Stoke star Peter Crouch scored the Potters' equaliser against West Brom

He was happy enough snatching a point from old foe Tony Pulis as sub Peter Crouch scored with a late trademark header.

It was dour stuff and heaven knows what the impartial TV audience felt knowing this was on offer rather than Chelsea v Everton.

Hughes said: “It wasn’t a great game. I didn’t enjoy it myself to be honest. It was frustrating to say the least.

“But Crouchie ends up getting probably the easiest headed goal he will ever score and we probably got what we deserved.”

Baggies boss Pulis acknowledged Crouch’s contribution, saying: “That’s what he does – his sheer presence unnerves defenders.”

It was handshakes all round as Hughes and Pulis put their old niggles aside though the Potters boss suggested the grass might have been left a little long.

Crouch’s prowess with his head has already sealed his place in the record books.

The veteran former England striker cashed in on a West Brom cock-up to send Stoke home with a hard-earned point.

And if the big man plays on until he’s a hundred, it’s doubtful he’ll get an easier one than his 78th minute effort.

Crouch became the only player to score 50 goals with his head in the final game of the season against Southampton.

He helped himself to No51 to stop The Baggies marching to joint top of the table courtesy of their third 1-0 win.

The home side were leading through Jay Rodriguez’s 61st minute goal and looked like they weren’t going to get broken down.

At that point, keeper Ben Foster’s only scary moment had come when he had to react brilliantly to tip the ball over from under his crossbar after a Kurt Zouma shot had taken a wicked deflection off Gareth Barry.

Rodriguez cashed in early in the second half, stooping to guide a header home after great work by Allan Nyom on the right.

That might easily have been good enough but Crouch had other ideas after coming on off the bench just minutes after Stoke fell behind.

West Brom had looked typically solid until it all unravelled for them when they presented Crouch with the sort of chance his granny would have scored.

Ramadan clipped a hopeful ball into the box and Foster must have made a decisive call to claim it.

But Ahmed Hegazi either wasn’t listening or ignored it and decided to take a swipe at it himself.

He made only the slightest connection but it was enough to take it away from Foster who was left thumping the ground in anger as Crouch stopped and steered it in from six yards.

Crouch said: “It wasn’t one of my finest goals but I’ll take those all day long. Getting a point here means we’ve made a decent start.”

Baggies boss Pulis was dismissive of suggestions that the grass had been left a little longer and poured scorn on the chants from Stoke fans of “Tony Pulis, your football is s***.”

Pulis steered Stoke back to the big time and said: “There’s one man in the stand – the owner Peter Coates – who is happy with what I did in my time there.”

WEST BROM(4-2-3-1): Foster 6; NYOM 8, Dawson 7, Hegazi 5, Brunt 8; Barry 7, Livermore 6; Phillips 6(McClean 74), Morrison 6(Yacob 69, 5), Rodriguez 7(Burke 88); Rondon 6. Subs: Myhill, Chadli, Field, Wilson.

Up next: Brighton(a), Premier League, Sat Sept 9.

STOKE(3-4-2-1) Butland 6; Zouma 7, Shawcross 6, Martins Indi 6; Cameron 6(Ramadan 69, 6), Allen 7, Fletcher 7, Pieters 6; Shaqiri 6, Choupo-Moting 6; Jese 5(Crouch 62, 7). Subs: Grant, Johnson, Berahino, Adam, Bojan.

Up next: Man United(h), Premier League, Sat Sept 9.

Referee: Anthony Taylor 9

STAR MAN – ALLAN NYOM – tireless display

STAR SHOCKER – AHMED HEGAZI – error for goal

MATCH RATING - 2