PREMIER LEAGUE

StokeCrouch scores 61 seconds after his introduction

• Injured Ireland is replaced by Adam at half-time
• Hull did not have a single shot on target in the game
• The visitors remain four points above the relegation zone

Substitute Peter Crouch made an instant impact to give Stoke victory over Hull.

Crouch had only been on the pitch for a minute in the second half when he nodded home Charlie Adam's deep cross for his fourth goal in as many games.

Stoke's victory was soured by a calf injury to Stephen Ireland, which manager Mark Hughes said needed between 12 and 15 stitches and will keep him out for a long time.

Hull, who have won just one of their last 13 away games, managed one shot.

Top scorers of headed goals in the Premier League
46	Peter Crouch
46	Alan Shearer
45	Dion Dublin
40	Les Ferdinand
38	Dwight Yorke

Crouch's effort meant the 34-year-old joined Alan Shearer in scoring the most headed goals in the Premier League, with 46.

It was by far the most exciting moment of a largely drab fixture.

Although they were looking to claim a third successive top-flight away win for the first time since 2008, Hull began in cautious fashion, content to defend in numbers and soak up any pressure Stoke managed to exert.

Steven N'Zonzi went close for the hosts, Ireland drove a volley into the ground after Phil Bardsley had caused a goalmouth scramble and Jake Livermore booted the ball off the line after Jon Walters' near-post flick.

But chances were at a premium in a game punctuated by niggly fouls and summed up why Stoke were one of only three Premier League teams - Manchester City and Crystal Palace were the others - to have collected more points on their travels than they had done at home prior to kick-off.

The half-time introduction of Charlie Adam for Ireland gave the home side more impetus.

Adam brought a forceful punch out of Hull keeper Allan McGregor when he swung over a dangerous free-kick from close to the touchline and was much closer on Stoke's next attack.

The 29-year-old had not scored since October but given space to run at the Hull defence, Adam advanced to within 25 yards and then let fly with a low shot that skimmed wide of McGregor's left-hand post.

Adam came close again a couple of minutes later with a free-kick that curled narrowly wide.

It took Crouch's arrival to trigger the breakthrough, with Adam turning provider with a cross that allowed the former England man to climb above Paul McShane.

Hull, who have won one of their last 12 meetings with Saturday's opponents, pushed forward with more vigour after that but though five minutes of stoppage-time brought their first two corners, they were unable to manage another shot.

Steve Bruce's side are 15th in the table, four points above the relegation zone.

Hull City manager Steve Bruce:

"We're convinced he (Crouch) is offside and we've seen replays which show that.

"I'm not saying we deserved to win the game but I expect the linesman to get that right. The ball has come 40 yards, it is a straight ball and he should be in a good position to get it right.

"But we didn't do enough offensively. We didn't offer a threat like we have in the away games of late. Overall I didn't think we deserved to lose the game."

LINEUP, BOOKINGS (4) & SUBSTITUTIONS (5)

Stoke City

• 01 Begovic
• 02 Bardsley
• 26 Wollscheid
• 12 Wilson
• 03 Pieters Booked
• 15 N'Zonzi
• 06 Whelan
• 19 Walters
• 07 Ireland (Adam - 45' )
• 13 Moses Booked
• 18 Diouf (Crouch - 70' )

Substitutes

• 10 Arnautovic
• 16 Adam
• 20 Cameron
• 21 Sidwell
• 22 Butland
• 23 Teixeira
• 25 Crouch

Hull City

• 01 McGregor
• 21 Dawson Booked
• 04 Bruce
• 15 McShane
• 27 Elmohamady
• 14 Livermore
• 08 Huddlestone
• 07 Meyler Booked (Quinn - 62' )
• 03 Figueroa (Hernández - 78' )
• 25 Ramírez
• 24 Aluko (N'Doye - 56' )

Substitutes

• 06 Davies
• 09 Hernández
• 20 Sagbo
• 22 Harper
• 26 Robertson
• 28 N'Doye
• 29 Quinn

Ref: Neil Swarbrick

Att: 26,473

West Bromwich Albion 1 X 0 Southampton

• Berahino scores his 17th goal of the season
• West Brom earn sixth clean sheet under Pulis
• Southampton lose first away game in six
• Saints fail to score for third consecutive game

West Brom took another big step towards Premier League survival as Saido Berahino's strike proved enough to beat Champions League-chasing Southampton.

Berahino scored after just 71 seconds at The Hawthorns when he rifled in from Maya Yoshida's headed clearance.

However, the 17-goal striker lasted just 10 minutes of the second half before going off injured.

Graziano Pelle squandered Southampton's best chance when he failed to tap in Ryan Bertrand's excellent low cross.

West Brom headed into the match with the same team that drew 0-0 at Sunderland after top-scorer Berahino passed a late fitness test to take his place up front alongside the club's record signing Brown Ideye, who had scored four goals in his last four games.

That strike partnership has added a cutting edge to a Baggies side that has now recorded six clean sheets during a run of only one defeat in 10 games since manager Tony Pulis took control on 1 January.

And when Chris Brunt's free-kick was only half-cleared by Yoshida, it was Berahino who was on hand to fire the rebound into the top corner from the edge of the box with barely a minute on the clock.

Southampton responded with some tidy football but failed to test goalkeeper Ben Foster and, on 25 minutes, manager Ronald Koeman made a tactical change, bringing on Dutch winger Eljero Elia for Florin Gardos and switching to a back four formation.

Top gun
Saido Berahino has scored nine home Premier League goals this season; only Chelsea's Diego Costa has scored more with 10.

Koeman began the match with three at the back in a changed 3-5-2 formation as he looked to shake up the team following last week's disappointing 2-0 defeat at home to Liverpool, which saw the Saints drop out of the top four.

Sadio Mane was dropped to the bench for that Liverpool defeat after turning up late, but was restored to the side at The Hawthorns and provided the Saints' main threat in the first half - albeit firing over from long-range and then missing the target from inside the box.

The Saints finished the half increasingly frustrated as both Koeman and the travelling fans accused West Brom of time-wasting.

After the break, Ideye had the chance to extend the home side's lead on 53 minutes as he raced clear of the Saints defence but the Nigerian forward opted to cut inside instead of shooting and a combination of Jose Fonte and Yoshida snuffed out the chance.

Southampton continued to toil but have struggled in front of goal of late - failing to score in their last three games - and when top-scorer Pelle failed to tap in Bertrand's cross from three yards on 68 minutes it was clear it would not be their day.

Saints spring a leak
Southampton failed to keep a clean against the Baggies for the first time in four league meetings.

The only blemish for West Brom was Stephane Sessegnon's terrible dive in the box late on, for which he was booked.

The win moves West Brom up to 13th, eight points clear of the relegation places, while Southampton, who have now won only one of their last five league matches, remain fifth, two points off fourth-placed Arsenal.

West Brom manager Tony Pulis:

"It was a goal that top, top class players score and Saido Berahino could be a top, top class player. Since I came into the club there has been no doubt about his ability, he just needs direction. He puts himself in good positions. He has that ability to play someone in or score.

"We looked at the highlights and we probably had some of the best chances of the game. But they have got some very, very good players and in the second-half we had to defend for our lives. They changed it after 25 minutes as we were having so much joy and that made it difficult for us in the second half.

"We have a weakness up front in terms of numbers. The last 15 or 20 minutes we have had to play Sessegnon up there. Brown Ideye and Saido were both carrying knocks even before the game. It just shows they have got good spirit in the dressing room and people want to play.

"Saido had an injection before the game and maybe he should have one before every game, scoring goals like that.

"Forty points will be safe this year without question. Some people take their foot off the pedal and this game is relentless so if you do that you get a kick up the backside."

Southampton manager Ronald Koeman:

"We know the opposition of today. They play out of a very good defensive organisation, but they need points and they deserved the win. And for us it was too difficult to break down.

"They scored a great goal and we complain more about our football today. We maybe had one or two chances to score a goal, but not more.

"Maybe there is a little bit less confidence (for the strikers) but it is very difficult. We spoke about that before the game but then after one minute you are 1-0 down and everything changes.

"We were looking for action (from the referee) over the throw-ins and free kicks. They took too much time. I think it was every time about 13 seconds and we spoke to the referee but they didn't do anything about that - maybe one yellow card. But that isn't the reason we lost.

"The total performance of the team in quality is a little bit low from the beginning of the season but we have to go and believe in the next win.

"Next Tuesday against Crystal Palace we have to win, as we need those points."

LINEUP, BOOKINGS (3) & SUBSTITUTIONS (6)

West Bromwich Albion

• 01 Foster Booked
• 25 Dawson
• 23 McAuley
• 06 Lescott
• 11 Brunt
• 07 Morrison (Sessegnon - 72' Booked )
• 05 Yacob
• 24 Fletcher
• 08 Gardner
• 09 Ideye (Baird - 88' )
• 18 Berahino (Mulumbu - 56' )

Substitutes

• 02 Wisdom
• 03 Olsson
• 04 Baird
• 13 Myhill
• 19 McManaman
• 21 Mulumbu
• 29 Sessegnon

Southampton

• 23 Forster
• 05 Gardos (Elia - 25' )
• 06 Fonte
• 03 Yoshida
• 02 Clyne
• 12 Wanyama Booked (Davis - 45' )
• 04 Schneiderlin
• 21 Bertrand
• 11 Tadic (Long - 74' )
• 19 Pellè
• 10 Mané

Substitutes

• 01 Davis
• 07 Long
• 08 Davis
• 15 Djuricic
• 16 Ward-Prowse
• 22 Elia
• 33 Targett

Ref: Phil Dowd

Att: 25,303