Stoke City v West Ham United
Britannia Stadium
Saturday, November 1, 2014
Kick-off: 15.00 GMT.
TV: Highlights, BBC ONE Match of the Day.
Stoke (Possible, 4-2-3-1): Begovic; Cameron, Shawcross, Wilson, Pieters; Adam, N'Zonzi; Arnautovic, Walters, Moses; Diouf.
Out: Odemwingie (knee), Whelan (broken leg), Crouch, Bardsley (both suspended).
Test: Muniesa (ankle).
West Ham (Possible, 4-3-1-2): Adrián, Jenkinson, Reid, Collins, Cresswell; Noble, Song, Amalfitano, Downing, Cole; Valencia.
Out: Carroll (ankle), Collins (groin), Demel, Jarvis (both thigh), O'Brien (knee).
Tests: Sakho (shoulder), Zaraté (thigh).
Referee: Chris Foy. Matches: 5, Y13 R3.
Betting: Home 6-5, Away 23-10, Draw 23-10.
Team News
Stoke will be without suspended duo Peter Crouch and Phil Bardsley for Saturday's visit of in-form West Ham.
Striker Crouch was sent off for the first time in Stoke colours in Wednesday's Capital One Cup loss to Southampton and full-back Bardsley picked up his fifth yellow card of the season in the same game.
Marc Muniesa is a doubt after going over on his ankle in training while fellow defender Robert Huth (calf), midfielder Glenn Whelan (broken leg) and striker Peter Odemwingie (knee) are all sidelined.
Meanwhile, Diafra Sakho will be assessed as late as Saturday morning as Sam Allardyce gives the West Ham striker as much time as possible to prove his fitness for their game at Stoke.
The in-form forward injured a shoulder in the 2-1 win over Manchester City last week and it remains to be seen if he is risked at the Britannia Stadium despite scoring six goals in as many Barclays Premier League starts.
James Tomkins and Matt Jarvis return to the squad after both recovered from thigh injuries but Guy Demel remains sidelined with Mauro Zaraté (thigh) a doubt and Andy Carroll not in contention despite returning to training following ankle surgery.
Match Notes
West Ham United are flying but news that Diafra Sakho is a doubt will dent hopes of extending an already impressive streak.
Even without Sakho, West Ham have enough strength in depth to cause Stoke City more problems. Stoke's season has been poor so far, with Mark Hughes, their manager, struggling to find any form of consistency.
Stat of the game: West Ham have scored in eight successive Premier League games for the first time in five years.
Steve Sutcliffe's prediction: Stoke City 0 West Ham United 1.
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