Stoke City v West Ham: Preview

Stoke manager Tony Pulis may opt to keep faith with the line-up which secured their first win of the season for the visit of West Ham. Monday's victory over Aston Villa ended a run of three successive defeats and Pulis, who has been in charge of training all week despite the death of his mother on Monday, could send out the same players again. Midfielder Marc Wilson enjoyed a promising debut and is likely to keep fellow transfer deadline day signing Jermaine Pennant out of the side. Forward Eidur Gudjohnsen will be on the bench again as he is eased back into English football after his move from Monaco. - FOLLOW IT LIVE FROM 12.45PM ON SATURDAY Striker Jon Walters has warned West Ham there will be no end to their difficult start to the season at the Britannia Stadium. The Hammers are the only Barclays Premier League team not to register a point from their opening four matches and are bottom of the table. They will travel to Stoke without manager Avram Grant and defender Tal Ben-Haim, who are observing the Jewish holy day of Yom Kippur which involves fasting and prayer over the course of Friday night and Saturday. And despite their recent good record at the Britannia Stadium, where they had won four successive matches until last season's 2-1 defeat, Walters is confident West Ham's difficulties will continue. "West Ham haven't had a win yet and are struggling and Stoke is a very difficult place to come to," said the £2.75million summer signing from Ipswich. "They struggled last year and haven't started well so it hasn't surprised anyone. "I'm not surprised to see them struggling because anyone can and I'm sure their heads are down at the moment and it won't get any better against us I don't think. "They will be scrapping for everything they can but I'm not sure how they will be with their manager not being there and being away from home - it's not a good place to come to the Britannia. "We have to make the stadium like a fortress, giving it everything in our home games and trying to pick up what we can away and the fans play a major part in that." Thomas Hitzlsperger (thigh) and Danny Gabbidon (hamstring) could both be back in contention for the Hammers after missing the defeat to Chelsea.

Source: DSG