WHAT a difference a goal makes.

Ryan Shawcross’ 84th minute header could turn out to be a turning point in the fortunes of the Potters.

The moment when we stopped wondering about how we would avoid being in the bottom three.

And the moment when we started wondering whether we could finish above the likes of Portsmouth, Sunderland, Hull and Bolton.

After the international break, we go into an away match at the Hawthorns where victory would take us tantalisingly close to safety.

Now I know our away form is so poor that there is no word to describe how poor it is.

But West Brom have already lost seven times at home this season and conceded 28 goals there in 15 matches.

They have found defending at this level tough and netted just 20 times on their own patch.

It feels like if Stoke are going to win an away game this season, this one should be it.

Apparently the Boro played better football than Stoke did for much of Saturday’s match, but so what?

Football is not a beauty contest, it’s a professional sport. You don’t get points for the number of passes you string together, only for the number of wins you record – just ask the Baggies.

They have won plaudits from some observers for trying to ‘play football the right way’, an easy patronising comment from those who have just put your team to the sword.

I know I’d rather listen to the likes of Arsene Wenger bemoaning the way Stoke play when I know it’s because his team came off second best.

By the way, is anyone else feeling proud as punch at the fact that Liverpool, currently scoring goals for fun against the likes of Real Madrid, Manchester United and Aston Villa, could not put one past Stoke in 180 minutes.

That says everything about how far our team has come since winning promotion in May.