Stoke swept away by Gayle force as West Brom loan striker hits double

Posted Sunday, September 02, 2018 by PA

Dwight Gayle grabbed a double to get West Brom back to winning ways in the Sky Bet Championship.

The striker made all the difference in a 2-1 victory against Stoke at the Hawthorns.

Gayle, who is on loan from Newcastle, struck in the 16th minute and then again just before the hour mark as the hosts bounced back after their defeat at Middlesbrough. Stoke grabbed a consolation through Erik Pieters.

Stoke had made the short journey to West Bromwich boosted by back-to-back league and cup victories, after failing to win any of their opening four games of the season.

But the Potters, whose former West Brom players Saido Berahino and James McClean were given a torrid time by home fans, never looked like making it a hat-trick of wins.

And a dismal day for Gary Rowett’s side was summed up when Benik Afobe missed a 71st-minute penalty. Pieters pulled a goal back from 25 yards but it came deep into stoppage time.

Albion, relegated along with Stoke from the Premier League last season, twice threatened to break the deadlock before Gayle scored.

Gayle had a chance in the 11th minute that he pushed wide and then Jay Rodriguez dragged a shot the wrong side of the post after dispossessing Peter Etebo.

But West Brom only had to wait a matter of moments to turn their early domination into a breakthrough.

Kieran Gibbs made a surging run towards the Stoke area and picked out Gayle whose spin in the area gave him a vital yard on the Stoke defence and he calmly stroked the ball past Jack Butland.

West Brom should have doubled their advantage eight minutes later only for Ahmed Hegazi to head wide from a Matt Phillips free-kick.

Stoke were then indebted to Butland for keeping the deficit down to a single goal when he beat away a goalbound drive from Chris Brunt.

The visitors were struggling to get a foothold in the game but came close to dragging themselves back to level terms in the 27th minute in bizarre style when McClean charged down a clearance from goalkeeper Sam Johnstone, with the ball flying narrowly over the bar.

Albion remained the dominant force and Butland saved Stoke again on the stroke of half-time when his outstretched foot turned away a shot from Harvey Barnes before Kyle Bartley had a goal disallowed for handball.

Rodriguez saw two chances go begging, one of them being saved by the overworked Butland, before Stoke’s luck ran out in the 59th minute when Jake Livermore launched a long pass forward.

Gayle’s pace took him beyond the Stoke defence and this time Butland was powerless to stop the ball flying past him.

Stoke were afforded a route back into the game when Livermore handled on the line, only for substitute Afobe to drive his spot-kick against the bar. The late strike from Pieters only served to narrow West Brom’s winning margin.