Welcome to our LIVE coverage of West Ham v Stoke City. Kick off is at 3.00pm - we'll be here from 45 minutes beforehand with all the pre-match build-up.

Parker with a decent ball out side for Bridge, though the full-back can't quite keep it in play.

Walter trips ba in the Stoke half, and the Hammers can build another attack. Ba has been excellent afternoon. So alert and quick on his feet.

Etherington is stripping off on the touchline. His appearance is imminent.

Fine delivery from Hitzlsperger into the back post, AND TOMKINS SEES HIS HEADER RICOCHET WIDE OFF THE POST!!!

Noble wins a header in the West Ham area, Ba races onto it, and it requires a desperate clearance from Huth at full stretch to celar for a corner.

Worried faces on the Stoke bench. They've now gone over seven hours away from home without a goal.

Stoke get the second half-underway.

There's the half-time whistle. West Ham 2-0 Stoke City.

Walters finally gets some space to fire a cross into the area, but Carew is the only man in there, and it's too far from the big Norwegian. What a comfortable half it has been for West Ham.

Two minutes' time to be added.

Histzlsperger forces a smart save from Begovic with a magnificent half-voley from 25 yards!!! That stung the palms of the Bosnian 'keeper!

Pugh brings down Piquionne on the left. He'll be sick of the sight of the Frenchman by the end of the afternoon.

Piquionne yet again can run at Pugh on the left, he gets his cross in, Wilson heads clear, Delap hacks upfield, but the bounce eludes Carew and West Ham can build from the back.

Piquionne once again gets in behind Pugh, though a heavy tough carries the ball out of play. Nevertheless, the interplay between West Ham's front three has been excellent so far. It was an excellent ball from Cole to pick out Piquionne.

Carew fails to hold up another long ball. Grant's decision to partner Upson with Da Costa this afternoon looks to have been an absolute masterstroke.

Walterswith a decent ball into the box for Pennant, but fantastic defending from Bridge and Parker crowd the winger out, and earn the Hammers a goal kick.

Pennant goes in late on Bridge, who was under a bit of pressure there. That needless challenge earns West Ham a free-kick that allows them to pump the ball back into the Stoke half.

Former West Ham boy Matthew Etherington is warming up on the sidelines. He wasn't risked by Tony Pulis, though his pace and trickery on the left are being sorely missed right now.

Parker picks out Bridge, his cross is only half-cleared, Ba's mishit shot falls for Piquionne at the far post...GREAT CHANCE...and Piquionne hits the side-netting!!! The deflection had taken Pugh out of the game there, and Piquionne really should have at least hit the target from that position.

Well, few had spoken of Stoke being drawn into a relegation battle, though there will be only three points between the two sicdes if West Ham can go on and claim the win here this afternoon.

Strong running from Cole wins West Ham a throw deep in the Stoke half. Noble looks to win himself a yard to of space to cross for Cole, but ends up running the ball out of play.