H-T: Stoke 1-1 West Ham
Published 15:58 17/10/09 By By MirrorFootball
Matthew Upson's 34th-minute header ensured West Ham went into half-time level with Stoke at the Britannia Stadium.
James Beattie's first goal of the season from an 11th-minute penalty after former Hammer Matthew Etherington was fouled was cancelled out by the England defender.
Stoke's high-energy approach had meant they were dominating until the equaliser.
The Potters had lost their last two home matches, against Chelsea and Manchester United, and had not won in the last four but took just 11 minutes to go in front.
Ricardo Fuller's backheel sent former Hammers winger Matthew Etherington racing into the penalty area only to go down under a challenge from Julien Faubert.
Contact looked minimal but referee Martin Atkinson pointed to the spot and James Beattie confidently dispatched the penalty for his first goal of the season.
West Ham's response saw Alessandro Diamanti, who was struggling to cope with the physical opposition put up by Stoke, fire well over from 30 yards.
The Italian's theatrical response to a tackle from Salif Diao earned the Senegal midfielder a booking and West Ham a 30-yard free-kick in a central position.
However, Diamanti curled his shot straight at Thomas Sorensen who caught it comfortably.
Stoke's high-energy game began to dominate and England goalkeeper Robert Green almost embarrassed himself in the 31st minute when his duffed kick only just crept past Beattie five yards in front of him.
But it was another England international, Matthew Upson, who grabbed West Ham's equaliser three minutes later.
No-one tracked the centre-back's run from the edge of the penalty area and he was able to head home Mark Noble's inswinging left-wing corner unchallenged.
Diamanti's tendency to go to ground and roll around at the slightest of touches contributed to Ryan Shawcross getting booked as he clipped the midfielder inside West Ham's half.
