Nat Phillips Gives West Brom A Lift And Wrecks Stoke’s Perfect Start To Season

West Brom bounced backmost from a unsmooth week pinch a gnarly triumph to puncture nan temper astatine nan Championship’s early pacesetters, Stoke.

Ryan Mason, nan caput coach, had seen 2 cardinal players depart successful nan days earlier this travel and had to watch from nan stands arsenic he served a touchline suspension. That did not forestall his squad torpedoing Stoke’s 100% commencement to nan run pinch a triumph that was arsenic hard-fought arsenic it was deserved.

The exits of Tom Fellows and Darnell Furlong to Southampton and Ipswich respectively had near a sour sensation successful nan rima of West Brom supporters. So pinch Mason absent from nan method area and a bumper crowd astatine nan bet365 Stadium galore predicted nan visitors would beryllium up against it.

Mark Robins reverted to nan aforesaid lineup that secured distant wins astatine Sheffield Wednesday and Southampton successful nan league, imploring his charges to “park” nan astonishment 3-0 Carabao Cup conclusion to Bradford successful midweek. Stoke besides paraded their latest signing, nan Slovakian midfielder Tomas Rigo, connected nan transportation earlier kick-off and he was greeted pinch nan unfurling of a banner reference “Vis unita fortior” – a agreed unit is stronger.

It has surely felt for illustration Robins has agreed Stoke successful caller weeks; nan sound from nan location supporters during a scrappy opening spell was grounds of that. But location were besides nervy moments for nan hosts, nan first 1 coming erstwhile Viktor Johansson almost fell into his ain extremity catching Mikey Johnston’s teasing cross, nan goalkeeper yet throwing nan shot to safety.

West Brom recovered joyousness each day via crosses, Johnston particularly troubling nan Stoke defence pinch heavy diagonals from nan left. After different transverse from nan erstwhile Celtic subordinate was squirrelled distant for a corner, Johansson dropped Alex Mowatt’s group portion and Nat Phillips steered successful nan loose ball.

Nat Phillips fires location nan only extremity of nan crippled aft a correction from Stoke goalkeeper Viktor Johansson. Photograph: Adam Fradgley/West Bromwich Albion FC/Getty Images

In Johnston, it seemed Mason’s men had nan game’s kingpin, his scurrying runs down nan near regularly forcing Junior Tchamadeu to backpeddle, and he almost teed up Aune Heggebø connected nan half hr people arsenic West Brom’s power grew. Stoke remained a threat connected nan counter, their champion chance falling to Million Manhoef whose near-post header was parried by Josh Griffiths aft Sorba Thomas’s fizzing cross. Manhoef again recovered Griffiths’ grateful clutches pinch a tame effort conscionable earlier nan interval.

If Stoke are to beryllium themselves arsenic genuine contenders for promotion, aliases moreover a playoff place, nether Robins this season, really they respond to adversity will beryllium critical. They did not rather negociate that here. Yet during an end-to-end commencement to nan 2nd half, they almost produced nan nonstop consequence nan head will person demanded, Divin Mubama striking nan station arsenic West Brom floundered trying to clear Tatsuki Seko’s ball. Bae Jun-ho past sent a peach of a volley inches wide.

The Baggies’ superiority from group pieces proved a accordant interest for Stoke and Jed Wallace ought to person made it 2-0 connected 69 minutes aft a flick-on from different Mowatt corner. The knowledgeable midfielder alternatively kicked bladed air.

The preamble of Toby Collyer, nan Manchester United loanee, gave nan visitors other legs and beingness successful midfield and they were contented to trust connected counterattacks successful nan second stages, while thwarting nan hosts’ attempts to equalise. And while Mason seldom saw his charges travel adjacent to that captious 2nd strike, they held retired to sphere their unbeaten commencement nether nan caller coach.