Source: PA
Vela rescues vital point for Baggies
On-loan forward Carlos Vela snatched a controversial equaliser three minutes from time to give West Brom a 1-1 draw against Stoke at the Britannia Stadium.
Arsenal's Mexico international appeared to have been offside before he converted Steven Reid's cross but there was no flag and the Baggies escaped with a point which lifted them out of the Barclays Premier League's bottom three.
Midfielder Rory Delap's second goal of the season had put the hosts ahead in the 53rd minute in what had been an uninspiring game up to that point.
West Brom seemed to have undone all their hard work in hanging on in the early stages by switching off at a crucial time - the 34-year-old Delap rose to head home Jermaine Pennant's corner at the near post.
But in a spirited climax Roy Hodgson's side proved they have the appetite and spirit for a relegation fight and in truth they could have snatched the win as it was Stoke hanging on at the end - with Potters goalkeeper Asmir Begovic required to make three crucial saves.
Hodgson is still awaiting his first victory after taking two points from his first two matches since succeeding Roberto Di Matteo. The criticism of the Italian was that his style was too open - Hodgson inherited the worst defensive record in the top flight - but old habits die hard and there remains plenty of work to be done if the Baggies are to survive with 10 matches remaining.
