Stoke City 0-1 West Bromwich Albion: Dwight Gayle heads winner for Baggies
- Published
West Brom striker Dwight Gayle (third from left) is on a season-long loan from Premier League side Newcastle
West Bromwich Albion moved to within four points of a Championship automatic promotion place as they inflicted a third successive defeat on Stoke City.
Dwight Gayle nodded in from close range to notch his 16th goal of the season and put the Baggies ahead midway through the first half.
Jay Rodriguez had an opportunity to double the lead on the stroke of half-time, but skewed his effort wide with Potters keeper Jack Butland out of position.
In a game of few clear-cut chances, Stoke winger Tom Ince dragged a shot wide and sent a free-kick over the bar.
West Brom had slipped a place to fifth in the table following Middlesbrough's draw with Leeds in the early kick-off, but the visitors seized the chance to move back above the Teessiders and cut the gap to the top two.
Darren Moore is aiming to lead the Baggies to an immediate return to the Premier League, and Gayle's goals have proved crucial in their bid for promotion.
The on-loan Newcastle striker was on hand to capitalise when an unmarked Ahmed Hegazi cleverly turned the ball back across goal from a free-kick.
Stoke lacked inspiration as they sought to work their way back into the game, and the Potters failed to properly test visiting keeper Sam Johnstone.
Nathan Jones has now lost five of his six games in charge in all competitions following his appointment as boss on 9 January, with his only victory coming at home to leaders Leeds.
City are now 17th, 12 points off the play-offs and looking like they will be resigned to a second year in the Championship following relegation last season.
Stoke manager Nathan Jones told ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Radio Stoke:
"I'm disappointed we lost because we switched off for one moment and got punished, which is what good sides do to you. But on the whole, there were real positives.
"We moved the ball well and got into good areas. It was just the final ball or a bit of movement."
West Bromwich Albion head coach Darren Moore told ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ WM:
"I'm delighted to get the goal from a set-play, and then the work off the ball as a group was excellent. Every single player played their part.
"Stoke are a different team to what they were three weeks ago. You can see the clear work Nathan's doing with them, and they'll be difficult opponents for any team to come here and get anything."