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.

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.

Piquionne almost gets clear of Pugh, who recovers well with a sliding challenge to nick the ball away from the striker.

That's two goals for the season for Da Costa, and both have come against Stoke. The first one was on this ground in the Carling Cup tie between these two sides.

GOAL!!! Hitzlsperger flights the free-kick into the back post, and Manuel Da Costa sends a textbook thumping header past Begovic, who had no chance!! He was towering above Walters there!

Shawcross with a late challenge on Parker, and he's into the book too. The referee was happy to play on, but Cole's hesitance prompted him to blow for the free-kick.

Noble strikes it in low, it's touched on by Tomkins, but Stoke scramble it clear.

Wilson has just manhandled Cole to the ground there. West Ham's front three are really stretching this Stoke defence at the moment. Wilson is booked for that challenge.

Hitzlsperger and Noble are both standing over it, it's the German who hits it...but straight into the wall.

Ba's confidence is clearly sky-high as he hits a wonderful crossfield ball for Piquionne, who beats Pugh, but is then felled by the Stoke man on the edge of the area. Free-kick in a great position for West Ham just outside the area.

Looking back to the replays of the goal, there was very little Wilson could do about it. It really was just a clanger from Begovic.

How ironic that it is Demba Ba who gives West Ham the lead, the very man Stoke opted not to take a risk on because of potential knee problems back in January. A penny for Tony Pulis' thoughts?

Another miscue from Rory Delap lets West Ham off the hook as the ball bounced around the penalty area.

Begovic was clear favourite to win the race to a long ball over the top of the Stoke defence, but he totally missed the ball, almost cleaned out Wilson, and Demba Ba was there to run onto the loose ball, get his body in front of Wilson, and stab the ball home into an empty net.

GOAL!!! Just as I mention a lack of action, West Ham take the lead through Demba Ba, though there was a horrendous error from Begovic!!!

A poor touch from Delap draws ironic cheers from the West Ham crowd as he controls the ball straihgt out of play. A real lack of quality on display throughout the first 20 minutes, and that has quietened the crowd. Very little to shout about so far.

Delap picks out Pugh on the left for Stoke, though his cross is well underhit, and is cleared by the first man.

Cole turns Wilson well on the left flank, and wins West ham a free-kick by the touchline, though they elect to play it short rather than arrow a long ball into the box.

Lovely play from Piquionne who dances round two challenges in midfield, but Cole can't hold it up and Stoke regain possession.

West Ham have their first attacking set piece of the match with a corner from the far side. Hitzlsperger with the delivery, which is straight into the hands of Begovic.

A long-throw from Delap isn't properly cleared by West Ham, it falls to Shawcross,and if he were able to get any more purchase on that header on the stretch then Stoke could have been 1-0 up!

Tomkins looks to orchestrate a quick counter-attack for West Ham, though his ball over the top for Noble runs straight through to Asmir Begovic - who of course used to play for Avram Grant at Portsmouth.