Match ends, Stoke City 0, West Bromwich Albion 0.
StokeStoke City0West BromWest Bromwich Albion0
Stoke and West Brom played out a 0-0 draw at the Britannia Stadium, meaning Mark Hughes's Potters have only scored one goal in five Premier League games.
The Baggies had a strong appeal for a second-half penalty when Youssouf Mulumbu ghosted past Charlie Adam, only for Adam to tread on his heels.
Referee Howard Webb looked to assistant Mike Mullarkey, who waved play on.
Stephane Sessegnon should have won it for the visitors late on, but shot straight at Stoke keeper Asmir Begovic.
The hosts' best chance fell to Adam, whose shot from the halfway line was tipped over by Boaz Myhill, as the game finished goalless - as had their last meeting, in March.
West Brom are now unbeaten in five league games for the first time since April 2011, but Stoke have not won in the league since defeating West Ham in August.
After an opening where neither team's players seemed capable of passing to a player in the same coloured shirt, West Brom gradually started to have the better of the first half.
Sessegnon missed a great chance, beating two Stoke defenders, but his shot was easily gathered by Begovic, who made a fine stop soon after.
Fierce tracking back by Victor Anichebe won the ball back for Sessegnon, and when the Benin attacker played in Morgan Amalfitano, his clumsy first touch left him without enough space to lift the ball over the goalkeeper.
Stoke's best chance of the first half came from a well-rehearsed free-kick. Marko Arnautovic side-footed through to Stephen Ireland, whose pull-back was clipped away for a corner from the edge of the six-yard box.
West Brom's penalty claim came not long after the break as Mulumbu slipped past Adam in the penalty area with a deft change of pace, before the ex-Liverpool midfielder trod on the Congo player's heels.
Although referee Webb did not have a clear view, his assistant ruled there was no infringement.
Stoke used the close call to spur them on as Arnautovic pinged in a low cross at the other end, with Ireland blazing over the bar from close range.
Soon after, Adam tried his luck from halfway, with a rapidly backpedalling Myhill getting back just in time to tip over the bar.
Arnautovic and Ireland continued to link well, with the Austrian just short of prodding home the on-loan midfielder's cross.
Sessegnon should have won it in injury time, beating four players, but once again, could only fire straight at Begovic.
Stoke manager Mark Hughes: "It was well-fought and evenly matched. Our keeper made a number of outstanding saves, most notably at the end, for which we're very grateful. Nil-nil was a fair result for both teams.
"West Brom will question that penalty opportunity but I was saying the same thing at Fulham a couple of weeks back. Perhaps these things even themselves out.
"We're looking for that killer touch up front: we've used different combinations. We're very close - it's a matter of getting our noses in front in a match."
Line-ups
Stoke
Formation 4-2-3-1
- 1Begovic
- 28WilkinsonBooked at 73mins
- 3Pieters
- 16AdamSubstituted forWilsonat 80'minutes
- 17Shawcross
- 4Huth
- 19WaltersSubstituted forJonesat 57'minutes
- 15N'Zonzi
- 10ArnautovicSubstituted forPalaciosat 90+2'minutes
- 32Ireland
- 24Assaidi
Substitutes
- 6Whelan
- 8Palacios
- 9Jones
- 12Wilson
- 25Crouch
- 26Etherington
- 29Sørensen
West Brom
Formation 4-2-3-1
- 13Myhill
- 28Jones
- 6Ridgewell
- 21Mulumbu
- 23McAuley
- 3Olsson
- 18AmalfitanoSubstituted forMorrisonat 62'minutes
- 5Yacob
- 16AnichebeSubstituted forLongat 75'minutes
- 29Sessegnon
- 38BerahinoSubstituted forAnelkaat 62'minutes
Substitutes
- 7Morrison
- 9Long
- 11Brunt
- 19Daniels
- 20Vydra
- 25Dawson
- 39Anelka
- Referee:
- Howard Webb
- Attendance:
- 25,904
Match Stats
Home TeamStokeAway TeamWest Brom
- Possession
- Home50%
- Away50%
- Shots
- Home9
- Away12
- Shots on Target
- Home3
- Away5
- Corners
- Home6
- Away6
- Fouls
- Home12
- Away10
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Stoke City 0, West Bromwich Albion 0.
Post update
Attempt missed. Robert Huth (Stoke City) header from the centre of the box is too high. Assisted by Stephen Ireland with a cross following a corner.
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Corner, Stoke City. Conceded by Jonas Olsson.
Substitution
Substitution, Stoke City. Wilson Palacios replaces Marko Arnautovic.
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Attempt missed. James Morrison (West Bromwich Albion) header from the centre of the box misses to the left. Assisted by Stéphane Sessegnon with a cross.
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Attempt saved. Stéphane Sessegnon (West Bromwich Albion) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Liam Ridgewell.
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Attempt blocked. Youssuf Mulumbu (West Bromwich Albion) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked.
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Foul by Nicolas Anelka (West Bromwich Albion).
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Asmir Begovic (Stoke City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Attempt missed. Youssuf Mulumbu (West Bromwich Albion) right footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the right. Assisted by Nicolas Anelka.
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Nicolas Anelka (West Bromwich Albion) wins a free kick on the left wing.
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Foul by Marc Wilson (Stoke City).
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Stéphane Sessegnon (West Bromwich Albion) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Foul by Andy Wilkinson (Stoke City).
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Corner, West Bromwich Albion. Conceded by Marc Wilson.
Substitution
Substitution, Stoke City. Marc Wilson replaces Charlie Adam.
Post update
Foul by Charlie Adam (Stoke City).
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Billy Jones (West Bromwich Albion) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Post update
Foul by Kenwyne Jones (Stoke City).
