Roy Hodgson’s appointment as West Bromwich Albion manager might have come too late to transform the fortunes of the Premier League strugglers and the Baggies face a tough task at Stoke on Monday night.
Hodgson took over at The Hawthorns after a disappointing spell in charge at Liverpool and at first glace it appears a decent acquisition for the West Midlands club. However, West Brom are in freefall in the top flight and Stoke are worthy of support in the televised clash.
Stoke’s success on their return to the top flight under Tony Pullis has been built on an excellent record at the Britannia and, thanks to their latest win at home, the Welsh boss and his players can look forward to an FA Cup quarterfinal in 2011, too.
That 2-0 win over Brighton was Stoke’s fifth consecutive match in front of their own fans without defeat, winning four, but Premier League points are the priority on Monday and I think Pullis will get three.
Stoke currently sit 11th in the top flight, a draw would take them above Everton into the top half, and it has been another very productive season for the Potters.
With Pullis in charge you know Stoke will give their true running more often than not and, with nothing to fear, they appear easily the more likely victors in a game that will probably be lacking in quality.
Monday’s visitors started life back in the big time with a bang in the early weeks of the campaign, winning at The Emirates and holding Manchester United at Old Trafford, but the wheels have come off in some style in recent weeks and West Brom now occupy a place in the bottom three.
A solitary win over Blackpool in their last 12 matches in all competitions will worry Hodgson and West Brom have a tough run of fixtures on the horizon also.
A trip to Carling Cup winners Birmingham looms on Sunday before matches against Arsenal and Liverpool and time is running out if Championship status is to be avoided next term.
With just one clean sheet kept all season in 27 Premier League matches, West Brom must surely find the net on Monday to have any chance of getting anything from the match but, while I see both sides scoring, Stoke are taken to hold sway and a home victory is very much on the cards.
2pts Back Stoke (vs. West Brom) @ 1.91 (various)