West Bromwich Albion travelled to Stoke City this afternoon looking to remain unbeaten for the fifth game in a row.
They managed that with a goalless draw but will feel that they could have won the game after creating the best chances.
Stephane Sessegnon missed two good opportunities before the visitors had a legitimate penalty appeal turned down.
See how the action unfolded with Sports Mole's minute-by-minute coverage below.
Thanks for joining me this afternoon for what should be an intriguing game at the Britannia Stadium.
We have two sides in the bottom half of the table today but from what I have seen so far this season, both look to play a short, quick passing game and hopefully we'll get a few goals too.
I'm leaning towards West Brom today, purely because of their recent form. The Baggies are unbeaten in their last four while Stoke have failed to win a game in that same period.
West Brom are also unbeaten away from The Hawthorns during this campaign while Stoke have only managed four goals in seven games so far, their worst total at this stage of top flight season.
Let's get some early team news in.
TEAM NEWS!
TEAM NEWS!
TEAM NEWS!
STOKE XI: Begovic; Wilkinson, Shawcross, Huth, Pieters; Walters, Adam, Nzonzi, Ireland, Assaidi; Arnautovic
WEST BROM XI: Myhill; Jones, McAuley, Olsson, Ridgewell; Yacob, Mulumbu; Amalfitano, Sessegnon, Berahino; Anichebe
WEST BROM XI: Myhill; Jones, McAuley, Olsson, Ridgewell; Yacob, Mulumbu; Amalfitano, Sessegnon, Berahino; Anichebe
Both teams are probably as you would expect then. Stoke have opted for a five-man midfield but with the likes of Walters, Ireland and Assaidi, Arnautovic will have plenty of support.
I must admit I've been impressed with what I have seen from Arnautovic this season. The Austrian striker looks to be comfortable on the ball and offers a physical presence too. The only question will be whether he can score goals regularly in the Premier League.
Sorry to have bombarded you with the West Brom team twice. We're having a couple of technical issues here.
And on the subject of Steve Clarke's side, it is pretty much unchanged. Anichebe comes in up front, but the big danger will come from Amalfitano, who has two goals and two assists in his four games for the club so far, and Berahino, the England youngster.
There's no doubt though, that the primary reason for West Brom's recent form is their midfield base. Mulumbu and Yacob have been excellent this season, superb in their protection of the back four, but equally adept at the other end of the pitch creating ,and even scoring, chances.
I said I was leaning towards West Brom but it really is a tough one to call this afternoon. Stoke have been unlucky not to win in a couple of games recently and they've been mightily impressive with their new short passing game, instilled by Mark Hughes.
Interesting to note that Stoke have only lost one of the eight Premier League meetings between the sides. Their new style leaves them more open to conceding though, and I think West Brom's in-form attack will fancy their chances today.
Stoke are without Geoff Cameron today after an international injury. The American has been very good so far this season and the more limited Wilkinson won't offer them as much going forward. That said, perhaps he will be better equipped to deal with the lively Berahino on West Brom's left.
The Potters fans are yet to see the best of Stephen Ireland since his arrival. A floating role in their five-man midfield could help him today, but I wouldn't fancy being up against Mulumbu and Yacob.
The visitors really have some firepower on their bench this afternoon. Anelka, Long and Vydra are all available should they need a goal, while Stoke can call on Crouch and Jones.
PREDICTION: With 15 minutes to go until kick off, it's that time where I put my neck on the line. I think it will be a tight game but I'll stick with my original gut feeling. Stoke 1-2 West Brom.
An early goal will throw that prediction out of the window mind. It seems as if both managers will start cautiously, with five in midfield, so a goal for either side will force the other into a more attacking mindset. From then on, the quality on show should provide us with a few goals... hopefully.
I've been to the Britannia a few times and their crowd can get very loud when they want. They're sure to start quite nervously after four games without a win but this home crowd could really have a positive impact on their team today.
The players are making their way onto the pitch ahead of the pre-match routine, and then kick off!
Howard Webb is the man in charge today and it will be West Brom to get us underway...
Stoke have actually lined up with Walters up top and Arnautovic on the right. Assaidi gets the ball on the left early on and cuts inside before crossing it but Walters can't quite reach the ball.
Nice link up between Nzonzi and Arnautovic on the right as the midfielder breaks forward but sees his cross deflected for a corner which West Brom clear.
West Brom are seeing more of the ball now as Mulumbu and Sessegnon are getting more involved. Stoke are holding firm so far though as West Brom set up an early camp in the final third.
Sessegnon breaks past Nzonzi and into the box and wins a corner. Amalfitano delivers but Nzonzi is there to head the ball away. Myhill then gets West Brom back on the attack down the left.
CHANCE! Berahino does well to get his cross in under pressure on the left. The ball falls to Sessegnon on the edge of the box but his snapshot flies wide.
West Brom are doing better when keeping possession so far. Both sides are pressing high up the pitch but it's the visitors who look more dangerous. Ridgewell gets free on the left but his cross is headed away and Stoke break with Assaidi.
Arnautovic powers away from Berahino but plays a sloppy pass which Jones cuts out. The defender then gets forward and on to the end of Amalfitano's cross but Stoke somehow block his header and win a goal kick.
Sessegnon turns Adam in midfield and is brought down earning West Brom a free kick which they play short. Nzonzi eventually shrugs off Amalfitano and Stoke play their way out.
Arnautovic plays in Wilkinson on the right but his cross is too deep and Jones gets it away at the back post. Stoke are starting to come into it a bit more now. Ireland is showing a couple of nice touches to gain his team some attacking impetus.
SAVE! Excellent save from Begovic but Sessegnon really should have scored. Anichebe holds the ball up well and Sessegnon backs him up, skipping past two challenges and into the box but seeing his shot blocked by the goalkeeper. Stoke clear the resulting corner.
SAVE! Myhill called into action this time but it is a rather more comfortable stop. Ireland finds Walters in the box but the striker's effort is tame as he falls backwards.
Stoke enjoy a bit of possession as Assaidi and Pieters link up on the left but Ireland's forward pass is blocked. Nzonzi picks it up again and finds Adam but Stoke are struggling to break the away side down.
Good pressure from Sessgnon forces Adam into a mistake and West Brom win a throw deep in the Stoke half. They play their way across the pitch where Amalfitano and Jones combine on the right, but the ball runs out for a goal kick.
SAVE! Another very important block from Begovic. Anichebe with some good play again and Sessegnon breaking through the middle once more. This time he slides the ball wide for Amalfitano but the goalkeeper reads the chipped finish and beats the ball away.
West Brom are in control at the moment as the referee has a word with Nzonzi, who seems to be getting frustrated. The away side should have scored already and may rue their missed chances.
The tempo has just dropped slightly as West Brom take their foot off the pedal slightly. The likes of Adam and Ireland really struggling to get into the game at the moment.
Ireland finally gets forward on the right but there's no one in the box and West Brom clear. They have the chance to break but Sessegnon plays a poor pass out wide for Amalfitano.
A bit of late Stoke pressure now. Arnautovic delivers a whipped free kick which West Brom deal with at the back post. From the resulting corner Adam heads well over from another good delivery.
Adam picks up the ball in midfield and breaks forward before going down. The referee gives a free kick and Aranautovic has another chance to deliver.
He plays it down the channel this time to Ireland but West Brom are alive to the situation and get the ball behind. Arnautovic again puts a dangerous ball in but Mulumbu gets it away. Stoke have finally woken up.
Assaidi finds space on the left and loops the ball into the box. Arnautovic, who has been heavily involved recently, takes the volley on but slices it wide. Not a bad effort from the Austrian.
Ireland and Nzonzi combine in the middle and release Walters, who holds the ball up but is crowded out. West Brom launch the ball forward to Anichebe who wins a free kick against Huth.
Stoke win another free kick here late on. Great passing play from Nzonzi, who plays a one-two and finds Assaidi, who pops up on the right and wins a free kick.
Arnautovic fires the ball in again but this time he can't beat the first man. The Austrian is found on the right again and cleverly cuts the ball back to the edge of the box where Nzonzi shoots harmlessly wide.
HALF TIME: Stoke 0-0 West Brom
Well, it hasn't been the most exciting game in the world but there has been some nice football on display, particularly from the visitors.
Sessegnon really should have put West Brom in front with his first chance. He chose to pass on his second one, but Amalfitano missed the opportunity after deciding against shooting first time.
Stoke finally got themselves into the game in the final 10 minutes, mainly through Arnautovic and Nzonzi. That will encourage them ahead of the second half. The first goal will be crucial here, and I'm sorry to say we could be looking at a 1-0.
This game really does need a goal. Steve Clarke has a job on his hands to lift the West Brom players again after the wasted the game's two best chances but they've shown that their quality up front could be decisive, on top of that they've got two or three players on the bench who might have an impact.
The Stoke players are back out early for the second half and they look fired up.
Stoke kick off...
Amalfitano picks up the ball and puts in a deep cross. It beats Begovic and Wilkinson heads the ball out for a corner. Begovic does a lot better this time and catches the ball under a lot of pressure.
Ireland controls Wilkinson's chip over the top and fires the ball in towards Walters but the striker can't quite reach the ball. He keeps it in on the far side but West Brom eventually clear.
West Brom on the attack again now as they win a series of corners. They take the second one short and make their way into the box where Mulumbu goes down. The referee gives nothing and West Brom are furious. The replays show that they have every reason to be!
SUBSTITUTION: Stoke bring on Kenwyne Jones for Walters.
Stoke break forward with Jones on the right and big striker wins a corner. Arnautovic takes but West Brom head the ball away at the front post and break. Sessegnon wriggles free in the middle and feeds Mulumbu but he fires over.
SUBSTITUTION: West Brom's turn to make a couple of changes as Nicolas Anelka and James Morrison replace Berahino and Amalfitano.
CHANCE! West Brom break after some good Stoke pressure but Sessegnon plays a poor ball and it's Arnautovic on the break. The Austrian fires the ball into the box where Ireland fires over. Stoke's best chance of the match!
The game has an end-to-end feel to it now as the crowd find their voices. The lack of quality in the final third though means that a goal still doesn't look that likely.
SAVE! Begovic again called into action as West Brom pile forward. Jones gets free on the right and fires at goal when he should have really squared it. The goalkeeper palms it away and Stoke eventually win the goal kick.
West Brom are back in control now. They're pouring forward at every chance but can't quite break down Stoke. Yacob gets frustrated and shoots from distance but it goes harmlessly over the bar.
Arnautovic breaks on the right but his cross is poor and Olsson brings the ball out of defence easily before setting West Brom onto the attack again.
SAVE! Well, what a goal that might have been. Adam tries to chip Myhill from the halfway line but the goalkeeper reacts quickly enough, tipping the ball over before applauding the effort from the Stoke man.
YELLOW CARD! Wilkinson goes into the book for bringing down Sessegnon with West Brom on the break.
SAVE! West Brom work the ball to Sessegnon on the edge of the box, he finds space but his shot is straight at Begovic who catches well.
SUBSTITUTION: West Brom make their final change as Shane Long replaces Anichebe.
Jones powers forward on the right but fouls Ridgewell as he looks to play a one-two with Arnautovic.
Jones powers forward on the right but fouls Ridgewell as he looks to play a one-two with Arnautovic.
Adam is penalised for a foul on Jones deep on the right. West Brom have a good chance to deliver the ball into the box from here.
SUBSTITUTION: That was Adam's last action as Mark Wilson replaces him.
Wilson involved straight away as he heads Morrison's deliver behind his own goal. Stoke clear the resulting corner, but only as far as the touchline and West Brom get the ball back in. They're pushing Stoke back into their own box now.
Stoke finally escape and break forward with Ireland on the right. His cross is put right into the danger area but Arnautovic is inches away from putting the ball into the back of the net!
Begovic almost caught out by Long as he sees his clearance charged down but collects the ball at the second attempt. All West Brom again at the moment.
The ball breaks to Mulumbu on the edge of the box and he curls it towards goal but it goes wide. West Brom knocking at the door now but you wouldn't put it past Stoke to nick this on the break.
West Brom pouring forward at every opportunity now. Mulumbu sees his shot from the edge of the box blocked before Jones' cross is cleared. Stoke are hanging on.
SAVE! Another big save from Begovic, who has probably just earned his side a point. Sessegnon again with a mazy run through the middle of the Stoke defence. He waits for the goalkeeper to commit but is outwitted and misses the chance again!
FULL TIME: Stoke 0-0 West Brom
So, a 0-0 was probably quite predictable before the game as Stoke's low-scoring attack met West Brom's mean defence.
That said, West Brom really should have won that game. Sessegnon wasted two excellent chances. You can praise the goalkeeper but he really shouldn't have given Begovic a chance with either one.
Then there was the penalty which should have been given when Adam stepped on Jones' Mulumbu's heel.
As far as stoke are concerned, they need to find some goals, and quickly. Arnautovic looked lively and Nzonzi gets up and down the pitch all day, but apart from that, there is little support from midfield and Walters offered nothing this afternoon.
Thanks for joining me this afternoon and have a good weekend.
Written by
Daniel Cross
Daniel Cross
