Stoke vs West Ham: Post Match Review

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Fresh off the back of a quite brilliant win at home against reigning champions Manchester City was a visit to the Britannia Stadium to face Stoke City for Sam Allardyce’s in form men. West Ham came into the game on a three run win streak whilst Stoke had lost two of their previous games, both of them against Sunderland.

With 2,900 expectant West Ham fans in the Britannia’s South Stand the game kicked off with the Hammers looking for a fourth win in a row, something they hadn’t achieved since February of this year. Stoke started the game very brightly, penetrating West Ham’s defence with the Hammers not really able to fight back and put a stamp on the game. Victor Moses and Bojan Krkic constantly threatened and at time ran West Ham’s defence ragged. That’s what you get from a Chelsea loanee and Barcelona’s youngest ever player. Still under pressure James Collins pulled out a number of good blocks and headers to keep the scoreline 0-0.

Morgan Amalfitano made it harder for West Ham on 17 minute as he more-or-less dribbled the ball out of player, ignoring the shouts from the travelling fans to put it out for a throw in or clear it earlier. The corner came and went, with Winston Reid on the sidelines due to a knock he picked up. Reid was forced off seven minutes later, unable to carry on and James Tomkins replaced him in the centre of defence. Victor Moses was proving a tricky customer to the West Ham defence and usually solid left back Aaron Cresswell seemed to struggle to contain him.

Alex Song hit the ball forward looking for Enner Valencia in the one of the first West Ham attacks all game, like most of Stoke’s chances up to this point it came to nothing. One minute later on the 33rd minute and Stoke, unsurpringsly, were ahead. Geoff Cameron launched a throw in to the area that was initially cleared, not to be deterred he tried his luck again finding Mame Biram Diouf who in turn found Bojan. The ball fell to Victor Moses who tucked it over the line from less than a yard out. A scrappy goal to concede, some would say it is a typical West Ham goal to concede but Stoke deserved it after their constant pressure. 1-0 to the Potters. You’d think a Stoke goal would be the catalyst for West Ham to try and pull one back before the break, right? Wrong. 12 more minutes of Stoke pressure passed and West Ham went into the break 1-0 down.

West Ham looked to change things up for the second forty five, Carlton Cole came on, thus marking his 200th Premier League appearance, came on for Morgan Amalfitano who had struggled. Valencia who simply is better on the wing rather then up front on his own was moved to his preferred position as Cole became the target man. The second half !-0was underway and Stoke picked up where they left off, again making forward runs and troubling West Ham. Eleven minutes after the restart and it was 2-0. Jonathan Walters crossed it in for Mame Biram Diouf and a powerful header from the Senegalese sailing past Adrian.

Stoke were now two goals to the good and it looked like game over from a West Ham point of view. Again, Stoke ventured forward only to be repelled by Collins. Three minutes later… Goal. For West Ham this time. The home fans and players protested for a free kick after Song lunged in, the referee played advantage to which Stoke didn’t take, Downing won the ball back and ran around fifty yards and pinged in a great cross for a gutsy Valencia to head home. 2-1 to West Ham and Valencia’s third of the season.

Source: whufc.com

Whilst the chant of “Enner Valencia” rang round the South Stand West Ham seemed to get a hold of things, searching for an equaliser however Stoke continued to push them back. West Ham made their third substitution as Kevin Nolan entered the field of play for Mark Noble, West Ham still looking for a second. AND THEY FOUND IT.

Seventy-three minutes gone and they were level. Valencia ran down the by line, knocking in a cross and eventually it found Stewart Downing. You know the rest, hit from 16 yards out. 2-2. West Ham had came back. Stoke again came forward looking to restore their lead, but Adrian was up to the task pulling off save after save. Full time. Stoke City 2-2 West Ham United. And to tell the truth West Ham got lucky.

 Next up for West Ham is Aston Villa at home and the Hammers will be confident of extending their unbeaten run after a somewhat poor performance. Cresswell and Amalfitano looked below par, however Valencia and Downing really shone as they helped West Ham towards the fight back.