West Brom v Stoke: Inside track on the Potters

To get the inside track on Michael O'Neill's side, we spoke with Pete Smith, Stoke reporter for Stoke-on-Trent Live, to get a better look at them.

Here's what he had to say...

How have things been at Stoke following Albion's win over the Potters in November?

That was the first game after Nathan Jones had been sacked and results have improved markedly. We're sitting a little more comfortably, even though we're far from relaxed.

I don't think it's a coincidence that we're seeing fewer costly individual mistakes now that the team has more of a structure and the starting XI and system are staying largely the same from week to week.

They have started to score more regularly too, although they have come in bursts and they haven't yet developed a habit of grinding out tight games.

How has Michael O'Neill taken to the role following Nathan Jones' exit, has he made a difference?

As a character he could hardly be more different. He's calm and composed on the sidelines and it seems that is transcending onto the pitch. Jones, for better or worse - and his 10 months at Stoke was largely the latter, was rather manic.

O'Neill hasn't changed much in terms of personnel. There have been three exits - Cameron Carter-Vickers, Badou Ndiaye and Peter Etebo - but no new arrivals.

It's been a case of sussing out how to get the best out of a massive, underachieving squad and while making sure players know he won't be chopping and changing at every step. He's got the best out of James McClean and Joe Allen has returned to form.

We're obviously in the thick of January now, are Stoke looking at doing some deals, or have they done some business already?

The shadow of Financial Fair Play is dictating play and Stoke need to make room in the changing room and on the wage bill before they bring anyone in - and even then they are likely to deal in loans.

There have been those three exits - Carter-Vickers returned to Spurs and the other two have gone out on loan - and more fringe men are likely to follow.

Stoke are just outside the relegation zone ahead of the weekend, are there genuine worries that relegation could be on the cards?

Yes, of course, even if it's not quite such a sickening panic as it was in October. If Stoke keep up the form they've shown in the last few weeks they'll head for around the 50-point mark so there is not too much room for error.

Relegation from the Premier League was a disaster, relegation again would be even worse.

What sort of football can we expect from O'Neill's Potters?

He likes to press, with Allen normally leading the charge. And he's got the team operating more quickly. He still wants to add more pace into the team and that's music to the ears of anyone who's watched Stoke in the past three or four years.

Are there any injury worries at the Bet365 right now?

Ryan Shawcross recovered from a broken fibula he picked up in pre-season - and what a huge miss he has been - only to suffer minor groin and then calf injuries. He's back in training and hoping to feature.

What have you made of Albion from afar? Do you think they have what it takes to secure promotion to the top flight as Champions?

They've made some canny signings and we'd been hoping that Grady Diangana would have been recalled by now. Matheus Pereira is great too and if we were neutrals I'm sure Albion would be good to watch.

Promotion seems probable, right? It'll be interesting to see how Leeds cope in the second half of the season again and whether Brentford or Fulham can muster a monster run because the rest of the division isn't much cop.

Your match prediction?

We'd love a 0-0.

You can follow Pete on Twitter here.