Good afternoon! Welcome to Eurosport's live coverage of this Premier League clash between Stoke City and West Ham United at the Britannia stadium. Kick-off is at 3pm and we'll be bringing you the team news shortly.

Nevermind you're fourth place, say Stoke. The Potters are on top here and the visitors are yet to launch a meaningful attack.

A nice give and go between Steve Sidwell and Steven N'Zonzi but the former can't get a shot away.

That's what you get when you come through Barcelona's academy and end up at the Britannia. Bojan receives a square ball inside the box, and opts to take a touch. Not clever when you've got James Collins racing towards you. Crunch. A firm but fair challenge from the Welshman but it leaves Bojan on the floor looking a bit shocked.

West Ham win a free-kick in a dangerous position. Stuart Downing attempts to whip it into the box but gets it horribly wrong and the ball sails high and wide.

First shot of the game comes from Stoke. It's Victor Moses who runs through the middle and tries from range. It's not a bad effort but Adrian watches it comfortably over the bar.

Geoff Cameron gets to the by-line for Stoke but can't get a decent cross in and the ball goes behind for a goal kick.

Brief lull as play is brought back for a head injury to Kouyate. The Hammers man is ok to continue, though.

Bright start from the hosts! Jon Walters intercepts a pass and bursts forward down the right. He puts in a cross but its diverted behind for a corner.

We're off! West Ham get us underway in their light blue away strip. Stoke in their familiar red and white stripes.

Just five minutes away from kick off now! The teams are out and going through the handshake routine...

Happy Birthday Mark Hughes! Yes it's the Stoke boss' 51st birthday to day - can his side give him the perfect present etc etc

We're all familiar with the cliche that the Britannia stadium is a difficult place to go. Here's a stat to back it up: there have been just 6 goals there this season, fewer than any ground in the top four divisions of English football.

Big Sam's determined not to get carried away, though. Here's what he had to say: "I said to the players don't start reading about yourself too much or else we'll have to start changing the size of the doors to get your heads through. So keep your feet on the ground and don't read too much praise about yourself like you shouldn't read too much of the criticism."

So, West Ham are flying high in the top 4 of the Premier League and come into this on the back of a 2-1 win over champions Man City. This is already their joint best start to a top-flight season since 1983 and a win today would take them above City into the top 3 for at least 24 hours. Heady days in East London.

How much will this man be missed today? Diafra Sakho has been a goalscroing sensation since arriving from Metz in the summer.

Peter Crouch and Phil Bardsley are both suspended for Stoke, having picked up a red card and a fifth yellow respectively in midweek. The big news in terms of the West Ham team is the absence of Diafra Sakho, who has scored 6 goals in his first 6 Premier League starts for the Hammers. The Senegalses striker has a shoulder injury, which allows fellow Senegalese Cheikhou Kouyate to come into the starting XI.

TEAMS. STOKE: Begovic, Cameron, Shawcross (c), Wilson, Pieters, N'Zonzi, Sidwell, Moses, Walters, Bojan, Diouf...Subs: Sorensen, Muniesa, Ireland, Arnautovic, Adam, Teixeira, Assaidi. /// WEST HAM: Adrian, Jenkinson, Collins, Reid, Cresswell, Song, Noble (c), Kouyate, Amalfitano, Downing, Valencia... Subs: Jaaskelainen, O'Brien, Tomkins, Poyet, Zarate, Jarvis, Cole