Source: Daily_Mail
Stoke 1 West Brom 1: Carlos Vela saves the day with late strike
[LNB] Jonas Olsson was accused of vandalism after West Bromwich team-mate Carlos Vela's controversial late equaliser sparked a tunnel bust-up at the Britannia Stadium. [LNB]Stoke were furious that Vela's 87th-minute goal was allowed to stand after replays showed the substitute was at least a yard offside when he cancelled out Rory Delap's header. [LNB]Stoke striker Ricardo Fuller refused to shake Olsson's hand as tempers boiled over and then had to be dragged away from the Swede by two West Brom players after grabbing his opponent by the throat. [LNB] Mexican save: Vela netted with just three minutes remaining to salvage a draw at Stoke [LNB]A furious Olsson responded by smashing a photograph of the stadium that was hanging on the wall of the tunnel. [LNB]Stoke manager Tony Pulis said: 'The lad Olsson is very disappointing. We've got something on the wall which is a memento of this football club, and that happens. If you can't control yourself because someone won't shake your hand, then that's no excuse. But I'm sure Roy Hodgson will sort it out with the kid.' [LNB]Albion manager Hodgson tried to make light of the incident but offered a swift apology and claimed Olsson thought it was a poster. He said: 'One of the players had a little fight with a picture on the wall and fortunately he won. There was a slight contretemps at the end. The player was upset that one of their players wouldn't shake hands. I don't think he saw the glass. He thought it was a poster and banged his hand against it. The picture wasn't a very good fighter.[LNB] Irish stout: Delap scored after 53 minutes from a Jermaine Pennant corner [LNB] 'But when a team plays with so much heart and determination, Stoke will probably forgive us for breaking a picture. We will happily hold our hands up and pay for it.' [LNB]If fight is what's required for Albion to survive in the Premier League this season, Hodgson's players once again showed their new manager they are up to the challenge. Faced with that most gladiatorial of experiences - an away game at Stoke - Albion stood firm and came from behind to earn the point that lifts them out of the relegation zone. [LNB]Once again Vela was Hodgson's saviour. The on-loan Arsenal striker who came off the bench to score an injury-time equaliser in the manager's first game against Wolves eight days ago, did it again last night four minutes after replacing Jerome Thomas.[LNB] On target: The on-loan Arsenal striker converted Reid's cross [LNB][LNB] MATCH FACTS STOKE CITY(4-4-2): Begovic 8; Wilson 6, Shawcross 6, Huth 6, Pugh 6; Pennant 7 (Whelan 78mins), Whitehead 5, Delap 7, Walters 5; Jones 6 (Fuller 83), Carew 6 (Etherington 65, 6). Subs not used: Sorensen, Higginbotham, Collins, Wilkinson. Booked: Shawcross, Huth. Scorer: Delap 53. [LNB]WEST BROMWICH ALBION (4-5-1): Carson 6; Reid 6, Meite 6, Olsson 8, Shorey 6; Scharner 6, Mulumbu 5 (Tchoyi 73, 6); Brunt 6, Dorrans 7, Thomas 6 (Vela 82); Fortune 6 (Odemwingie 73, 6). Subs not used: Myhill,Morrison, Tamas, Jara. Booked: Mulumbu, Brunt. Scorer: Vela 87. [LNB]Man of the match: Asmir Begovic.[LNB]Referee: Michael Oliver 6. Attendance: 25,019. [LNB]The linesman's flag inexplicably stayed down when Steven Reid's cross from the right reached the Mexican 10 yards from goal. Vela did not hesitate, taking it under control before clipping the ball past Asmir Begovic. [LNB]Both managers agreed it should not have stood.'It was a shocking decision by the linesman,' said Pulis. 'If he can't get that right what's he doing officiating at this level? When it's thatclose and he's looking at the line, as he is, he's got to get those right. They get a goal from what shouldn't be a goal.' [LNB]Hodgson added: 'I can understand their frustration. Whenever you concede that type of goal you're entitled to be upset and a bit angry about it. But I thought one goal was the least our efforts deserved.' [LNB]The West Brom boss had prepared for the inevitable aerial barrage with a defensive reshuffle that saw Scott Carson start in goal for the first time in almost two months following a loss of form and illness, and big Ivory Coast defender Abdoulaye Meite called up for his first League appearance of the season. [LNB]It worked for the most part in a bruising encounter that produced little in the way of goalmouth action until Jermaine Pennant's free-kick clipped the top of Carson's crossbar just before half-time.[LNB] Stoke made the breakthrough in the 53rd minute and it was Delap, so often the launch pad for their trademark set-pieces, who was there to finish on this occasion. [LNB]Carson and Graham Dorrans were both guilty of failing to challenge for Pennant's in-swinging corner from the left, and Delap had the simple task of heading in from close range. It was only his second goal of the season and first since October, but a poor one for West Brom to concede after coping so well for so long. [LNB]Begovic then produced a fine reflex save to keep out Dorrans' deflected header, and later denied Vela what looked like a certain winner in injurytime when he came out to block at point-black range. By then the fuse had already been lit.[LNB] Stoke 1 West Brom 1 - the action as it happened from the Britannia Stadium as it happensShorey looks to Hodgson's experience to ensure no repeat of relegation woeTime to grow up! Reformed Pennant claims birth of son has changed his lifeStoke City FC news from across the web West Bromwich Albion FC news from across the web [LNB] [LNB] Explore more:People: Carlos Vela, Tony Pulis, Jerome Thomas, Roy Hodgson, Jonas Olsson
