Official Boothen Roar Match Preview: West Brom v Stoke

Last updated : 20 November 2010 By Dan Buxton

The Potters travel to the Hawthornes today to play West Brom after picking up two crucial wins last week, following four controversial defeats in a row.

Stoke sit 10th in the Premier League, after being 17th just ten days ago, and will be up to try and inch further away from the relegation zone and closer to a european position. The hosts are two places below City, on goal difference, but have a terrible recent record against Stoke, the Baggies have beaten Stoke once in the last 22 league games.

Stoke have a poor away record this season and have beaten Newcastle but have lost all the other six trips in 2010/11. WBA have only one league home defeat this season, earning three wins and two draws from their six home games so far.

In the 65 matches between these sides at Stoke, the Potters have won 20, the visitors 32 and thirteen have been drawn. Last time the pair clashed at the Hawthornes the game ended 2-0 with Fuller opening the scoring in the opening two minutes. Overall WBA have won 41 times to the Potters 55 victories.

The referee is Chris Foy. This season he took charge of the Potters when they were beaten by Tottenham 2-1 at home, when he controversially didn't spot a late goal from Jon Walters that clearly crossed the line, even though he was well placed. He has refereed WBA once this season, a 3-1 home win against Birmingham.

The Met Office report that there will be low level cloud, temperatures of a chilly 5 degrees celsius, poor visibility and a light 6mph wind.

Prediction: Stoke keep up their great record against the Baggies with an entertaining 3-2 win. After Fuller and Jones twice put Stoke in front, with West Brom twice drawing level, a late goal from Matthew Etherington seals the points.