Source: Daily_Mail
Stoke 2 West Ham 1: Huth may be KO'd by punch as Beattie heaps woe on Zola
A firmly-landed punch could cost Robert Huth a three-match suspension once the viewers at the Football Association see the blow that landed on the side of Matthew Upson's head in a fiery match's darkest moment.
Red mists enveloped Stoke's German right-back as both teams jostled in the penalty area in time added on.
What prompted Huth to land his haymaker is unclear, with referee Martin Atkinson the only man not to see the incident.
West Ham boss Gianfranco Zola, that most placid of men, said: 'It was a sending-off. I can only assume the referee didn't see it.' Stoke's Tony Pulis added: 'I haven't looked at the video but I will speak to Robert and if there is something wrong, I will deal with it in house.'
The incident was a blot on a match that contained no shortage of fire and passion. No shortage of heroes either with James Beattie out in front.
His goals, one a penalty and the other a poacher's dream, gave Stoke a deserved win and left West Ham anchored at the wrong end of the table.
Stoke's intentions were clear. They began a series of incisive raids that brought them an 11th-minute penalty, which Beattie struck powerfully past England's Robert Green.
A neat back-heeled pass from Ricardo Fuller fell into Matthew Etherington's stride. He was shaping to shoot, moving past Julien Faubert, who stuck out a leg. A clear-cut penalty.
Stoke have had defensive anxieties. These were underlined in the 34th minute when Upson eluded any semblance of marking to rocket Mark Noble's corner past Thomas Sorensen.
Just as West Ham were beginning to look dangerous, Stoke scored a 69th-minute winner. Fuller drove in a low cross-shot that Green could only turn away. Faubert tried to keep the ball out but Beattie forced it over the line.
