged a 1-1 draw against Stoke City at the bet365 Stadium in Tony Pulis' 1,000th competitive match in charge.

The draw moved the Baggies on to eight points from their opening six matches and meant Pulis had a worthy and deserved point to celebrate as he reached a landmark only 25 managers have achieved in English football in the modern era. 

Both sides played out a keenly-contested and balanced first period which saw Rondon threaten with a couple of half-chances and the hosts denied a penalty appeal when Matt Phillips tangled with Erik Pieters.

It was the Potters, however, who enjoyed the clearest opening when Craig Dawson was forced to head a goalbound lobbed effort from Glen Johnson off the line and over the crossbar.

Pieters had another penalty shout rejected early in the second half before Nacer Chadli, instrumental in the 4-2 win over West Ham last weekend, saw his long-range strike parried by Lee Grant.

The game's opening goal arrived midway through the second period when Xherdan Shaqiri's cross found its way to Joe Allen, who slotted past Ben Foster from six yards.

James McClean came close to a leveller but Stoke keeper Grant did well to get down and tip his header to safety.

Yet Rondon was the hero in injury time as he turned in substitute Jonathan Leko's corner in front of the travelling Baggies fans to ensure they enjoyed their short journey back down the M6.

Stoke: Grant; Johnson, Shawcross, Martins Indi, Pieters; Cameron, Allen (Adam 86), Whelan; Arnautovic, Bony (Crouch 61), Shaqiri (Diouf 88).

Subs: Given; Bardsley, Imbula, Bojan.

BOOKED: Whelan (foul, 16), Shawcross (foul, 26), Adam (foul, 90+3)

Albion: Foster; Dawson, McAuley, Evans, Nyom; Phillips (Leko 88), Fletcher (c), Yacob (Morrison 78), McClean (Robson-Kanu 77); Chadli; Rondon. 

Subs: Myhill; Gardner, Olsson, Field. 

BOOKED: Chadli (foul, 37), Yacob (foul, 54), Dawson (foul, 60), Nyom (foul, 70)

Referee: Martin Atkinson (West Yorkshire)