Stoke City v WBA: Match Thread

STOKE CITY FC: Established 1863 V WBA: Established 1878

Saturday 1st December 2012: 15:00pm (AWAY @ The Hawthorns circa 1900)

HEAD To HEAD:

PLAYED 132 (Total): Stoke City (57); WBA (42); Draws (33).
Goals Scored: Stoke City - 203 (1.54 per game); WBA - 189 (1.43 per game)

Stoke Away Form v WBA: Played 67 (Total): Stoke City (22); WBA (32); Draws (13)
Goals Scored: Stoke City - 82 (1.22 per game); WBA - 124 (1.85 per game)

Previous Meetings:
Stoke City 1 - 2 WBA (21/01/2012)
WBA 0 - 1 Stoke City (20/11/11)
Stoke City 1 - 1 WBA (28/02/11)
WBA 0 - 3 Stoke City (20/11/10)
WBA 0 - 2 Stoke City (04/04/09)
Stoke City 1 - 0 WBA (22/11/08)


Stoke City Form Guide:

Stoke City FC currently sitting in 9th place on 19 points - coming off another home win against a struggling Newcastle side. With 10 out of possible 12 points we are now an inform side moving up the table and we now get tested AWAy against a team that history tells us we should do well! Will this be where we get that away monkey off our back and bag 3 points against the Baggies? How will the best Home form in the league stand up to one of the poorest Away teams - we have only 4 Draws and managed 6 goals this term!

LAST 10 Premier League Games: 4 Wins; 3 Draws; 3 Losses:
LAST 39 Premier League Games: 10 Wins; 16 Draws; 13 Losses:

WBA Form Guide:

WBA currently siiting in 4th place on 26 points coming off what could be said as a suprise loss against Swansea in which they conceeded 3 goals. With 4 wins in their last 5 and a better home record than Stoke (6 Wins and 1 Draw equal to Manchester United) they are currenlty the suprise package of the season. There positive forward playing style (have they been any different) has netted them 14 Goals For and only 5 Goals against meaning that this should not be a walk in the park!

LAST 10 Premier League Games: 6 Wins; 1 Draws; 3 Losses:
LAST 39 Premier League Games: 17 Wins; 8 Draws; 14 Losses:

LINKS: (To Follow from Sandor)
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I'm going for a Draw but my predictions to date have been woeful - but in a good way - Stoke have hit form!


Although history shows that we always score goals and as the old saying goes "we always beat the baggies" their home form and our away form makes me think that a win will be a bridge too far. Given our confidence/form I think we will set out for a 0-0 draw and hopefully get it!

Starting to regain the faith (STRF) although still abit mistified by tactics etc.....

 

Normally WBA do not cause us too much stress but this season they are doing very well (a bit of a surprise maybe) but credit to them. We are showing an improvement over recent games though we still cannot win away from home. Will tomorrow change that? I'd like to think so but the Baggies will be hurting following their defeat mid-week and home advantage may be the key. Will Pulis change the team after the comeback on Wednesday? I suspect he will revert to his usual starting line-up (with Jones for Crouch) especially being away from home. I will go for a draw which will be a good result IMO.

 

Smithers,

My predictions have been ok but I am I feel more of an optimist than you are.

My view of tomorrow is like you, a point. A win would be terrific but fear we may struggle to achieve that.

Cheers.

 

I feel bad about this game tommorow one of the toughest of the season i would be delighted with a point but fear we might lose 2-1 but a win at villa will make up for it

 

Why not let's stap positive for this one guys?
IF we lost it won't be a dissaster and we did beat Swansea who have just outplayed the Baggies? Agree, no doubts TP will set up not to lose but surly after the last few games our confidence should be good ie the player's too!

The only difference between the Baggies now and a few seasons back is easy to see. Until this week, their defence is far better than it was and it's shown in how well they have started the season.

I'll take a pt but won't be too unhappy if the worst happens. PS I will be mid flight to Gatwick during the game so I'll catch the score after five..
Maybe that's a good thing cos the last 3 weeks have been HELL not knowing the score until way after "live time" in the UK.

Up n at em lads KTF

 

I think there is less pressure for this game due to our recent results, if we fail to get something from the game I dont think too many people would be suprised.

 

a draw would be a good result, they are a different team now but our style may upset them more than the big boys have.

 

Valid point, never say never! It wouldnt suprise me if the Jekyll & Hyde Stoke turn up and beat WBA 3-0 but then lose to Villa 5-0!

 

Preview:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/20474626

4-5-1

KJ in for Croucj which makes sense, however unless I'm mistaken not one striker on the bench - no Jerome or Owen. Given that TP said in his interview that he wanted 2 strikers on the bench........?

 

Er - we always beat the baggies

 

WOW - Again my predictions were wrong - but to the benefit of Stoke!

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/20474626

 

Proud to say that 1 away win vote is mine, you guys should have more confidence

 

Very pleased with today's performance, did very well with a limited bench. Was quite impressed with Whitehead when he came on, I think it was the right decision, as Adam didn't have his best game again, and West Brom had just bought 2 more strikers on, but I did think that'd mean KJ got isolated up front and we'd have no chance of scoring. Was proved wrong there.
Not a brilliant game, looked decent in the first half, defended well in the second, and did enough to get a goal. That'll do for me.

 

Very pleased that we won yesterday, our first away win this season. I predicted a draw but of course we always beat the Baggies don't we. 13 pts from the last 15 is a very good run. 22pts from 15 games, only 18 more for 'safety'. Is this the best start to a premier league season for us? Someone will tell me.

Potts, any chance you could go back to Madeira until about May next year please? This good run coincided with your absence from the UK

 

It's seems earlier in the season we were premature in our concerns but we always said that this run of games would define our season! I didn't go to the game so I look forward to an indepth view from someone one who did!

In relation to the best start to a season? We were on 26 points from 19 games (I think?) so pro rota YES, but we still have our XMAS run to come in which, since our promotion we have consistently been bottom of the table for points picked up at this time of year!

Anyway, fantastic result!

 

Smithers,keep on tipping us to lose or draw,you are doing well for us. Never lose the FAITH.

 

Proud Potter
The wife said exactly that last night..
We landed at Gatwick at half four, by the time we got through passport control etc. A guy on his mobile said.. the Hammers had done Chelsea and STOKE had a great win at the Hawthorns. WOW what a month for SCFC.. I said KTF P.P. and I would have been delighted with a pt.

Got home at half 11 and thankfully I had pre recorded MOTD. A good performance and Whitehead with a good finish. WELL chuffed, just a pity I missed the three home wins. As for going away again midseason? nah unless they have decent tv coverage it was awful at times but a great holiday non the less.
Just pleased to be back feeling myself again.

Onwards and upwards .. as a few have said, we always beat the Baggies but for me that was our "Best 3pts" so far this season.

 

Hi Smithers,

Yes I went yesterday and thought that we did enough to win it. Of the first half WBA only threatened in the last 10 minutes as upto then it was very much each side cancelling out the other. Stoke saw plenty of the ball and KJ had a good header just go wide of the far post. This I think was our only chance of the first 45 minutes. Shotton saw a good deal of the ball going forward but was somewhat wasteful, whilst Cameron did not look as if he could stand up for any period of time. He was slipping all over the place. Whelan I thought did well again and N'Zonzio was again Vierra like with his control and unflappable nature on the ball. In the first half 2 stupid bookings were picked up by Huth & Adam, I think you will have seen Huth just knock Long to the floor just as Shotton was passing the ball back to Asmir Bego. I sometimes wonder if all his marbles are lined up correctly. Shawcross did well and why he got booked when a WBA player appeared to step on the ball beggars belief! Ryan was included in the MOTD team of the week!

TP made a good decision with the subs he made as I thought again that Adam could get sent off. Pleased to see again that it was the subs teaming up to create and score the winner! The persistence of KJ created panic by Olsen and after the goal his work rate and the number of balls he won went up appreciably.

Not a game for the purists at all, but a great game for us in terms of getting another 3 points to send us above ArseNIL!

Enjoyed the day and atmosphere, not sure why we were singing about Mama and remembering Steino!

I will not be at Villa but trust we wil get something there and thus consolidate what we have achieved so far.

 

Crazy,
IF the worst was to happen next Saturday. I think i'll be on the first plane out of the UK..
And Cris,
As usual a great summary of yesterdays game. I'll go with Smither's and say. " I think we'll lose or draw next week" but who knows? Confidence must be sky high and let's all keep the faith.