Ben Foster: No special treatment for ex-West Brom man Peter Odemwingie
Ben Foster today insisted Albion have no special treatment in store for Peter Odemwingie on Sunday despite hinting the striker's stinging criticism upset the Baggies squad.
Odemwingie returns to The Hawthorns for the first time just a month after he accused senior players at his former club of bullying and running a dressing-room 'cartel'.
Foster insisted no other Baggies player would have fired the broadside in public and admitted Odemwingie's comments had been noted, but insisted Pepe Mel's squad will not target their former forward, who left a year ago after a fiery final season with Albion.
"We're not really thinking about it to be honest," said Foster. "We've seen a few videos of Stoke and we know what they're going to do.
"But we won't be targeting individuals. We've got to focus on what we've got to do.
"If he wants to do that (speak out) it's up to him. Personally I would never do anything like that and I don't think any of the lads in our team would, but if he wants to do it it's up to him."
The acrimonious departure of Odemwingie, who remains Albion's leading Premier League goalscorer, marked the start of a turbulent spell for the Baggies that could still see them avoid relegation only on goal difference.
And Foster echoed captain Chris Brunt's assessment at the weekend that the current season has been a 'shambles'.
"He is exactly right," said Foster. "It has been a shambles.
"It's been a thoroughly disappointing season from everybody really.
"I think we are quite fortunate and we've done well to escape relegation so I think now it's a case of licking our wounds after making sure we are in the Premier League next season.
"We need to regroup and start afresh in the summer for next season. We have seen sides to some people here that I haven't seen since I've been here.
"We have always been a comfortable mid-table team and it has been a bit of a worry."
Stoke will make the short trip in good spirits after last weekend's 4-1 victory over Fulham, in which Odemwingie opened the scoring. A point would set a new Potters record points tally in the Premier League.
City have won on their last four visits to The Hawthorns and Odemwingie said: "Stoke have a great record against West Brom, I remember that.
"Some clubs have that bogey team who always seem to beat them, and that's Stoke for West Brom."
