The Baggies delivered a performance at Stoke on Saturday afternoon, ending Stoke City’s perfect start to the Championship season with a hard-earnt 1-0 win at the Bet365 Stadium.
Nat Phillips was the unlikely hero where he netted his first goal for the Albion in the 14th minute, capitalising on a rare goalkeeper mistake by Viktor Johansson. From that moment on the Baggies stood firm with an organised defensive display that frustrated Stoke City.
Despite Ryan Mason serving a match ban, his tactical set up looked spot on. Our disciplined shape and ability to absorb pressure showed the site is ready to challenge and this paid off with the win pushing us up to second place in the league and maintaining our unbeaten run in our first 4 league games.
And the hosts threatened twice more following half-time. Mubama quickly struck the post and then, midway through the second period, Bae Junho hit a volley narrowly wide.
Albion weren’t without their own chances either. Jed Wallace came so close to turning in Aune Heggebø’s clever flick, and goalscorer Nat Phillips nearly grabbed a second when he nodded just over the bar.
As expected, the Potters threw everything forward late on to try and keep their winning run alive, but Mason’s men dug deep. The Baggies defended with heart, soaked up the pressure, and saw the job through. That resilience means Albion head into the September international break unbeaten and flying high — a brilliant marker of how far this side has come already.
Stoke City 0-1 West Brom
Goalscorers for West Brom: Nat Phillips 14′
The Baggies defended with heart, soaked up the pressure, and saw the job through. That resilience means Albion head into the September international break unbeaten and flying high — and to make it even sweeter, it’s the first time we’ve won back-to-back away games since Stoke and Portsmouth back in September last year.
It really was a great day out in Stoke. The atmosphere at full-time in the away end was electric — the sort of moment that reminds you why we follow this club through thick and thin. Pre-match, the pub stop wasn’t bad either (though RIP to the poor sparrow that met its end crashing into the Wetherspoons window).
Coach Manics lived up to its name on the way to the stadium too, with Dean (AKA Cheese) being wheeled around on a shopping trolley and the away coach lot spotting what can only be described as a Temu version of Sharon Osbourne in Newcastle Under Lyme. Classic away-day scenes.