Frustrated boss Steve Bruce promises summer of change at West Brom

Steve Bruce described West Brom’s 3-1 defeat to Stoke as “frustrating” as they missed the chance to cut the gap to the play-offs.

Jake Livermore’s own goal and Jacob Brown’s header put the Potters into a two-goal lead before Lewis Baker’s stoppage-time goal secured the points after Callum Robinson had pulled one back.

The Baggies’ play-off chances are slim after results elsewhere mean they are now eight points behind the top six with five games remaining.

After beating Bournemouth on Wednesday, West Brom were not at their best and Bruce vented his frustration.

“It encapsulates my first eight weeks here, that’s for sure, and it’s frustration for us all,” Bruce said.

“The first two goals we gave away are something I never saw coming because we’re usually rock solid in that department.

“In the first half we passed the ball slowly and never really had any penetration at all in the forward areas. It’s another frustrating afternoon and it’s unfortunately happening too often and it’s why we are where we are.

“You have to have the ability to go again in the Championship, because that’s what it demands. It looked like we didn’t look right from kick-off.

“It’s the level of how we go up and down so quickly, that’s the real frustrating part for me.”

Bruce hinted at a summer of change following the Baggies’ 14th league defeat of the season, in what looks like another campaign in the Championship.

“With five games remaining, we’ve got to finish as high as we possibly can. We are where we are and that’s never going to be accepted – to be mid-table in the Championship – and rightly so.

“We haven’t been good enough. After 41 games, the table doesn’t lie and many performances like that are the reason we are where are right now.

“We’re