Faubert curls an inviting cross towards the near post where Franco is lurking but Sorensen beats him to the ball.

Fuller reaches the byline and squares the ball but his team-mates are not on the same wavelength.

Fuller puts the ball across the face of an open goal searching out Kitson but it is just too far ahead of his strike partner.

Noble takes a West Ham free-kick from inside the 'D' but hits it straight into the grateful arms of Sorensen.

Whelan meets a bouncing ball and hits a dangerous looking shot goal-wards but it sails over Green's crossbar.

Lawrence lofts a cross to the far post and picks out Etherington who fails to direct his header goal-wards from close range.

Martin Atkinson did not see the incident and allows play to continue through a Diamanti corner which comes to nothing.

Play stops for a few moments as the referee consults his officials. An off the ball conflict between Huth and Upson has left the latter bleeding after an apparent punch from Huth.

Cole rolls his marker and unleashes a shot from inside the box but Shawcross saves Stoke with a last ditch block.

Diamanti almost catches Sorensen off guard from 18-yards but his strike sails straight down the keeper's throat.

Stoke are losing their way in this game but the only movement on the touchline comes from the West Ham bench with the likes of Zavon Hines warming up.

The game is moving at a quick tempo but it is scrappy and neither side seems able to string passes together.

Stoke try to catch West Ham on the break and Fuller bursts forward but he is too slow in the build-up allowing the visitors to get men back behind the ball.

Diamanti curls a corner into the mixer but it is too close to Sorensen who plucks the ball out of the air.

Shawcross has a header cleared off the line from an Etherington corner. A close shave for the Hammers.

Beattie turns his marker inside the box and gets a shot away but does not find the target.

The home fans respond to the slow start and raise the volume, urging their side forward.

Patient build-up play offers Diamanti a chance to get a shot away and his curling strike forces a fine save out of Sorensen.

The two sides are a little sluggish following the interval and it is showing through sloppy possession play.

Stoke enjoy a late spell of pressure with Delap and Fuller reaching dangerous positions but the visitors manage to clear their lines.

The visitors are constantly feeding Cole and spread the ball around well in the final third but the move breaks down as Collison's lofted pass is cut out.

The home side need something to get themselves going again and push forward for a Delap throw but it sails straight into the arms of Green.

The visitors have their tails up now and Collison tries to turn and shoot inside the box but it is well blocked by Delap.

Sorensen committed himself to the corner but did not make it and will receive most blame for that goal, however questions marks will be raised over who left Upson unmarked.

A long ball forward finds Cole who has space for a shot but Shawcross does enough to put him off and the move breaks down.

Diamanti threatens Stoke with a left-footed strike from inside the box but it is straight at Sorsensen.

West Ham are passing the ball around nicely but it is at a pedestrian pace and Stoke are easily snuffing out the moves in the final third.

Beattie gets half a chance on the edge of the box but fails to work Green with a right footed drive.

The visitors are beginning to get a foothold in the game and look more dangerous but there is no punch up-front to put any danger on Sorensen's goal.

Noble slides a pass through to Ilunga but the move is cut out by a perfectly timed Ryan Shawcross challenge.

Diamanti tries his luck from distance but sends his effort sailing into the stand behind the goal.

The visitors are launching plenty of crosses into the box but Cole is out-numbered by red shirts.

Cole is causing problems amongst the Stoke back-line and reaches the byline. He cuts a decent ball back into the box but again there are no team-mates inside the box.

Alessandro Diamanti whips a free-kick into the box and Cole's looping header is tipped over the bar by Sorensen.

Play stops for a few moments as Matthew Upson receives treatment for an injury. It all seems easy for Stoke against a side who did the double over them last season.

The Hammers are in sixes and sevens at the back and Etherington takes advantage again before letting fly from distance, forcing a decent save out of Green.

The visitors enjoy a decent spell of possession and use the width of the pitch, but Herita Ilunga's ball into the box goes unnoticed with no team-mates in sight.

Stoke have started very brightly and are in the visitors' faces at all times. They have had the better of the opening stages, though West Ham now seem to be settling down.

The ball comes loose to Carlton Cole and he gets a quick shot away from distance but does not find the target.

Rory Delap launches a trademark long throw into the box and West Ham fail to clear the danger until Robert Green comes to their safety and smothers the loose ball.

Etherington swings a left-footed corner into the mixer but fails to cause the visitors any problems.

Matthew Etherington, playing against his former club, wins Stoke an early corner after reaching the byline.