The signs didn't start too well for Stoke. Most of the pre-match talk centered around Tuncay's lack of football, and Tony Pulis again kept him on the bench, opting for the same starting line up as against Everton.

That meant a rather defensive midfield, with Salif Diao and Dean Whitehead 'pulling the strings', while James Beattie partnered Ricardo Fuller upfront.

Stoke started brightly, and took the lead after ten minutes. A beautiful piece of work on the left wing between Fuller and ex-Hammer Matthew Etherington saw the winger race into the penalty area.

Before you could say "I'm Forever Blowing Bubbles", Etherington had been chopped down by Julien Faubert, and a penalty had been awarded.

It was the Potters' first penalty in the league since February but, just as he did that day against Portsmouth, Beattie smashed it high into the roof of the net.

James Beattie scores from the spot.

It was the perfect start, and Etherington almost doubled the lead seconds after with a deflected drive.

However, that appeared to be the signal for Stoke to sit in their shells. Dropping deeper and deeper, they invited pressure and ten minutes before the break they were made to pay. 

Mark Noble's corner was misjudged by Abdoulaye Faye and Matthew Upson plundered his header past Thomas Sorensen. Question marks must also be raised over the goalkeeper, who should probably have come out to command the set piece.

Alessandro Diamanti's antics were beginning to frustrate the home support, but the Italian almost put the Hammers into the lead with a curling effort early in the second period. Thankfully for Stoke, Sorensen was equal to it.

Ryan Shawcross was keeping England striker Carlton Cole reasonably quiet, and the centre back almost scored from a corner. He met Etherington's outswinger with his head but the effort was blocked just infront of the line. In the ensuing scramble, Shawcross was just unable to slide the ball home.

It gave the Potters renewed hope of victory, but Shawcross had to be at his absolute best to block Cole from a certain goal.

It was a pivotal moment. Minutes later, Stoke were ahead.

Diao set Fuller on his way and, having escaped the attentions of Upson, fired at Robert Green's goal. The England shot stopper could only palm the ball away and Beattie superbly slid in his second goal of the afternoon.

His celebration of kicking the advertising boards was something reminiscent of Temuri Ketsbaia of the last decade, but it demonstrated the tremendous passion the lad has for football.

Stoke held on fairly comfortably for the win, but should have lost Robert Huth who punched Upson in the face as the players were waiting for a free kick. A suspension could well follow for the German defender.

It was a win that puts Stoke into the top half of the league ahead of a tough trip to Tottenham next Saturday. It doesn't matter how you win them, it's just the winning that counts.

POTTERSNET RATINGS:

Thomas Sorensen- 7. Dealt with most things with no problem, but could have done better for the goal.
Robert Huth- 7. Not the best positioning at times, but solid stuff.
Abdoulaye Faye- 7. Not at his greatest, but kept Cole fairly quiet.
Ryan Shawcross- 9 **MAN OF THE MATCH**. Terrific display from Ryan, who must be inching closer to an England call-up.
Danny Collins- 6. One of his weakest displays today.
Rory Delap- 6. Hardly did a thing apart from throw the ball.
Dean Whitehead- 6. Ran alot but not too much attacking intent.
Salif Diao- 7. Another solid performance from Salif, but slows the play down a bit too much at times.
Matthew Etherington- 8. Is coming into a very welcome run of good form.
Ricardo Fuller- 9. Terrorised the West Ham defence all afternoon.
James Beattie- 8. Two goals. Can't complain at that.

Substitutes:

Liam Lawrence (replaced Delap, 68)- 7. Should be starting and showed why.
Glenn Whelan (replaced Diao, 78)- 7. Calming influence on the midfield and kept possession well. 
Dave Kitson (replaced Beattie, 83)- 7. Showed some nice touches in the final twelve minutes.

Unused Subs: Simonsen, Wilkinson, Higginbotham, Tuncay.

West Ham United: Green, Faubert, Upson, Tomkins, Ilunga, Kovac (Stanislas, 83), Noble, Behrami, Collison (Franco, 89), Diamanti (Hines, 78), Cole.

Unused Subs: Kurucz, Spector, Da Costa, Jiminez.

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