West Brom 1 Stoke City 1: Baggies fight back for point in front of Tony Mowbray

Recalled Walsall loanee Nathan Lowe handed the visitors a ninth-minute lead and the Potters remained clear despite Baggies pressure until Grady Diangana's clever equaliser 20 minutes from time.

Diangana's flick was a really smart one but not enough for Albion's caretaker team of Chris Brunt, Damia Abella and Boaz Myhill to sign off with a win - after a staggering 23 shots from The Hawthorns hosts.

Albion were the better side and deserved at least a draw but poor finishing and decision-making cost them two points as Mowbray, appointed on Friday night, watched on with the club's hierarchy.

Mowbray, who will take charge at Middlesbrough on Tuesday, was paraded around an adoring Hawthorns prior to kick-off, where he received a warm and rapturous welcome from the home faithful - and even a bag of Revels chocolate from mascot Baggie Bird.

The 61-year-old, who met staff at the training ground on Saturday morning, then took his place in between chairman Shilen Patel and sporting director Andrew Nestor watching on from above in the Halfords Lane.

There was certainly no time for sentiment from the visitors from just up the M6.

One man inside the stadium who knows how to find the net in the Black Country showed his calibre at Championship level inside the first 10 minutes.

Stoke this week recalled Walsall loan sensation Nathan Lowe from Bescot and Lowe, starting for the first time, delivered immediately.

Albion passed up a couple of opportunities to clear, with Darnell Furlong and Mason Holgate easily beaten, as right-back Justin Tchamadeu's mishit shot fell Lowe's way and the 19-year-old showed poacher's instincts to turn home in an instant before celebrating in front of the Birmingham Road end.

The hosts responded well. Mikey Johnston was busy and Albion's best attacking outlet with Tom Fellows and rare Championship starter more subdued.

Albion stepped it up more approaching half hour and one opportunity came from a short corner. Karlan Grant eventually fired a deflected effort and it dropped the way of defender Torbjorn Heggem unmarked 12 yards out. He sent an effort at goal but Stoke got a good block in.

Diangana showed a glimpse of his talent with a wonderful piece of skill, shades of his loan from West Ham, but Alex Mowatt's 22-yard free-kick was blocked.

The huge opening came 10 minutes before the break but probably fell to the wrong man from a Baggies perspective.

Grant sent Fellows racing down the right to the byline. His fizzed cross was on the money for Johnston who decided not to shoot and put it in the path of the unmarked Jayson Molumby to his left.

The Irishman placed wide of the left post from 10 yards out when he had to score.

Albion continued to ask questions until the break and Johnston curled a fine first-time efforts just wide of the left post from the edge of the area as Mowbray departed for his half-time beverage with the owners.

Robins' visitors turned the moment after the break and the Potters, and Lowe, could have had a second. He stretched to connect after a deep cross cleared Alex Palmer, but Callum Styles was able to clear, and again moments later.

The Baggies found their feet and built up more consistent pressure. Grant made a chance with strength and fired a deflected effort wide of the left post.

It had not quite been Fellows' day as the winger pinged a rising half-volley over. Moments later Darnell Furlong fired narrowly wide across goal.

A breakthrough was building and arrived with 20 minutes left.

Johnston's delivery from the left was somehow met smartly by Diangana in front of the first post and the winger executed a genius finish to send the ball past Johansson inside the post.

The Hawthorns erupted to the loudest decibel level so far this season.

Seconds later Albion almost led as Fellows won a 50-50 and slipped Molumby in but the midfielder was denied one-v-one by the busy Swedish keeper.

With Mowbray watching on the Baggies kept going. Mowatt lifted over arriving late and Grant volleyed into the Brummie Road on the spin. The latter then smashed over from range when he should have passed to sub Jed Wallace, which rather summed up the day.

Albion (4-2-3-1): Palmer; Furlong (c), Holgate, Heggem, Styles; Molumby, Mowatt; Fellows (Cole, 90+1), Diangana (Wallace, 77), Johnston; Grant.

Subs not used: Wildsmith, Frabotta, Taylor, Diakite, Racic, Whitwell, Swift.

Stoke City (4-2-3-1): Johansson; Tchamadeu, Phillips, Wilmot, Stevens; Seko, Burger (Junho, 84); Moran, Baker, Koumas; Lowe (Ennis, 84).

Subs not used: Bonham, Rose, Vidigal, Lawal, Tezgel, Willox, Griffiths.

Referee: James Linington