West Bromwich Albion tightened their Premier League promotion charge with a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Stoke City in a fractious Championship contest. The victory extended West Brom’s unbeaten run to nine matches. Unlike many of the other bubble teams, they remain unbeaten with three wins and one draw in their first four matches this year. The match took place at the Hawthorns, marking a significant moment for West Brom as they faced off against a previously unblemished Stoke side.
West Brom managed to orchestrate a come-from-behind win with their head coach, Ryan Mason, absent on this day. He was already under a one-match touchline ban after having been sent off in a recent match against Portsmouth. Though Mason’s absence placed extra pressure on the team overall, they stepped up and made their presence felt on every level.
Key Moments of the Match
Nat Phillips netted the winner. He opened the floodgates just seconds after Stoke’s Million Manhoef had a header cleared off the line. Phillips then put Barnsley ahead from a corner, well taken by Alex Mowatt. This turn of events ended up being hugely significant as it turned the proverbial tide in the direction of West Brom.
Before Phillips’ goal, Stoke had nearly taken the lead when Million Manhoef connected with Sorba Thomas’ delivery, only for Josh Griffiths to make a crucial save that denied the visitors. This run of play demonstrated just how fierce and competitive this battle was, as both teams poured forward in attack and stood firm in defense.
After Phillips’ goal, the game grew increasingly chippy. An unexpected showdown unfolded when Bae Jun-ho turned West Brom’s keeper, Sam Johnston, just outside the area. The off-field violence resulted in second half bookings for both Isaac Price and Junior Tchamadeu as emotions boiled over onto the pitch.
Managerial Insights
Stoke’s manager, Mark Robins, reflected on his team’s performance post-match. He credited them for the pressure they applied early on, but noted that they had trouble sustaining that level of urgency over the course of the match.
“I think the difference was the fact they, in possession and out of possession, dropped deeper.” – Mark Robins
Robins said that his players were few and uncertain in key situations.
“They came after us initially but they got back in. They worked their socks off, so they deserve an awful lot of credit as well, while we were a little bit ponderous.” – Mark Robins
His comments are telling in that they indicate he thought his team was underachieving even with a remarkable beginning to the season.
West Brom’s Resilience
From West Brom’s point of view, Ryan Mason spoke highly of the efforts of his players as they adjusted to life without him. He commended Phillips and his defensive partner for their field generalship.
“They’re both at great ages in terms of centre halves. They’ve amassed an incredible amount of experience but then they have the quality as well.” – Ryan Mason
Mason further emphasized the value of synergy and chemistry between players who have worked together before.
“They know each other from Bournemouth, which was good.” – Ryan Mason
Perhaps even more important than Mason’s vision was his commitment to assembling a high-quality team. His players followed their game plan to a T, despite his absence on the touchline.
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