Nat Phillips' first goal for West Bromwich Albion condemned Stoke City to their first Championship defeat of the season, a 1-0 away win that preserved the Baggies' unbeaten start and knocked the early pacesetters off the top of the table.
Mark Robins' side had begun the weekend on the back of three straight league victories and at the summit of the early standings, despite a bruising 3-0 home loss to Bradford City in the Carabao Cup in midweek. West Brom arrived in fourth and left with a record of three wins and a draw from their opening four games, a run that lifted them into second behind new leaders Middlesbrough and extended Stoke's winless sequence against them to seven matches.
Baggies Start Brightly in Blustery Conditions
With both clubs eyeing top spot, it was West Brom who settled quicker. The visitors looked sharper in the opening exchanges, pushing Stoke back and testing their defensive organisation, with captain Jed Wallace firing an early effort from distance to signal their intent.