Premier League Preview: Stoke v West Brom
Mark Hughes has challenged Stoke City to record back-to-back Premier League wins for the first time this season against West Brom on Sunday.
![](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/o7L2mSQoMiaEFrnHVuLiPC.jpg)
Stoke's top-flight campaign has been punctuated with a number of impressive results, including wins over Manchester City, Tottenham, Arsenal and, most recently, Everton.
However, Hughes' men failed to claim maximum points from the next game after the first three of those aforementioned wins - much to the Welshman's frustration.
Bojan Krkic's first-half penalty was enough to see Stoke edge Everton at a sodden Goodison Park on Friday and Hughes wants his side to build momentum ahead of the new year.
"We've found it difficult to get back-to-back results. That's something that has stalled our season," said Hughes, who has injury doubts over Phil Bardsley (ankle) and Stephen Ireland (knee).
"We've had really good performances, I mean we've won here [at Everton], we've won at Man City and Tottenham but then stumbled in our next game.
"Hopefully, that won't be the case. It's difficult for everybody with the quick turnaround but we'll make the best of it.
"We pride ourselves on our fitness levels so hopefully they will sustain us and enable us to get through these next two games [against West Brom and Manchester United]."
Get FourFourTwo Newsletter
The best features, fun and footballing quizzes, straight to your inbox every week.
While Stoke are looking upwards after a hard-fought victory on Merseyside, Alan Irvine will be eager for West Brom to stop the rot.
Irvine's men, who have won only one of their last eight league games, will go in search of a first victory over Stoke in five attempts, although they are unbeaten on their last four visits to the Britannia Stadium.
Graham Dorrans scored a late winner in West Brom's last triumph against Stoke and could return for Irvine following a calf problem, although Victor Anichebe (groin) remains doubtful.
Irvine was left to rue individual errors during Friday's 3-1 defeat to Manchester City but maintains he and his squad are doing all they can to turn results around.
"All I can do is keep on trying to do the job in the way I do," he said.
"I'll work extremely hard, I try leave nothing to chance. Unfortunately, I can't actually do anything about individual errors. What I can do is try make sure the team plays in a certain way.
"I can't be in control of some of the things that have happened. The players have been great and all we can do is keep on working.
"We caused [Man City] some problems going forward, we just gave ourselves a mountain to climb defensively."
![LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 5: Arne Slot Manager of Liverpool congratulates Mohamed Salah of Liverpool after the 4-0 victory during the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 League Phase MD4 match between Liverpool FC and Bayer 04 Leverkusen at Anfield on November 5, 2024 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Crystal Pix/MB Media/Getty Images)](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/q3ie7X2vDDiU7X6C9HVRK7-840-80.jpg)
‘The pure simplicity of the way Slot has managed the squad is probably the biggest thing I could say about him. It’s not broken, so let’s get on with it’: Liverpool legend full of admiration for Jurgen Klopp's successor at Anfield
![CARDIFF, UNITED KINGDOM - JUNE 02: Wales captain Ryan Giggs shakes the hand of manager John Toshack after being substituted on his last International appearance for his country during the Euro 2008 Group D Qualifying Match between Wales and Czech Republic at the Millennium Stadium on June 2, 2007 in Cardiff, Wales. Photo by (Stu Forster/Getty Images)](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/ooQ9oNmgvfUUG8TBUhn6BK-840-80.jpg)
‘I trained at Spurs and thought they’d give me a chance. But I received a letter thanking me but saying they didn’t think I was good enough – I was gutted’: How Tottenham missed out on signing Wales legend John Toshack