West Bromwich Albion returned to the top of the Sky Bet Championship after defeating Stoke City 2-0 on Monday night, leaving the Potters sitting six points adrift of safety at the bottom of the league table.

It has been a hectic week for the Potters off the pitch - they parted company with Nathan Jones on Friday, and had an approach for Preston North End boss, as well as number-one managerial target, Alex Neil rejected over the course of the weekend.

Not the greatest of times to be preparing to face a West Brom side that have lost only one game thus far this term, then - a side that were undoubtedly hurting, after being held to two home draws against Barnsley and Charlton over the past fortnight.

Nevertheless, Kevin Russell and Rory Delap took charge on Monday night, and the former made five changes to the side that lost 2-0 against Millwall at The Den last time out - a change in system for the Potters, who reverted back to their 3-5-2 system, often toyed with under Jones.

Tommy Smith and Stephen Ward coming in for Tom Ince and Bruno Martins Indi to provide more width to the side, with Sam Vokes and Tyrese Campbell coming in for Scott Hogan and Lee Gregory in a double change up top.

For Albion, it was a case of 'more of the same' despite being held to two draws in their last two games - the visitors made an enforced change, with Conor Townsend replacing the suspended Nathan Ferguson.

An interesting statistic emerged before the game - since their relegation from the Premier League, Stoke have found the net just 59 times, with Albion almost doubling that total with 113 strikes to their name.

Having netted 26 times heading into Monday night's encounter, it's clear to see why Albion have scored so many goals this season if teams give them so much space to work their magic in midfield like Stoke did.

The tricky Grady Diangana, keen to add to his seven-goal contribution, was given too much space down the left-hand side to weave through the lifeless Potters defence.

The West Ham loanee played a slick one-two with Jake Livermore, before drilling the ball to the back-post, where Matty Phillips was left unmarked and able to slam home from close-range in the 7th minute.

Not the start Russell was looking for by any means, with his side failing to match the Baggies' energy, flair, power and class in every department.

The Potters did threaten to make an immediate response, but Sam Vokes' header from Tommy Smith's cross was easily caught by Sam Johnstone on 16 minutes.

As the half went by, West Brom grew in confidence without really having to get out of first gear. The lively Diangana and tricky Pereira finding pockets of space, playing some smart, intricate passes and breaking down the left flank too easily.

Slaven Bilic's side failed to test Jack Butland after their goal - Darnell Furlong drilling a powerful effort from 25 yards out just wide.

Stoke offered next to nothing in the first 45 minutes - Joe Allen tried his best to make things happen alongside Sam Clucas, with the pair linking up dangerously in the latter stages of the half. The Welsh midfielder attempted to play a one-two inside the box, but Clucas' pass was overhit and it trickled out for a goal-kick.

Timothy Robinson blew the whistle to end what was a lacklustre half from a Stoke perspective - the Potters needing to improve if they were going to ignite any sort of revival, and lift themselves off the foot of the table.

They did show signs of improvement early in the second half, though. Danny Batth heading the ball goalwards from a dangerous corner, but Cameron Carter-Vickers produced a strike that we typically expect from a defender, firing over the crossbar from close-range.

A positive start to the half by Stoke nonetheless, who then made a change in an attempt to get themselves back into the game - James McClean replacing the injured Liam Lindsay on the hour mark.

The Baggies also made changes - Matheus Pereira and Charlie Austin coming off to be replaced by Filip Krovinovic and Hal Robson-Kanu, with the latter making an immediate impact.

Philips repaid Diangana for the work he produced to assist him in the first half, feeding the ball to the winger who found himself in space on the edge of the area.

He broke into the area and tried to chop his way past Carter-Vickers, but was hacked down by the Tottenham Hotspur loanee and won a penalty for his side.

Just eight minutes after coming on, Robson-Kanu made no mistake from 12 yards. The 30-year-old sent Butland the wrong way, side-footing the ball into the back of the net to grab his third goal in his last four games.

Robson-Kanu and the Baggies had the chance to put the game beyond Stoke just moments later. Phillips, again, bursting down the right-hand side with electrifying pace, floating a ball into the box for the striker to get his head onto. But, the Wales international could only watch as the ball bounced off the post, as the Baggies continued to dominate the hurting Potters.

Stoke were unable to reignite any sort of belief or spark - they made their final changes of the game when Mark Duffy and Tom Ince came on for Campbell and Badou N'Diaye in quick succession.

In the 87th minute, Ince had a golden chance to pull a goal back for the Potters, but he was unable to connect with James McClean's wicked low cross, summing up a toothless performance from the Staffordshire outfit.

And with five minutes added on at the end of the game, the final whistle was blown. West Brom picked up their eighth league win of the campaign, returning to winning ways and returning to the top of the league.

Stoke fans perhaps wouldn't have been expecting to get anything out of the game against the promotion contenders, but they produced arguably their worst performance, highlighting the need for a new manager to come in and perform a miracle.

West Brom fans ended the night by chanting - "Tony Pulis, he's coming for you". Whoever does take the job on, has a massive task of turning the club's fortunes around.