West Ham frustrate Stoke in goalless draw
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Updated 29/04/2017 at 17:03 GMT
Premier League, Bet365 Stadium - Stoke City 0 West Ham 0
Stoke City's Xherdan Shaqiri reacts
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Stoke City had more of the ball and more of the chances but they were left frustrated by the resolute defending of West Ham, as well as their own slackness in the final third, as they drew 0-0.
Both teams went into the game feeling they had underachieved this season and that proved to be the over-arching theme of the day.
Stoke in particular, but West Ham as well, produced some very nice football but they just couldn't find the goal, either being denied by a good save or defending or being let down by a poor pass.
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Jonathan Calleri of West Ham United closes down Glen Johnson of Stoke City
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On his first home game in over a year Stoke keeper Jack Butland was excellent, making a couple of fine stops, as was West Ham counterpart Adrian, who was called into action in the second half.
Ultimately both teams have work to do over the summer if they're going to push into the European places.
TALKING POINT
Stoke City are agonisingly close to being an excellent team. Honestly they're so close. They have an excellent keeper in Butland, some fine defenders and two horrible players to play against in Marko Arnautovic and Xherdan Shaqiri. The latter in particular was sensational, causing havoc for the West Ham defence. However it's just not quite there. The struggles of Saido Berahino, now at 1,657 minutes without a Premier League goal, really don't help matters and Peter Crouch won't get you 15 goals a season. The purchase of a top-class striker, perhaps along with a more creative central midfielder, must be a priority in the summer.
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Stoke City manager Mark Hughes
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MAN OF THE MATCH
Jack Butland (Stoke City): It may seem odd to pick the Stoke keeper when his team were so dominant but Butland was excellent. Shaqiri would have deserved it had Stoke won but Butland was hugely important in helping Stoke secure their first clean sheet since March 8. His save from Ayew in the first half showed good reactions whilst he did very well to deny the same man in the second half before getting up quickly to atop Lanzini too. He looked assured generally and his return is massive for Stoke.
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Jack Butland of Stoke City looks on during the Premier League match between Stoke City and West Ham United at Bet365 Stadium on April 29, 2017 in Stoke on Trent, England.
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PLAYER RATINGS
Stoke City: Butland 8, Johnson 5, Shawcross 6, Martins Indi 5, Muniesa 5, Whelan 5, Cameron 5, Shaqiri 8, Allen 7, Arnautovic 6, Berahino 5. Subs: Crouch 5, Adam 5.
West Ham: Adrian 8, Fonte 6, Reid 7, Collins 5, Fernandes 5, Kouyate 7, Nordtveit 5, Masuaku 6, Ayew 5, Calleri 5, Lanzini 6. Subs: Cresswell 5, Noble 5, Snodgrass 5.
KEY MOMENTS
26' - CHANCE! Oh that's a real waste. Kouyate gets the ball down to Fernandes who gets to the by-line and cuts the ball back to Calleri. Unfortunately the forward sends the ball miles over.
32' - SAVE! Great save from Jack Butland! Masuaku has all the time in the world to pick a pass and Ayew produces the overhead kick. Butland does very well to parry it away and the West Ham man is the first to congratulate him.
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West Ham United's French-born Ghanaian midfielder Andre Ayew (R) tries an overhaed a shot, which is saved by Stoke City's English goalkeeper Jack Butland during the English Premier League football match between Stoke City and West Ham United at the Bet365
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44' - CHANCES! How have West Ham not scored. Wonderful ball by Collins to release Calleri and his cross/shot is blocked by a combination of Shawcross and Butland. Calleri decides to go for the rabona of all things and unsurprisingly it doesn't work as Martins Indi blocks it.
60' - BETTER SAVE! Adrian is called into action again as Shaqiri feeds Berahino. The pass sends him a bit wide but he sends a low shot to the corner and Adrian is down quickly to get a big wrist to it.
64' - GREAT SAVES! Now it's Jack Butland to turn up, making two excellent saves. First to deny Ayew with a strong parry and then to stop a header from Lanzini at the front post with his feet. Terrific goalkeeping.
74' - HOW HAS HE NOT SCORED?! Oh my word that is a sensational ball from Shaqiri playing a gorgeous ball across goal to Arnautovic. Adrian does really well to block both attempts.
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Adrian of West Ham United and Marko Arnautovic of Stoke City clash during the Premier League match between Stoke City and West Ham United at Bet365 Stadium on April 29, 2017 in Stoke on Trent, England.
Image credit: Getty Images
KEY STATS
- Stoke are unbeaten against West Ham in the Premier League under Mark Hughes, winning three and drawing eight.
- Saido Berahino hasn’t scored a Premier League goal since February 27th 2016.
- The Hammers are winless in six away Premier League games (D3 L3).
- Stoke are now unable to beat last season's point tally of 51.
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