It was the Ricardo Fuller show at the Britannia Stadium this afternoon, as the Jamaican International scored a classy hat-trick to ensure City Christmas period got off to the best possible start.

West Bromwich Albion arrived in the Potteries on top of the Championship table, but they were no match for Tony Pulis' side as they crushed the Baggies by three goals to one.

Tony Pulis named an unchanged side ahead of the clash, with Stephen Wright still sidelined after failing to recover from a minor injury in time.

Ricardo Fuller continued up front partnering Mamady Sidibe, while the in form Liam Lawrence once again started on the right flank.

Former City defender Carl Hoefkens made his first return to the Britannia Stadium following his move to the Baggies in the summer.

The match kicked off in cold and wet conditions and City couldn't have dreamt of a better start. A quick counter attack after just five minutes saw Sidibe cleverly flick the ball through to Fuller, who calmly placed the ball in to the bottom corner to fire the Potters ahead.

The visitors set off on a counter attack of their own shortly after, but Leon Cort was on hand to clear the danger, as he brilliantly dispossessed Roman Bednar on the edge of the 18-yard box.

Fuller used his pace to lethal effect again after 12 minutes, but just as he was about to pull the trigger Hoefkens knocked the ball out for a corner.

On loan Hearts striker Bednar went close for Tony Mowbray's side after 25 minutes, but shot over after Zoltan Gera laid the ball off.

Hungarian international Gera almost spectacularly levelled for the visitors, but his 30-yard strike flew inches past Simonsen's right hand post.

A powerful strike from Lawrence almost brought City a second goal, but Dean Kiely saved well at his near post.

Albion defender Bostjan Cesar was lucky to stay on the field after 35 minutes, after hacking down Fuller as he burst through on goal.

From the resulting free kick, the Baggies failed to clear their lines and Fuller rifled the ball in to the back of the net to send the City supporters wild.

With chants of we are going up, echoing around the stadium Rory Delap attempted an audacious volley, which comically almost cleared the away stand.

Albion returned from the half time interval looking refreshed, after Mowbray looked to have had some harsh words for his troops.

On loan Manchester City striker Ishmael Miller and former England international Kevin Phillips were introduced to bring some life back in to the league leaders.

They both linked up well after 48 minutes and Phillips whipped in a dangerous ball, but City number one Simonsen punched the ball away from danger.

Robert Koren should have done better after the hour mark as he fired straight at Simonsen when well placed just 10-yards out.

Miller thought he had pulled a goal back for the visitors after 64 minutes, but after beating Simonsen with a point blank header, Cort heroically cleared the ball off the line.

With City's first real meaningful attack of the second half, Fuller grabbed his first hat-trick in City colours by single handily destroying the Baggies rearguard.

The pacy striker danced his way past two defenders, before cutting inside the 18-yard box and placing the ball beyond the outstretched Kiely and in to the bottom left hand corner.

Just six minutes later Bednar pulled a goal back for Albion, after nipping in between Ryan Shawcross and Simonsen to nod the ball home.

A poor back pass from the usually immaculate Cort could have ensured a nervy finish for the Potters, but Simonsen dashed out and saved brilliantly with his legs.

The visitors pushed forward late on but City held out and made it five wins from the last six games, and moved up to fourth in the table just one point behind the Baggies in second place, and three off top spot.