McGhee responded to the third howler by the England Under 21 in three games by hauling him off and replacing him with Jones, but it was all too late to rescue a point. Albion really had only themselves to blame for not being in front by then because for the first time in ages they genuinely dominated a game and, playing with three up front, looked a genuine attacking force. 

Leon Knight was back to his best and was desperately unlucky not to get on the scoresheet with a close-range header in the first half when Simonsen in the Stoke goal simply got in the way. Knight's reputation for going over too easily went before him a few minutes later when in a break down the left, and with the goalkeeper stranded, he was crudely hacked down inside the area - and the referee interpreted it as a dive, rather than awarding the obvious spot kick. Sadly, Knight was also booked and, having reached five bookings for the season, now misses the Boxing Day encounter with Gillingham. 

Mark McCammon looked lively up front on his debut, injecting the sort of pace to the attack that we haven't seen for some time. He was the creator of Knight's glorious chance, and, in the second half, was a whisker away from converting from Leon's right wing cross. But you can see why he is not playing for Millwall at this level. Big Mac obviously struggles with close ball control and there were a number of occasions when it let him down, and promising moves foundered. 

There were good performances throughout the team: Paul Reid and Adam Hinshelwood could be pleased with their contribution. But it was to be another night of frustration. In true footballing parlance, we will see them play a lot worse and win.