PREVIEW: West Ham United vs Stoke City

West Ham United vs Stoke City
Saturday 5th November 2016
London Stadium
Kick Off 3.00pm

ANOTHER VICTORY for Stoke City before the international break would be the icing on the cake for manager Mark Hughes with the Welshman having turned his team’s form around in recent weeks following a disappointing start to the season.

Two draws prior to last month’s break – including a particularly valiant display at Manchester United – proved to be a precursor to what would follow and after three successive triumphs the Potters now sit healthily in mid-table.

Monday’s win over Swansea ensured Hughes could thoroughly enjoy his 53rd birthday the following day though he’ll be fully intent on inflicting even more damage at the London Stadium this time out.

Four Premier League victories on the bounce haven’t been registered by the Club since his arrival though and that aim will be made more difficult with the Marko Arnautovic’s suspension and the possible absence of Xherdan Shaqiri.

The likes of Ramadan, Mame Diouf and Jonathan Walters could be given the chance to produce their own fireworks from the flanks, however, as the Potters aim to return from the Capital with a positive result on Guy Fawkes Night.

LAST VISIT

West Ham United 0
Stoke City 0

Stoke’s final trip to the Boleyn Ground ended goalless last December but it certainly wasn’t through the lack of trying.

City created a number of goalscoring opportunities and Marco van Ginkel, Mame Diouf and Marko Arnautovic all went close to finding a breakthrough against the Hammers.

Jack Butland made eight saves at the other end, meanwhile, with Michail Antonio making his first Premier League start for West Ham with Slaven Bilic amidst something of an injury crisis.

Amazingly, there will be at least seven definite changes to Stoke’s starting line-up from that day for this weekend’s fixture.

Stoke City: Butland; Johnson, Shawcross (c), Wollscheid, Pieters; Cameron (Adam 68), Whelan; Afellay (Walters 66), van Ginkel (Diouf 56), Arnautovic; Bojan. Unused: Haugaard, Bardsley, Joselu, Wilson.

MEMORABLE MATCH

West Ham United 0
Stoke City 1 (Pennant 82)

Jermaine Pennant stepped up off the bench to score a fantastic free kick in the final minutes of the Potters’ away game at West Ham in August 2013.

Pennant fired up and over the wall from 20 yards out minutes after his introduction following a foul on fellow substitute Glenn Whelan.
The goal was a joyous moment for the winger who had recently signed a new contract with the Club whilst his strike also secured Mark Hughes a first away win in charge.

Stoke City: Begovic; Cameron, Shawcross (c), Huth, Pieters; Wilson, Nzonzi; Walters, Adam (Whelan 76), Etherington (Pennant 76); Jones. Unused: Sorensen, Muniesa, Assaidi, Crouch, Jerome.

CONNECTIONS

Sir Geoff Hurst joined the Potters in the summer of 1972 as Tony Waddington showed his ambition following the Club’s League Cup triumph.

He enjoyed three seasons at the Victoria Ground, netting 39 goals as well as featuring in two UEFA Cup campaigns.
Others to have played for both clubs include Matthew Etherington, Danny Collins, Abdoulaye Faye, Luke Chadwick, Clive Clarke and John Carew.

Elsewhere, Assistant Manager Mark Bowen played 19 games alongside Slaven Bilic in defence for West Ham during their 1996/97 Premier League campaign.

source: stokecity.com