Tony Mowbray had a 45th birthday to forget at The Britannia Stadium yesterday as Albion stayed rock-bottom of the Premiership after Mamady Sidibie's 84th minute header secured all three points for Stoke. The battle of last season's automatically promoted side was a 'dross' affair by all accounts with the two teams creating little before Sidibie's winner.
The defeat extends Albion's run without a win to seven games and leaves them three points behind Newcastle and West Ham in 16th and 17th place respectively. Although only having one shot on target in 90 minutes Mowbray believes Albion deserved something against City - where they have again failed to win since 1982.
"The game was dross," Mowbray admitted.
"It didn't get me out of my seat too many times.
"There weren't many goalmouth incidents and it was a poor game.
"I don't think you can disguise that.
"But it's an opportunity gone for three points.
"They were definitely there for us today.
"I couldn't see Stoke scoring.
"We dealt with their directness and long throw-ins pretty comfortably.
"We didn't create too many chances ourselves but a few minutes before they scored we had the best opportunity of the game.
"Teixeira went through and should have squared for Miller for a tap-in.
"I couldn't see how they were going to score today and yet an attack-minded player on our team goes to sleep on a one-two and we lose a goal.
"It was a great header from Sidibe and probably the one highlight of an otherwise poor match.
"It's frustrating - but we move onto the next game."
Despite the defeat Mowbray was pleased with the way the Baggies adapted their expansive style to combat Stoke's direct approach and physicality and admits it's the most disappointing result of the season so far.
"The lads put a lot of effort in," the Baggies boss continued.
"To come to Stoke, we had to adjust what we do a little bit because of the way Stoke play.
"You can't be too expansive because they are a very narrow football team.
"The pitch is very narrow and they play very condensed.
"You've also got to make sure you match their physicality.
"They don't threaten your goal very much, other than from long throw-ins.
"But today they scored one - and that's football.
He added: "Before today we'd lost to the top seven teams in the league this season, and also Newcastle United, who are turning their season around.
"This is the first really disappointing result against a team you would think would be in the bottom half of the table.
"That said, we've got to play Stoke - and a lot of these teams - at home.
"It's going to be more crucial for us to win those matches."