ORGANISATION, discipline and an abundance of fight.

And, for once, we’re not talking about Stoke here.

Or, for that matter, Jonas Olsson, who smashed a photo post-match after being riled by Ricardo Fuller’s unwillingness to shake his hand.

You can see why Stoke were upset. Albion’s visit is usually a guaranteed three points. Not last night.

Carlos Vela popped up, yet again, to score a vital goal that takes Albion out of the bottom three.

Yet while the young substitute claimed the fans’ plaudits, the architect was stood on the touchline.

It takes a brave man to go with the unexpected when the landscape is one of adversity. But Roy Hodgson went for it.

A goalkeeper who was previously booed by his own fans and chronically out of form, a defender who was cumbersome and dreadful in his last appearance and Destination Bench for the leading scorer.

It worked. And it should have brought Albion their first win at Stoke territory since 1982.

It was a bold selection by Hodgson. Abdoulaye Meite played for the first time since the awful showing at Ipswich, while, perhaps even more surprisingly, Scott Carson was back in goal. Peter Odemwingie was sat with the other substitutes.

Hodgson went for height and power, with Steven Reid giving the team more presence on the right-hand side of defence and Youssouf Mulumbu and Paul Scharner occupying the position in front of the back four.

The Albion boss deserves some credit for the team selection.

Previous managers, Tony Mowbray springs to mind, stood accused of not reacting to Stoke’s strengths. Hodgson picked a side almost custom-designed to combat the power of the home side. By the end Stoke were having to reshuffle to keep Albion at bay.

The visitors were more organised, stronger, functioned well as a unit, kept their shape but also knew when to press and when to keep some discipline to their play.

Three times in the opening 20 minutes Albion found themselves facing Rory Delap throws.

The first one practically powered against Carson’s right-hand post, before the Albion keeper punched away the second and saw the third cleared by a defender.

At all times Stoke were pushing men in front, behind and onto the Albion keeper – each time he took the physical challenges.

Carson, spared the captaincy on his return, was forced into more orthodox action in the 23rd minute when he dived to his left to deny Jermaine Pennant’s long-range free-kick.

Albion were starting to gather confidence. The sting was being slowly removed from Stoke’s play.

Graham Dorrans was to have Albion’s first meaningful shot on goal in the 30th minute when he twisted around Robert Huth and planted a low shot. Asmir Begovic was quick to react – as he was three minutes later when he dived to keep out Marc-Antoine Fortuné’s shot.