الثلاثاء، 19 مارس 2013

Stoke v West Brom

Venue: Britannia StadiumDate: Saturday, 16 MarchContinue reading the main story Stoke winger Matthew Etherington could miss a third successive match with a back problem.

Cameron Jerome is unlikely to start after going off with a knee complaint against Newcastle last week, while Robert Huth completes a suspension.

West Brom striker Shane Long remains doubtful with the ankle injury that kept him out last weekend.

Steven Reid is also still struggling with a groin problem which kept him out of the same game against Swansea.

It's certainly not been a happy new year for Stoke City, and while it's not taken on annus horribilis proportions just yet, the need for a pick-me-up is increasing.

They ended 2012 on a 10-game unbeaten streak which left them just four points off European qualification, and with hopes high of a first top-10 finish in the Premier League. They've added just four points in 2013.

"Stoke were a bit unlucky to lose so late on against Newcastle last Sunday but they were beaten at home by West Ham the week before and some of their fans have been giving Potters boss Tony Pulis some stick.

"Those fans have got short memories, however, because they should remember how far they have come under Pulis in his time in charge."

Despite being on the top division's worst current run, there's no real threat of relegation but the Potters' feelings of disappointment and frustration is now palpable.

Last week's game at Newcastle has been typical of their recent woes. Despite leading with less than 20 minutes to go, they ultimately left with nothing, conceding a last-minute winner. It will be of scant consolation that even Newcastle boss Alan Pardew admitted Stoke hadn't deserved to lose.

Among a quintet of clubs on 33 points, they could end the weekend in 10th and looking upwards. Defeat would mean that some of their most pessimistic supporters may well begin to look the other way.

Even fortress Britannia has started to display some uncharacteristic signs of wear and tear - its usually impregnable defences have been breached by defeats to West Ham and Chelsea in the league and Manchester City in the FA Cup since the turn of the year.

West Brom will arrive there in the kind of position that Stoke will eye with enormous envy. Already through the magical 40-point barrier, they've never been out of the top half of the table this season.

Back in December in the midst of their own hot streak, Stoke emerged victorious at The Hawthorns, extending their recent record against the Baggies to nine wins from the last 12 meetings. What they would give to make it 10 from 13 this weekend.

Head-to-head

West Brom won this fixture 2-1 last season, with Graham Dorrans scoring a last-minute winner for the Baggies. The home side has failed to win any of the last six Premier League meetings, losing five times. These two clubs first met before the Football League was created, with West Brom winning 4-1 in the FA Cup fifth round in 1888.

Stoke

Stoke have lost seven of their last nine Premier League games, including their last three. They have won just one of their last 10 in the league and have the worst Premier League record in 2013, picking up four points from nine matches. Only bottom-of-the-table QPR (24) have scored fewer Premier League goals than Stoke (27) this season. Stoke have failed to score in 12 league matches this season, more than any other club in the division. Only one of their goals has come from outside of the penalty box. Only four teams have conceded fewer than Stoke's 35 goals in this season's Premier League, but the Potters have not kept a clean sheet in any of their last 11 league matches. Peter Crouch has only scored once since September.

West Brom

West Brom have 43 points from 29 matches this season - their best record at this stage of a top-flight season since they had the equivalent of 51 points in 1980-81. They have lost four of their last five away matches in the league. The Baggies earned 21 points from their first 14 away games last season; in this campaign, they have earned 14 from 14. Romelu Lukaku has scored seven goals in his last eight Premier League appearances. He is the top-scoring teenager in a single Premier League season since Michael Owen scored 18 for Liverpool in 1998-99. The Baggies are the only Premier League team yet to have an English goalscorer this season. The last Englishman to score for the club in the league was Liam Ridgewell, in the 3-0 home win over Blackburn in April 2012.

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