West Brom boss sees reality not hoodoo in Stoke dog-fight duel

Apr 3 2009 by Robert Tanner, Birmingham Post

As footballing hoodoos go, Stoke City’s seemingly unbreakable psychological hold over West Bromwich Albion is one of the most compelling in recent years.

The Potters have maintained a vice-like grip over fixtures with the Baggies and have won five of the last six clashes between the two clubs.

In fact, Albion have come out on top against Stoke only twice in the last 25 meetings – but they simply can’t afford the Potters’ domination to continue tomorrow at The Hawthorns.

With only eight games remaining, Albion are seven points adrift of safety and survival is fast becoming an impossible task. In fact, another defeat to Stoke tomorrow could hammer the final nail in the coffin of Tony Mowbray’s side.

Mowbray is not one for superstition and does not feel the Stoke hoodoo will have any bearing on the clash although it is an albatross he would love to see disappear from around his side’s neck.

“I don’t think it matters on Saturday, and yet records keep going and going, and I am sure it has repeatedly thrown up for however many years it has been going on,” he said.

“All I know is that we are expecting a tough game at the weekend.”