West Brom move up to fourth in Championship with win at Stoke City
The Baggies came out on top in a tepid affair at the Bet365 stadium which sees the Potters remain 17th
DWIGHT GAYLE scored his 16th goal of the season to give West Brom all three points at Stoke City.
The hosts put up no real fight as the Englishman's 25th minute header proved enough to split the two teams.
Both sides had early chances, with Peter Etebo skewing an effort off target for Stoke, while Jacob Murphy narrowly lifted a drive over the crossbar.
But the visitors went ahead when from a well worked free-kick unmarked Ahmed Hegazi peeled off at the back post and picked out Gayle with an excellent cut back which the 28-year-old nodded home from close range.
Stoke's marking was poor but they should have had a penalty just fifteen minutes later when Gareth Barry appeared to clear the ball with his arm.
But referee Jeremy Simpson did not point to the spot and Darren Moore's men took a one goal lead into the break.
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Other than some half-hearted penalty appeals from both sides, the second half was a fairly uneventful affair.
Searching for a route back into the game, former West Brom winger James McClean saw an attempt charged down before Joe Allen fizzed a low cross into the box from the right that just evaded his Wales international team-mate Sam Vokes.
Tom Edwards and Stefan Johansen received bookings before the break but Gayle's caution for a late cynical foul proved one of the more exciting moments in an otherwise tame second half.
Late on Tom Ince wasted a free-kick from a threatening position when he lifted the set-piece over Sam Johnstone's crossbar.
Stoke lacked ideas even when behind as boss Nathan Jones succumbed to his fifth defeat from six since his appointment on January 9.
West Brom moved up to fourth with the win whilst Stoke remain 17th.