Date: 30th September 2016 at 4:09pm
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Salomon Rondon’s 91st minute header was heartbreaking for Mark Hughes and Stoke City. The Potters had looked to secure their first victory of the season against their former manager, but West Brom’s centre forward glanced home a needlessly conceded corner to deny Stoke three vital points.

After the horror display at Selhurst Park, where Stoke were clinically dispatched 4-1, and a frustrating EFL Cup exit at home to Hull City, Stoke fans were able to take some consolation in the fact that they broke their losing streak in the 1-1 draw with The Baggies.

missed chance - Photo: Marc Atkins / Offside.

Rondon’s last-gasp equaliser denied Stoke City their first league win this campaign – Photo: Marc Atkins / Offside.

The search for the first league win of the season continues, and it looks like Stoke will be waiting for at least another couple of weeks. This Sunday they travel to Old Trafford, a ground where they have lost every time since their promotion to the top-flight in 2008.

Given Stoke’s current league standings, and the ruthless way The Red Devils dispatched league champions Leicester City last week, this game looks like a home banker. The question is probably not if Stoke can get a result, but how many goals they can restrict Man United to.

After the Old Trafford visit comes an international break, after which Stoke can really start thinking about picking up victories. From mid-October to early December, Stoke face Sunderland, Hull, Swansea City, West Ham United, AFC Bournemouth and Burnley – all games in which The Potters should be targeting three points.

There were signs of progression in the West Brom performance. For one thing, the defence looked more secure with Lee Grant in goal instead of the rapidly declining Shay Given. Save for Grant’s mix-up with Bruno Martins Indi, which led to the corner which brought about West Brom’s equaliser, the on-loan Derby keeper performed well, and his confidence seemed to have a positive impact on his back four.

The performance of Joe Allen too, was much cause for celebration. The Welshman has been Stoke’s standout player during a turbulent start to the season, and he was rewarded for his all-action displays when he scored what many mistakenly believed was the decisive goal in the second half at The Bet365 Stadium last week. Allen played in a midfield three alongside Glenn Whelan and Geoff Cameron, in another midfield shake-up from Mark Hughes. Without Bojan playing behind the striker or the attack-minded Giannelli Imbula starting, Stoke did look more secure against West Brom. However, considering the relative attacking threat of Tony Pulis’ side away from home, this may not be something to celebrate with too much gusto.

Whilst the display was encouraging, Stoke once again lacked an ability to create chances, a failing which has been all too common during the past few months. Marko Arnautovic and Xherdan Shaqiri are tremendously talented players, and both had a hand in Joe Allen’s opener, but just as a striker needs service from his wide players, wide players need service from their central midfielders.

 Football:Marko Arnautovic of Stoke.Photo: Mark Leech

Winger Arnautovic has scored two goals in eight appearances in all competitions for the Potters this term – Photo: Mark Leech / Offside.

The Austrian and Swiss internationals will have wanted to see much more of the ball than they did on Saturday. Stoke’s midfield is becoming ever more functional, and this is doing little to improve their attacking output. Wilfried Bony has found life understandably tough, given his little supply and a lack of a striking partner, or even a number ten to play off him.

However, if the increasingly under pressure Hughes has faith in the team that was cruelly denied a victory against Tony Pulis’ men, he must continue to show it. Too much rotation could be incredibly damaging to a side 19th in the table and still without a win. After a better display defensively last week, the Stoke manager must stick with Grant in goal and a back four of Glen Johnson, Ryan Shawcross, Bruno Martins Indi and Erik Pieters.

The midfield three may be defensive and not everyone’s cup of tea, but Hughes again cannot afford too much rotation. If, at every hint of performances looking up, the team is once again changed, confidence in the camp will be undermined and Stoke will never be able to gain any momentum. Even if, as expected, the result Stoke pick up at Old Trafford is not a favourable one, calm heads must prevail.

There is a certain feeling that Stoke just need to get this Manchester United game out of the way. After that, there is every possibility of this team going on a good run and surging up the table. After the choppy waters of Manchester, the storm looks like it could be about to clear. Hughes must back his own abilities as a manager to guide his ship safely out of the relegation zone.

 
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