Stoke City succumbed to a 1-0 defeat at home to West Bromwich Albion in a Premier League clash that controversially saw the hosts reduced to nine men within the first half hour.
Ibrahim Afellay saw red after lashing out at Craig Gardner following the Baggies man's tackle in the 25th minute, while Charlie Adam was sent off just six minutes later for a stamp on Craig Dawson.
It looked like the Potters could keep their clean sheet until the break, but Salomon Rondon struck what proved to be the winner on the stroke of half time.
Find out how the game unfolded at the Britannia Stadium with Sports Mole's live text commentary.
Hi folks, and welcome to Sports Mole's live text commentary of this afternoon's Premier League clash between Stoke City and West Bromwich Albion at the Britannia Stadium!
It's a big game today in Stoke, with both sides coming into this match without a Premier League win and following difficult outings in the League Cup earlier this week, being taken to penalties by lower league opponents.
Without further ado, here's the team news...
STOKE STARTING XI: Butland, Johnson, Cameron, Muniesa, Pieters, Whelan, van Ginkel, Shaqiri, Adam, Afellay, Diouf
WEST BROM STARTING XI: Myhill, Dawson, McAuley, Olsson, Lescott, Gardner, Fletcher, Yacob, Morrison, McClean, Rondon
STOKE SUBS: Given, Ireland, Arnautovic, Joselu, Wilson, Crouch, Bojan
WEST BROM SUBS: Rose, Gamboa, McManaman, Gnabry, Lambert, Ideye, Anichebe
So both sides return to their first-team lineups after lining up in the League Cup with a number of youth and fringe players.
Stoke have handed a home debut to club record signing Xherdan Shaqiri, while fit-again forward Bojan is on the substitutes' bench following his comeback in midweek. Peter Odemwingie, however, is out with a hamstring problem.
For the Baggies, Chris Brunt is out injured, so Joleon Lescott comes in for him, while Craig Gardner replaces Callum McManaman in the starting XI.
Saido Berahino is a big talking point for West Brom fans, given the transfer speculation around him - and once again he's not involved today. Pulis has told reporters: "I had a chat with Saido - it's not been an easy time for him. He needs a bit of protection at the moment."
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The Baggies boss has also confirmed that Chris Brunt & James Chester have minor hamstring injuries, while Callum McManaman has a knock but has made the bench.
It's a pretty big occasion for both Pulis and the Britannia - he spent nearly a decade in charge at Stoke across two spells, managing them in three different divisions until his departure in 2013 – but this will be the first time he has returned to their ground as manager of the opposition.
Any sentiment attached to the occasion, however is likely to disappear pretty sharpish as West Brom seek to move off the foot of the Premier League table, with their early-season form also hampered by Berahino's apparent desire to leave The Hawthorns.
Stoke will not make it easy for the visitors though - they are in urgent need of a win themselves, as their first three league games of the season have not yet yielded a three-point result. As a result Mark Hughes's charges sit 16th, just a point ahead of WBA.
Both Stoke and West Brom have made it to the third round of the League Cup, but they were made to sweat on Tuesday as the former needed penalties to sneak past League Two side Luton Town, while the latter also needed spot kicks to edge past Port Vale.
Mark Hughes, it has to be said, has former an impressive team on paper. Now the latest high-profile signing, Xherdan Shaqiri, is set to make his home debut for the Potters.
The former Bayern Munich winger, just 23 years old and a double Bundesliga and DFB-Pokal winner - and let's not forget a Champions League medal - impressed last weekend against Norwich City with a 97 percent pass completion rate and an assist for Mame Biram Diouf's goal in the 1-1 draw.
SOFA, SO GOOD: Just over 20 minutes until kickoff, so get yourself more up to date with a comprehensive preview of the match, courtesy of our Sports Mole pundits.
Let's check out the fixture's recent history - West Brom beat Stoke 1-0 when the sides met at The Hawthorns on March 14 - only their second win in 17 games against the Potters.
The last six matches between them have produced a total of seven goals, which makes any goals scored all the more crucial, given the rarity of them.
Stoke, on the whole, have been in a rich vein of scoring form at the Britannia in the last few months - their 1-0 defeat by Liverpool on the opening weekend was the first time they had failed to score in 12 Premier League home games.
Diouf will be one to watch today - he has scored four goals in his last four Premier League appearances, and has three in three against West Brom.
WBA have won three of their last 12 Premier League games, but have lost just one of their last five away games in the top flight. A statistic which seems to point towards a draw?
Here's another draw-friendly statistic - the Baggies have failed to win any of their opening three Premier League fixtures for a third successive season, and in 2013-14 and 2014-15 they failed to win their fourth game.
He was in charge of Stoke for 464 matches in two spells between 2002 and 2013, but Pulis will today be occupying the away dressing room at the Britannia Stadium for the first time.
Tony Pulis arrives at @stokecity earlier - his first game back at the Britannia Stadium #WBA pic.twitter.com/0AOsun5SkN
— West Bromwich Albion (@WBAFCofficial) August 29, 2015
PREDICTION: Time for me to have a go at predicting the score, based on all the factors that we've discussed in the build up.
I can only see this going one way, and it's bad news for Baggies fans - I reckon Pulis's Britannia reunion will be soured, with Stoke edging a 1-0 win.
The teams are in the tunnel. Not long to go now!
Stoke and West Brom are on the pitch, the formalities are being taken care of... which way will the game go today? Stay with Sports Mole for all the action!!
KICKOFF: West Brom's Darren Fletcher and James Morrison get the game underway at the Britannia!
I must say Pulis got a very warm reception from the Stoke fans as he took his seat in the dugout. Great to see, they recognise just how crucial he was to getting the Potters up the pyramid and consolidating their position in the top flight.
Half a chance for Stoke's Diouf as Adam picks him out with a long-range pass, but McAuley snuffs out the danger.
From the resulting corner, the first of the game, Shaqiri bends a shot wide of Myhill's post from the edge of the area.
Stoke keep pressing forward as Adam blasts a long-range shot over the bar. West Brom are being forced to punt long balls forward whenever they find themselves, in possession which is allowing the hosts to launch more attacks.
An incisive through ball from the man to watch, Shaqiri, sends Diouf in behind the away side's defence, but the flag shoots right up to thwart the move.
West Brom are yet to find their feet at the Britannia as they're forced to sit back and take hit after hit from Stoke. Not the best start for Pulis, but on the plus side it's still all square.
CHANCE! Still all Stoke as Adam's cross from the right is planted goalwards by Diouf. Straight at Myhill though.
Stoke have had 79 percent possession in the opening ten or so minutes, but West Brom have their first foray forward as Rondon gets a touch inside the box - but his control is poor and possession is lost.
But forward come the hosts, who win a free kick. Adam launches one from 30 yards out, which goes under the wall and into the arms of Myhill.
Adam's in the thick of it today as he plays a neat ball out wide to Johnson, who drives up the wing before his cross is blocked and wins the Potters a corner.
Stoke continue to control possession, with Butland yet to be tested by the away side, but Adam has to be bailed out by Cameron after his wayward pass fell to Rondon.
Alongside Adam, Shaqiri is also proving a bit of a livewire today for Stoke as he scarpers down the left flank and gets a cross in.
It's not all just attack for Stoke - there's some (cynical?) defensive play in there too, as Baggies captain Fletcher is scythed down and left hobbling after a heavy challenge from Adam which goes unpunished.
CHANCE! Possibly the best effort of the afternoon so far too - and from the seemingly beleaguered Baggies! Stoke fail to clear the ball when McClean crosses into the box, and Morrison gets the ball and connects with a neat half-volley which Butland frantically pushes away.
RED CARD! Is this the turning point in the game? Afellay is sent off after reacting angrily to a trip on the halfway line - he lashes out at Gardner, referee whips out his red, and the ex-Barcelona man is playing no further part in this game. The Baggies man sees a yellow for the original tackle.
CHANCE! The ten men of Stoke aren't unfazed though - Adam lofts a long pass into Diouf's path and is dinked over the goalkeeper but, from merely one yard out, McAuley heads the ball over the bar for a corner which comes to nothing.
RED CARD! Stoke are now down to nine men as Adam is sent off! The assistant referee flags immediately as he tackles Dawson, and for the second time in the game, the red card is shown to a Potters player! It appears that Adam stamped on Dawson - Hughes is going to have to pull out all the stops to get something out of this game two men down with an hour to play!
SUBSTITUTION: Pulis brings striker Rickie Lambert on for Claudio Yacob. The intent is clearly there - go for the kill while Stoke are weak!
No immediate signs of the tide turning as Stoke win another corner, but the visitors are having an easier time of things now, with Fletcher's long ball over the stretched defence nearly falling to Rondon.
CHANCE! It's starting to turn, perhaps, maybe... a quick free kick from Morrison gives Lambert time on the ball from 30 yards out to let rip, but Butland does well to turn it over the bar - the subsequent corner is then cleared.
Looks like it's going to be goalless at the break as West Brom lack incisiveness - Rondon heads tamely wide from McClean's left wing cross. Four minutes of stoppage time indicated though, so we'll see...
Stoke are being forced to defend incredibly deep, but it's seriously hard work as the ball falls kindly to Rondon inside the box. Cameron, however throws himself in the way of the shot.
GOAL! STOKE 0-1 WEST BROM (SALOMON RONDON)
HALF TIME: STOKE 0-1 WEST BROM
Literally on the stroke of half time, Stoke's resistance eventually crumbles - and with their opponents boasting two extra men, it was kind of on the cards. A perfectly weighted ball in from Lambert allows Rondon to guide a header across goal and past Butland to put the visitors in the lead, with the half-time whistle blowing moments later.
"A game of two halves" is one of the most dished out cliches in football, but you could say this half was divided into two "halves" - well, two distinct periods if we're being pedantic. So the hosts dominated proceedings in part one, continuing to tick on even after Ibrahim Afellay was sent off...
...but when Charlie Adam was also handed his marching orders by way of the referee's little red rectangle, that was pretty much it for Stoke. West Brom were given licence to cut the already-depleted and space-gifting hosts open, and Salomon Rondon's goal came as no surprise to be fair.
Mark Hughes was not happy to say the least as he went in at the break. Just what can his side do to salvage something from this game, with two men missing from his lineup?
Michael Oliver's red cards are certainly going to be a topic of contention post-match...
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KICKOFF: The 20 men on the pitch get things back underway. Can Stoke get something out of this game against all odds, or will the Baggies waltz their way to victory? Stay with Sports Mole and find out as it unfolds.
SUBSTITUTION: Just one change at half time and it comes from the away side - Craig Gardner makes way for Callum McManaman.
CHANCE! Rondon almost doubles his tally and his side's lead as McManaman whips a ball towards the Venezuelan's head, but the resulting effort soars over both Butland and the crossbar.
For West Brom, it's like the difficulty of this game has gone from Medium to Very Easy (or Pro to Amateur if you're into your football videogames) - particularly for Rondon, who's just loving how much space he's got to run into.
McManaman is proving the bane of the hosts' afternoon - he skips past Pieters to earn West Brom a corner, but McClean's ball is eventually turned away to safety.
Hughes has set Stoke's remaining eight outfield players in two banks of four, which effectively forsakes any attacking intent for a "they shall not pass" defensive block. They're not conceding much at the back, but they can't do much upfield either.
CHANCES! Rondon beats his marker yet again and heads just wide of Butland's post, while moments later Fletcher's 20-yard shot takes a huge deflection off Cameron and trickles just wide. Just 30 minutes to go for the nine Spartans of Stoke.
CHANCE! Stoke, much like Rocky in the fourth film, is just not going to go down. They break on the counter and get the ball to Shariqi, whose ambitious shot from outside the box goes over.
SUBSTITUTIONS: One for each team - Marc Wilson is coming on for the injured Glen Johnson, while James McClean is replaced by Cristian Gamboa.
West Brom are playing at almost walking pace, inviting Stoke's nine men to come at them - only to then break at pace and slice through their depleted and overstretched ranks. The hosts, savvy to this, are taking their time and not taking the bait.
YELLOW CARD: Pieters gets a yellow card for dragging down Gamboa after the winger got the best of him. From the resulting free kick, McManaman shoots over.
SUBSTITUTION: Record signing Xherdan Shaqiri's home debut is over as he gets replaced by Marko Arnautovic.
BOOKING: Gamboa, who was fouled moments earlier, goes into the book himself after pulling back Van Ginkel who was bursting forward.
The foul on Van Ginkel in midfield allows the home side to get the ball forward. Punched away by Myhill, Stoke manage to get to the byline again to win another, but this time it's cleared for good.
CHANCE! Stoke are determined to not only survive the apparent onslaught, but to get their hands on some of the points! Pieters lets rip with an audacious yet quite-good-actually 40-yard shot which, despite its ferocity, is claimed by Myhill.
Arnautovic is injecting life into Stoke team today since coming on - he has twice picked the ball up in midfield and driven up the pitch, this time testing Myhill with a rasping shot.
In response, Morrison goes up the other end and fires a shot straight at Butland. Quarter of an hour to go, and both sides seem to lack the cutting edge to really test either keeper.
Diouf feels that he should have won a free kick in a good area, but referee Michael Oliver doesn't give him one. The Stoke fans are livid.
CHANCE! Though Stoke are still technically in with a chance of nicking a goal, the Baggies are the ones getting all the best chances. First Lambert's long-range - and goalbound - shot is blocked, then McManaman picks up the ball inside the box and curls a shot just wide of the far corner.
SUBSTITUTION: Stephen Ireland replaces Mame Diouf, who's been grafting on his own all afternoon up front.
This is kitchen sink-throwing time for Stoke as they begin to commit plenty of men forward. They're not doing too badly, but the move ends when Muniesa's cross is too heavy and out for a goal kick.
BOOKING: McAuley gets a yellow card for barging into Arnautovic following a long ball forward.
West Brom are failing to truly make the game safe as Gamboa wins the ball but opts to shoot and the effort goes over.
Four minutes of added time as West Brom defend frantically. The nine men of Stoke are giving it their all despite such a serious disadvantage.
BOOKING: Free kick for Stoke in a dangerous position on the edge of the box, but Arnautovic's effort strikes the wall. That could be that. Lambert earns a booking for his hack on the Austrian.
FULL TIME: STOKE 0-1 WEST BROM
So there you have it folks! Tony Pulis's return to the Britannia ends in his side getting all three points, but there will be much discussion over the two red cards in the first half which all but ended Stoke's chances of getting anything out of this game. Salomon Rondon's goal on the stroke of half time gives West Brom all three points!
It's still early days but let's take a look at the table anyway - Stoke, still without a Premier League win this season, slip to second from bottom on two points, while the Baggies climb to 14th after they break their league duck. That's all we've got time for on the live commentary but we'll be bringing you analysis and player ratings very soon! Thanks for following and all the best!
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Written by
Giuseppe Labellarte
Giuseppe Labellarte
