West Ham United rallied from two goals down to earn a point in their Premier League clash against Stoke City this afternoon.
© Getty Images
Mark Hughes's side moved the ball well at the start of the game and Victor Moses was able to find an opening from 25 yards, but his strike went just over Adrian's bar.
The Potters came close to breaking the deadlock in the 22nd minute when Bojan raided down the right and whipped a dangerous cross to the near post, but Mame Biram Diouf could not get enough on the ball to divert it past Adrian.
West Ham should have taken the lead when Stewart Downing latched on to a poor clearance from Asmir Begovic. The winger played a neat one-two with Alex Song to set up a shooting chance, but scuffed his right-footed strike over the bar.
© Getty Images
The Hammers were to rue that miss when Stoke went ahead in the 33rd minute as Bojan's effort at goal was deflected into the path of Moses, who made no mistake finding the net from close range.
After the break, the Potters doubled their advantage when Jonathan Walters outmanoeuvred Aaron Cresswell for the ball down the right flank. The forward crossed the ball into the area and Biram Diouf placed his header past Adrian.
Moses had the chance to put the game beyond doubt when he sprinted down the left and cut back onto his right foot, but his curling strike went just past the post.
West Ham got themselves back into the match when Downing beat his man down the right and lifted a pinpoint cross into the area, which was met by Enner Valencia, who powered a diving header past Begovic.
Stoke had the chance to restore their two-goal advantage when Walters did well in the final third and he laid the ball into the path of Steven N'Zonzi, but his strike was tipped past the post by Adrian.
Diouf had another golden chance to extend his side's lead but he missed the target from six yards after latching on to a set piece from the left.
Sam Allardyce's side made Diouf pay for his miss when they netted their equaliser as Valencia collected the ball down the left, and his cross found Downing, who smashed a right-footed strike past Begovic from inside the area.
Geoff Cameron had an excellent chance to win the game for Hughes's side late on as he drilled an effort towards the bottom corner, but Adrian made an impressive save to turn his shot past the post.
The Potters made one last effort late in the game as they piled forward in numbers, but the Hammers held out to earn a vital point.
Simon Sinclair
