Source: PA
Subs on song for Hammers
West Ham's substitutes came to Avram Grant's rescue as they helped seal a place in the Carling Cup quarter-finals with an extra-time victory over Stoke.
The Potters looked set to pile the pressure on Hammers boss Grant after the home side missed several chances to cancel out Kenwyne Jones' early opener at Upton Park.
But captain Scott Parker finally equalised with six minutes of normal time remaining before Manuel Da Costa and substitute Victor Obinna completed the turnaround.
Stoke took the lead when Jones rose highest to power home Jermaine Pennant's corner. Parker equalised six minutes from time, nodding home Pablo Barrera's inswinging cross from close range and sending the game into extra-time.
West Ham completed the turnaround six minutes into the extra period thanks to brilliant work by Mark Noble coupled with appalling Stoke defending. The midfielder was allowed to burst into the box unchallenged and run along the byline before cutting the ball back for Da Costa to rifle home his first goal of the season.
Dean Whitehead should have equalised when he blazed over after Jonathan Walters got away with an aerial challenge on Marek Stech before Obinna sealed victory two minutes from time after being played clean through by Noble.
