Hoodoo ended by the Mozza and Dozza Show

We only win away, we only win away, maybe it should be our new chant? writes West Brom blogger Jarrod Hill.

Saturday turned out to be a superb day, not only did we manage to get a thirty year old monkey off our backs but my old mucka Pete Danckert had his unlikely treble come up. When Pete told me before kick off he had a treble on QPR, Aston Villa and our good selves all winning I told him that I hoped it came off, but I never really believed it would. As we celebrated our last gasp winner news started to come in that the other two results had gone his way too. It all made for a very happy Saturday, don't you just love days like that?

After putting to bed one overdue hoodoo against the Villa earlier this season it was Stoke's turn to eventually taste defeat in this fixture.

No doubt we thoroughly deserved the win and the game itself had a number of talking points. The penalty that Stoke were awarded was a joke. It feels like Premier League referees cannot wait to give penalties against us and the terrible decision was somewhat overlooked due to Ben Foster denying Jonathon Walters from 12 yards. The ref was having an ok game up until that point and had Ben Foster not saved it we would again be bemoaning another refereeing error. It was justice and it was good for Ben to redeem the error he made in the corresponding fixture at the Hawthorns.

As I say justice was served. I also hope justice is served on a certain Mr Peter Crouch. His attempt to poke or eye gouge Jonas Olsson was caught on camera and should be punished. Typically Jonas made light of the incident but had he rolled around for five minutes clutching his face Mr Crouch might be in greater trouble. I think it is credit to Jonas that he doesn't go for any amateur dramatics but it would be typical if nothing is done about it and Crouch is lucky our Swedish International didn't exact his own retribution.

The team sheet had a few of us raising our eyebrows, well all of us except inside man (see Fridays blog). Marc Antoinne Fortune and Gabriel Tamas came in from the cold and both played well. MAF did an excellent job of holding the ball up and Gabby did well to repel Stokes limited attacks. My MOTM was Grahams Dorrans closely followed by James Morrison and Jonas Olsson. Gareth McAuley also played well and is fast becoming our Mr Dependable, Ben Foster was also superb, and JT gave us an out let every time we needed it.

James Morrison certainly had his shooting boots on and although Sorenson will be disappointed with the swerving shot that managed to squirm over the line, he did manage to thwart Mozza getting a hat trick. The two efforts that hit the wood work were cracking efforts and he looks to be getting back to his best. Like wise Graham Dorrans. His performance was like rewinding the clock two years, his passing was superb, he drove us forward, and then just when it looked like Stoke were going to escape with an undeserved draw, he delivered the killer blow.

Sometimes a win feels bigger than the three points it gives you, and that is definitely the way I felt on Saturday. It ended a mini slump, gave us our first win in 2012, and ended a thirty year wait to win away at the Potters.

It has been a long time since we have had a team that can mix it physically with a team like Stoke. The return of Jonas Olsson was key, his presence at the heart of our defence was immense and his partnership with Gareth McAuley is blossoming. At the other end of the pitch Roy Hodgson now has to decide who he sees as our most potent selection in attack. After Saturday's performance it would be interesting to see MAF paired with a fit Shane Long. I don't think MAF will ever offer a great return in terms of goals, but that may have to be the sacrifice in order to make the formation work or maybe a different approach at home to away?

This weekend gives us a break from league action and I will be interested to see who gets the nod. I get the feeling that Roy is going to take the FA Cup seriously and put out a strong side, and personally I see that as being the right way to go.

I just wish we were playing away from home, maybe the home hoodoo is the next in line to be exorcised?

Up the Baggies.