Premier League: West Ham v Stoke City match preview

A look ahead to this weekend's Premier League fixture at Upton Park

Kevin Nolan celebrates scoring West Ham's second (GETTY IMAGES)

West Ham go into their third Premier League game of the season off the back of an excellent run of form in both The Premier League and Capital One Cup. A home win against Cardiff and a draw away at Newcastle have meant four points out of a possible six for The Hammers. A 2-1 cup win against Cheltenham in mid-week will also fill the East London side with confidence. Ravel Morrison’s hope of a first Premier League start at the club was given a boost after a fine pre-season and the winning goal against Cheltenham on Tuesday.

Stoke have enjoyed a decent start to the season. Although they lost their opening game 1-0 away to Liverpool, they bounced back with a 2-1 home win to Crystal Palace and a 3-1 win against Walsall in the Capital One Cup.

KICK-OFF: Saturday, 3pm

PAST THREE MEETINGS…

Stoke 0 West Ham 1 (Collison), Premier League, March 2013

West Ham 1 (O’Brien) Stoke 1 (Walters), Premier League, November 2012

Stoke 2 (Huth, Higginbotham) West Ham 1 (Piquionne), FA Cup, March 2011

STATS…

In 70 league encounters, West Ham have won 28, whilst Stoke have won 25.

West Ham averaged 1.18 goals per game last season.

Stoke City scored the least amount of goals in the Premier League last term.

ODDS…

West Ham to win: Evens
Stoke to win: 3.75
Draw: 3.40

CLASSIC MATCH…

Stoke 3 West Ham 2 (Old Trafford, Wednesday, January 26, 1972)

In a fourth replay of the 1972 league cup semi-final, Stoke met West Ham at Old Trafford. Bobby Moore had to fill in for Hammers' injured goalkeeper Bobby Ferguson for 20 minutes. Geoff Hurst saw a penalty saved by fellow English World Cup winner Gordon Banks and finally Stoke ran out winners and met Chelsea in the final.

TV: Highlights on BBC One at 22.20, Saturday (Match of the Day), and BBC One at 22.25, Sunday (Match of the Day 2)