West Ham fight back to steal a point at Stoke

Stuart Downing and Enner Valencia inspired a two-goal comeback as West Ham nicked a point in a pulsating clash with Stoke.

Both men scored – each assisting the other – to draw the Hammers level in the second half and get something from a game which was largely dominated by Stoke.

Stoke enjoyed a wealth of chances and grabbed goals either side of the break through Victor Moses and Mame Biram Diouf to take what looked like an unassailable lead. But Adrian was inspired in the West Ham goal and Sam Allardyce’s side showed more resilience in the second half, bagging goals that keep them in the top four.

Stoke had taken the lead after 35 minutes when Moses was first to react to a blocked Bojan shot, stabbing at the ball which came back off the post and onto his boot before squirming over the line. The lead was doubled after the break when Jonathan Walters got in down the right and put a cross in for Diouf to head home.

But just five minutes later Downing burst down the right and put across a delightful curling cross for Valencia to stoop and head home at the back post. Valencia then returned the favour, teeing up Downing with a low cross that the winger lashed home.

The game lacked a thrilling match-winning finale but Sam Allardyce will be more than happy to come away with a point after an insipid first half display. Mark Hughes, on the other hand, will be wondering how his side didn’t claim all three.

19’ – CHANCE for Stoke! Superb play from Bojan down the right. He skins Morgan Amalfitano and fizzes a ball across the face of goal but Diouf can't quite get on the end of it.

32’ – GOAL! Stoke take the lead! Victor Moses puts the hosts ahead, bundling the ball home as it bounces around scrappily around in the box.

45+2’ – CHANCE! How is that not 2-0?! Stoke have another glorious chance! Diouf receives the ball on the penalty spot, swivels away from Collins, but his shot is stopped expertly by the leg of Adrian. Brilliant save.

55’ – 2-0 STOKE! Diouf nods home from a Walters cross to double the Potters' lead.

57’ – CHANCE! Stoke nearly make it three! Moses bursts past Jenkinson and tries to curl one past Adrian, but it's just wide. Stoke are rampant.

59’ – GOAL! West Ham have one back! Downing bursts down the right and puts across a delightful curler for Valencia to stoop and head home at the back post. 2-1.

70’ – CHANCE! What a chance for Stoke! Pieters whips in a brilliant free kick and Diouf rises to meet it but heads over the bar.

73’ – WEST HAM EQUALISE! The corner is flicked away but Valencia collects, puts it low into the box where Downing is there to meet it and lash it home. 2-2

West Ham have now scored eight headed goals – a league high.

Today was Carlton Cole's 200th Premier League game for West Ham. Only Steve Potts (204) and Mark Noble (202) have featured more.

Stoke have only lost one of their last 13 Premier League home games.

West Ham have scored at Stoke in every meeting since 1973.

A top-four side? West Ham certainly didn't look like one in the first half, and indeed for large periods of the second. Stoke ran riot going forward and really should have put the game to bed. In the second half Sam Allardyce's men showed the resilience needed for life at the top but the scoreline flattered them and the way they were overrun suggests their stay in the top four will be short-lived.

Bojan Krkic (Stoke): Enner Valencia and Stuart Downing turned this match on its head, but they were both completely ineffectual in the first period. The man who really lit up this contest was Bojan, whose skill and inventiveness helped create a wave of chances for Stoke. His contribution merited three points.

Stoke: Begovic 6, Cameron 7, Shawcross 6, Wilson 6, Pieters 6, N'Zonzi 7, Sidwell 6, Moses 8, Walters 7, Bojan 8, Diouf 6. Subs: Adam 6

West Ham: Adrian 8, Jenkinson 6, Collins 7, Reid 6, Cresswell 5, Song 6, Noble 6, Kouyate, Amalfitano 5, Downing 7, Valencia 7. Subs: Tomkins 6, Cole 6, Nolan 6.