After the elation of Monday night's superb last gasp win over Aston Villa, the Stoke players have the perfect chance to build on their first points of the season with the visit of rock bottom West Ham to the Britannia Stadium in the lunchtime game tomorrow. There's a real feel good factor around the club at the moment, with its supporters more firmly behind manager Tony Pulis than ever after he went far beyond the call of duty in arriving at Monday's game at half time, despite the death of his mother earlier in the day. The same cannot be said for the Hammers and their boss Avram Grant. He's still yet to earn a point with the club after taking the reins in the summer and many of the Upton Park faithful are beginning to doubt his credentials to take the club forward. His position will not be helped by the fact that he looks unlikely to be at tomorrow's match, as he will be observing the Jewish festival of Yom Kippur. With work forbidden on the day of atonement, the Israeli accepts that he will be unable to actively manage his side, but has refused to rule out being at the game, though reportedly he would have to walk there as using mechanical transport is not permitted, a solution that could be workable, provided he does not wear leather shoes, which are another infringement on the holiest of days of the Jewish calendar.
TEAM NEWS
Sky Sports News is reporting that Pulis is set to name a side unchanged from the one that defeated Villa, with Rory Delap continuing on the right flank and Jonathan Walters accompanying Kenwyne Jones in attack. Many Stoke fans will hope this is a smokescreen though, as they would prefer to see Ricardo Fuller and Jermaine Pennant, who both made big impacts as substitutes on Monday, from the start. The omission of Pennant would be particularly perturbing, potentially leaving supporters to ponder why, when for the first time in years Stoke have a truly threatening right winger at their disposal, he is not being used more. Icelandic striker Eidur Gudjohnsen, Pulis's marquee summer capture, should start on the bench and may get his first taste of action in a Stoke shirt as he looks to build up to full match fitness.
The Hammers will be without Israeli international defender Tal Ben Haim as he too is observing Yom Kippur. While Pulis has an almost fully fit squad to pick from, Grant has a number of injury concerns that will not help his cause. Midfielder Jack Collison, forward Zavon Hines and goalkeeper Peter Kurucz will all definitely miss the game with knee problems, while defender Danny Gabbidon and German international midfielder Thomas Hitzlsperger are doubts with hamstring and thigh injuries respectively. Hitzlsperger is yet to make his West Ham debut after joining the Londoners from Lazio in June and if he is passed fit to play, his involvement could give his teammates a much needed boost.
Possible Stoke Side:
Sorensen
Huth Shawcross Faye Collins
Delap Wilson Whitehead Etherington
Jones Walters
Subs: Begović, Wilkinson, Higginbotham, Whelan, Pennant, Fuller, Gudjohnsen
Possible West Ham Side:
Green
Jacobsen Upson Tomkins Ilunga
Behrami Parker Noble Boa Morte
Obinna Cole
Subs: Stech, Reid, Faubert, Dyer, Barrera, Kovac, Piquionne,
FORM
Though the win over Villa was Stoke's first in the Premier League since April, it has caused an air of confidence to arise around the club, as well as excellent momentum, given the lateness of both Stoke goals, ahead of the clash with the Hammers. West Ham have had a dreadful start to the season, losing each of their first four league games and shipping three goals in all of them. They are in dire need of a result like Stoke's against Villa to kick-start there campaign, but with their recent poor performances it is hard to see where one is going to come from. The historical record is, however, very narrowly in favour of West Ham. They have won 31 of the clubs' 78 meetings since 1919, as opposed to Stoke's 29. Eighteen have been drawn. In Stoke's first season back in the top flight, West Ham were one of only four clubs to do to double over the Potters, winning 1-0 at the Britannia Stadium and 2-1 at Upton Park in a match that was notable for Fuller's embarrassing sending off for slapping his own captain Andy Griffin. The Jamaican had the last laugh though, scoring a stunning solo goal at his side saw off the Hammers 1-0 in London last season. He also played well in Stoke's 2-1 success at the Britannia Stadium five months before.
PLAYER LINKS
Stoke winger and 2009/10 player of the year Matthew Etherington spent six good years with West Ham before joining Stoke in January 2009 and is still held in high regard by the Hammers faithful. In total he turned out for the club on 195 occasions, scoring eighteen goals. No current West Ham player has ever been on the books at Stoke, but a number of notable figures have represented both clubs over the years. Among them are Sir Geoff Hurst (Stoke 1972-75, West Ham 1959-72) and more recently Luke Chadwick (Stoke 2005-06 (loan) & 2006-07, West Ham 2004-06) and Clive Clarke (Stoke 1996-2005, West Ham 2005-06).
THE REFEREE
The match will be presided over by Lancashire official Lee Mason. The 38 year-old is a solid Premier League official, last taking charge of Stoke for the 1-1 home draw with Liverpool in January and West Ham for their single goal loss at Birmingham a month earlier, on which occasion he sent off Hammers midfielder Mark Noble. He has also been known to use his red cards at the Britannia Stadium, dismissing two Tottenham players in Stoke's 2-1 win over West Ham's fellow Londoners in October 2008.
THE WEATHER
Once again rain is predicted for Stoke-on-Trent tomorrow, with a repeat of the high winds that affected Monday's match possible. As summer moves into autumn and temperatures fall, supporters may be well advised to wear an extra layer.
PREDICTION
I foresee more home happiness for Stoke and more general misery for Grant and his Hammers, with the Potters running out easy 2-0 winners thanks to goals from Jones and substitute Glenn Whelan. Stoke 2-0 West Ham
Enjoy the game