Stoke City 4 - West Brom 1

Last updated : 04 May 2004 By Footymad Previewer

Stoke went searching for an early goal in the sixth minute when Chris Collins whipped in a right-sided corner, but Clint Hill who rose unchallenged put his header wide of Russell Hoult's goal.

After having a penalty shout turned down, Stoke took the lead on the stroke of half time when Darel Russell picked up a deflected Karl Henry shot and fired a strike through a crowded box into Hoult's bottom left corner.

Albion woke up from their casual approach in the second half and it only took them five minutes to level the scores when Jason Koumas crossed another deadly corner for Scott Dobie, who powered his header past a helpless Neil Cutler from ten yards.

With pouring rain affecting the playing surface, Kris Commons sought his chance to embarrass Hoult when in the 67th minute he hammered a low free-kick from range which the Albion keeper parried into his own net to give Stoke the lead.

The Potters weren't finished at that and went further ahead in the 73rd with Commons grabbing a brace. After John Halls played the ball inside the area, the youngster comfortably slotted under Hoult.

Adding insult to injury four minutes before time, Commons involved himself again, but this time as supplier when he picked out Gifton Noel-Williams on the right, who headed down into the ground and into the net to complete the rout.

Koumas summed up West Brom's misery in the 87th minute when he was dismissed for a petty kick at goalscorer Russell.

Baggies manager Gary Megson said: "We played in a different shape and manner than we have been doing and if we did that earlier in the season we would have been relegated.

"The game was self-indulgent and we didn't play as a team."