West Bromwich Albion 1 - Stoke City 0

Mark Koppel:

Stoke are still the dirtiest team in the PL, pity most of the players are Pulis signings.

My Son, who watched the game on the internet, said that Charlie 'Nasty' Adams stamped once again on one of our players, this time Berahino. If true that is the third time he has done this, once before when he cynically scraped his studs on the back of Mulumbu's ankle last season. I hope MOTD picks it up and he finally gets a 3 match ban.

Shawcross is not much better and if he plays for England ever then our national team have reached a new low.

On a happier note, as far as our players are concerned:

• Foster - 5 Did not have to make a save but still as nervous as hell as shown by his awful kicking. Hope his loss of confidence is not long term or due to excessive partying!
• Dawson - 7 Much better when not up against an orthodox winger. Rock hard and never pulls out of a 50/50 challenge.
• McAuley - 7 Solid today when it was more about dealing with their physicality. Also didn't try his normal totally inaccurate long passes.
• Lescott - 8 Really showed all his class and experience today. Dealt with Crouch superbly, was physical when needed and attacked with the ball a few times when required. Hopefully no more left back for him ever again.
• Brunt - 5 Better second half when clearing his lines with gusto. Crossing again pretty bad.
• Mozza - 9 Simply outstanding.
• Fletcher 7 At least twice as good as Yacob. Commanding performance in the middle and could have scored if he had his shooting boots on.
• Gardner - 6 Involved in the game more today than most matches which is what he needs to do. Poor corners but great cross for the goal.
• Berahino - 7 Nearly every shot he had today made the keeper work. Some say he is greedy but tell me about a top striker who isn't , its a necessity.
• Ideye - 6 The Jury is still out. Terrible against the Villa but was that because he is not fully fit?
• Sess - 6 Like Gardner good to see him more involved today. Still goes to ground too easy for my liking. Just worried that he is not 100% genuine.

Subs:

• Olsson 6 - Top marks for providing a quite hilarious role up front. One nice flick on but its shows how low on numbers we are if he is our alternative striker after injuries.
• Baird 2 - Thank god he stayed out of Myhill's way.
• Myhill 7 - Looked less nervous than Foster. Superb reaction to Charlie Adam's miskicked free kick. Would Foster have reacted so quickly?

oshawabaggie:

Still smarting from the double humiliation at Villa, it was hard to know what to expect today against our nemesis. Thankfully, the team showed up from the start and, except for a 10 minute period in the second half, we were superior to the 'butchers' all over the pitch. The inclusion of Sessegnon gave us an attacking dimension sadly missing at Villa and for me he was our most influential player. Mozza again put in a grafting performance and with a bit more luck could have scored.

In fact, 1 - 0 was very flattering to Stoke. We missed several good chances to add to the lead. Dawson was clattered in the box for a nailed-on penalty but the ref chose to ignore it. What did he think he saw, I wonder? I am all in favour of adopting video review for game changing plays only - Such as penalties, off side goals and sendings off. Video review has not hurt rugby. There is so much at stake. Getting a decision wrong could mean the difference between staying up and going down. Get with it FA.

The Villa debacle aside, we have beaten Swansea, West Ham, Southampton and Stoke without conceding a goal. These are four decent teams and we have rendered them impotent. Two more wins and I think we can relax and enjoy the remainder of the season. Then the question will be how Pulis and co manage to reshape the team.

Ideye didn't attain the heights of his West Ham and Swansea performances today, but he took his goal well and if all he does is score, I'll take it. Berahino needs to toughen up a bit, but I can't see us landing a better goal scorer if he goes, so I hope both our strikers stay. I watched the Palace game today and was impressed with their wide men, Zaha and Bolaasie. They really add a speed threat from the wings that we sadly lack.

But overall, if we'd been offered our current position when Pulis took over, I think most of us would have taken it. Can we choke a nil nil out of Man City?

Brendan Clegg:

A much better performance and a deserved 3 points.

Was pretty happy with the starting lineup - especially Sess returning to the team and Mozza shifting to the centre.

There really does seem to be a marked deliberate difference in approach to home and away games. Today we attacked with numbers, took risks with the ball to keep it in deep areas, kept the hoofs to a minimum and pressed really well. Having Sess in the side obviously helps as he can carry the ball 20/30 yards and occupy people, and his presence makes the opposition more wary. But it's not just personnel - it is a different style and approach.

I am convinced TP goes into every away game content with a draw and sets his team to take no risks whatsoever and play for the margins. That's what we've seen. And all that makes me feel is regret for the last week - for the cup game especially when there was nothing to lose. We've proven we can get after teams so why don't we try it in away games? Maybe he'll have a go when we are safe and we'll see, but away games might have to end for me.

Anyway, we were the better team apart from a spell where we stopped pressing Stoke's deep lying players so they could go long to Crouch. We dealt with their threats quite comfortably and we could have done better with our own opportunities.

The officials were also pretty poor - we should have had a penalty and how Charlie Adam stayed on the pitch is beyond me. What a shame that a guy with such natural ability and clearly not a footballers frame has had to resort to such horrible tackles and niggles to influence a game.

Nobody has ever stayed up with 33 points but 34-36 goes from a 5% chance to a 60% chance. We're all but there barring disaster.

• Foster - 6 Looked Ok until one dodgy kick and a fumble later.
• Dawson - 7 Continues to impress. Giving it everything he has which is all you can ask.
• GMac - 8 So impressive again. Can he keep going forever? One win-saving tackle at the death summed him up.
• Lescott - 7 Generally good and in control.
• Brunt - 6 I think defensively he did a good job again and his aerial strength is probably what's keeping him in the side. Wasteful from really good crossing opportunities and had a shot he'll probably never want to see again.
• Gardner - 7 Threw himself into everything and a wonderful cross for the goal. He looks so much better in home games when we play at the tempo that suits his game and works as a great extra battler when we have a proper winger on the other flank.
• Fletch - 7 Another solid and generally very good game on the ball - it was his touch of class that took a nothing ball out of the air and played Gardner in for his assist. Read the game well too and won his fair share of physical battles.
• Morrison - 9 Is he starting to run away with the player-of-the-year award? In his best role again his energy levels, will to try things and carry the ball were fantastic and he nearly scored a wonder goal from a great dribble.
• Sess - 7 A constant threat and he creates space for Saido and others that we just don't get when he's on the bench. Looked tired after 60 minutes but had a late rally towards the end.
• Saido - 7 More great movement and strength. Not protected enough by the referee. His effort was great and he's got this fantastic footballing brain that you can't coach - he reads situations really well and his all round game is really coming along.
• Ideye - 6 Read the situation for his goal really well and arguably his other should have stood and yet prior to the goal he was having an absolute 'mare. The goal picked up his confidence and he looked a bit better.

• Myhill - 6 Can't work out whether the charge out at the end saved us the victory or was madness. Solid enough.
• Olsson - 6 Won a few flicks and did his best up front but looked like a confused giraffe coming round from being tranquilised. Did his best.
• Baird - ? I'm pretty sure he and Pulis have a 50/50 deal on his appearance bonuses.