After his opening day hat-trick Josh Maja has now hit four goals in two Albion away league games
West Bromwich Albion made it two Championship away wins out of two as they just edged Stoke City in the Midlands derby in the Potteries.
Winger Tom Fellows was the architect of victory, crossing for Karlan Grant to head their opener before setting up Josh Maja for the winner, after Stoke had briefly levelled.
Home debutant Lewis Koumas netted for the Potters and the lively Liverpool loan man also hit the woodwork twice - the first of them coming in a mad six first-half minutes when goals and chances came at either end.
After an absolute humdinger of a first half, the game slightly fizzled out in the second period.
But Albion had still done enough to make it seven points from their first three matches, while for Stoke it was back-to-back league defeats.
- Published23 August
- Published22 August
Fellows had already been a handful in the opening 18 minutes before he unlocked the Stoke defence down the right with a teasing chipped cross, keeper Viktor Johansson mistimed his leap and Grant, who spent last season out on loan at Cardiff City, was the grateful recipient to nod home his first goal of the season at the far post - and his first for Albion since April 2023 .
It should have been 2-0 when Stoke survived a miraculous double escape when, first, Fellows was denied by a sensational goal-line clearance from Eric Bocat, before Ben Gibson dived in full-length to somehow divert John Swift's follow-up effort for a corner.
Instead, just two minutes later, Stoke were level when Million Manhoef put on-loan Liverpool and Wales man Koumas through to net confidently.
But, within two minutes, Albion were back in front when Darnell Furlong sent Fellows to the bye-line, the winger pulled back and first-day hat-trick hero Maja slotted his fourth goal in three matches from the edge of the box.
After scoring his first goal in league football, on-loan Lewis Koumas also hit the Albion woodwork twice
It would have taken something special to cap a first half like that - and the second period did not really come close.
Alex Mowatt shot just wide before Fellows fired over and, from one neat move down the inside-right channel involving Swift and Maja, the fleet-footed Fellows could only find the side netting.
Yet, even before they poured on a whole raft of substitutes, it was Stoke who went closest to scoring when Koumas reacted quickly with a first-time, right-foot effort only to see it come back off the post for a second time.
Worryingly, the Potters never really looked like threatening again - and Albion saw it out in relatively untroubled fashion.
Stoke City boss Steven Schumacher told BBC Radio Stoke:
"I'm disappointed with the result in a close game, which we always knew was going to be a bit of a battle, as West Brom are going to be a good side again this season.
"Tight games are decided by small margins and we just didn't come out on the right side.
"Lewis Koumas has the speed and skill to make him a real threat in that role and he took his goal excellently.
"He was also really unlucky to hit the inside of the post twice. If they go in, it's a different game."
West Bromwich Albion head coach Carlos Corberan told BBC Radio WM:
"I am very pleased with the result - and a lot of credit must go to the players for their mentality in managing the situation.
"When they scored, having been close to making it 2-0, instead it was 1-1 – and that is always mentally a challenge.
"Tom Fellows always gives us some good moments. You need these to win matches.
"And Karlan Grant offers us many things - more than just goals. He is very important to the team."
Who's next?
Stoke now face two long away hauls next week.
Tuesday's League Cup second-round tie at Middlesbrough - a return to Teesside for Boro old boy Gibson - is then followed by boss Steven Schumacher's return to Devon next Saturday to face his old club, Wayne Rooney's Plymouth Argyle
Albion, who are already out of the League Cup, return home next Saturday with an afternoon fixture against Swansea City.
