West Ham 2 Stoke 1

After an impressive win against Portsmouth the West Ham management decided to change a winning side and brought Faubert, Collins and Boa Morte into the starting eleven. Di Michele was also brought in for the suspended Bellamy.

Stoke took immediate advantage of West Ham's unfamiliar line up. From a corner Faye was left completely unmarked at the far post for the simplest of headers from 5 yards to give the visitors the lead.

After that the first half followed a familiar pattern, with West Ham looking reasonable in possession but creating very few chances.

In the second half Stoke attempted to implode. In the 50th minute Parker chipped a ball into the Stoke area. Cole managed to control the ball and then from 7 yards spin and shoot past Sorenson for the equaliser. Then before the restart Fuller had a little slap at his team mate Griffin and was duly sent off.

West Ham then controlled possession and pinned Stoke inside their own penalty area but never looked that threatening, even with the extra man. In the 76th minute Mullins was brought on for Parker and Tristan for Collison.

Then, just as it looked like West Ham had failed to capitalise on Fuller's rush of blood, and with two minutes left on the clock, Carlton Cole shot from 8 yards out and his shot deflected off Tristan. Sorensen was caught out by the deflection and the ball rebounded into the back of the net to give West Ham three vital points.