A good three points:

Our performance yesterday was hardly fantastic; we started well enough and finished the game strongly, but for a long period in the middle we were second best, which is reflected in the statistics showing West Ham on top in terms of possession and efforts on goal. That considered, to have managed to record the win and score twice in the league for the first time since the opening day is a very positive outcome for us.

Positive thinking:

After our first goal, we seemed content to sit back and let West Ham come onto us, which I was not happy to see and is my main criticism of our performance. It’s hard to tell whether this negativity came as a result of orders from manager Tony Pulis or was brought about by the attitude of the players themselves, but either way it was wrong. West Ham had little confidence and after scoring early against them if we had continued to attack they could well have crumbled and conceded more. As it was, by sitting back and letting them boss play, their confidence grew and we could very easily have ended up drawing or even losing. More positive tactics are needed at home, especially against struggling teams.

We will have to show a Huthless streak:

In the aftermath of the game a lot has been made of Robert Huth’s clear swipe to the face of West Ham’s Matthew Upson, and, with the viedo evidence clearly condemning the German defender, it looks very likely that he will be handed a three match ban for violent conduct. This is very disappointing as, as well as it never being good to see a footballer deliberately striking another, the incident was completely avoidable had Huth just kept his head. As it is, his moment of madness will most likely cost us one of our best recent performers for our next three games. Fortunately, we have Andy Wilkinson ready to slot straight back in at right back, but it just goes to show how stupid footballers can be sometimes.

 Tuncan’t get a game:

When we signed Tuncay from Middlesbrough in August, there was great excitement amongst Stoke fans. As yet, he’s failed to establish himself in Pulis’s side, making only substitute appearances in the league and causing some discomfort for those who so heralded his arrival. I bid for patience, Tuncay played two international matches in the week before yesterday’s game, and would not have been at his sharpest, while the man who started ahead of him, Beattie did the business when it mattered. As long as we’re getting results, the fans and Tuncay should be happy for him to bide his time.

 
The oppositon – beaten but not Hammered:

With West Ham still stuck in the relegation zone, it will be hard for their players and fans to feel good about yesterday’s game, but there are several positive points that they should take from it. They played good football throughout and, with the quality of players they have they should soon be looking up the table and for large periods of the game they were on top. They should be concerned about the strikeforce though. Carlton Cole, who was admittedly a threat throughout, was the only player in their side who ever really looked dangerous, which is apparently a consistent complaint for them this season. With better support for him, and a bit of luck, they should have no problems at the wrong end of the table.

Player Ratings:

Thomas Sorensen (gk): Sorensenwas largely solid, and made several tidy saves, but has to be blamed for West Ham’s goal when his uncharacteristic hesitation gave Upson an easy headed finish. 5

Robert Huth (rb): Huthwas defensively excellent, but at right back isn’t attack-minded enough for my liking. His stupid lash out on Upson costs him a point or two. 5

Ryan Shawcross (cb): Shawcross was excellent, coping impressively with the huge aerial prowess of Cole and making a superb last ditch tackle when he was clean through on goal in the second half. 8

Abdoulaye Faye (cb): Faye was for once not at his best. His poor marking also contributed to their goal while his tendency to try to play himself out of trouble rather than taking the safe route also put us on the back foot at times. 5

Danny Collins (lb): Aftera shaky start to his Stoke career, Collins, who joined from Sunderland on transfer deadline day, is beginning to look the part at left back. He put in a strong performance yesterday and got forward to support Matthew Etherington on the left wing well, most notably in the build up to our penalty. 7

Rory Delap (rm): Delap was rather quiet, and wasn’t particularly missed when withdrawn in the second half. His long throws were better than they have generally been recently though. 6

Dean Whitehead (cm): Whitehead had perhaps his best game for Stoke yet, and, although he didn’t get forward particularly well, battled admirably to keep West Ham’s talented midfielders quiet. 6

Salif Diao (cm): Diao’s performances reflected that of the Stoke side as a whole. He started very well, had a poor patch in the middle, and finished strongly. For the most part he was assured on the ball and good in the air though. He played like he did when he first came to Stoke three years ago, always looking to spark something with a positive ball forward after making tough tackles, with one such ball starting the move that ended with our second goal. 7

Matthew Etherington (lm): Playing against his former club, Etherington had a decent game. He looked lively on the left throughout and won us the penalty. 7

James Beattie (cf): Beattie has generally looked off the pace this season, but showed the form that helped him single-handedly revitalise our fortunes last year yesterday. His penalty was as ever superbly taken, while he showed his fine poaching nature to get into the position to tuck away the second. 8

Ricardo Fuller (cf): Generally tricky, Fuller came to life in the second half, his powerful runs down the right wing causing West Ham great difficulty and indeed leading to Beattie’s second. 8

Liam Lawrence (sub rm): Though he was largely quiet, Lawrence’s introduction seemed to lift his teammates, and came just two minutes before the winner was scored. 6

Glenn Whelan (sub cm): Whelan is fast becoming a fans’ favourite, and showed why in his fifteen minute cameo, winning every tackle and coming close to scoring with a ferocious long-range effort. 7

Dave Kitson (sub cf): Confined to the bench again, Kitson had little time to impose himself when he came on. 6

My man of the match: Ryan Shawcross

A fair result would have been:

Stoke City 1-1 West Ham United – Though I’m delighted that we won, given West Ham’s domination of the middle section of the game, a draw would have been a fairer outcome.

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