West Ham United's winless run now stands at six games after they were held to a 0-0 draw at home to Stoke City.
There were relatively few first-half chances, but the second period was more lively and Marko Arnautovic's deflected free kick struck the crossbar before Mauro Zarate rattled the post at the other end.
In the fourth minute of added time, Stoke twice cleared the ball of the line as they held on to earn a seventh clean sheet of the campaign.
Read how it all unfolded in our minute-by-minute commentary below.
Hello and welcome to Sports Mole's coverage of West Ham United vs. Stoke City! Both sides have enjoyed some stellar wins this season and have upset the big boys, but how will they fare against one another today?
We'll look at the form of each side in a little while, but let's take a glance at the team news first.
West Ham starting XI: Adrian; Tomkins, Collins, Ogbonna, Cresswell; Song, Noble; Antonio, Kouyate, Zarate; Carroll
West Ham subs: Randolph, Jenkinson, Obiang, Oxford, Cullen, Valencia, Jelavic
Stoke starting XI: Butland; Johnson, Shawcross, Wollscheid, Pieters; Cameron, Whelan, Van Ginkel; Afellay, Bojan, Arnautovic
Stoke subs: Haugaard, Bardsley, Joselu, Adam, Wilson, Diouf, Walters
We'll start with the hosts, who have been forced into two changes from the side that started the 0-0 draw at Manchester United a week ago. Winston Reid and Victor Moses both picked up injuries in the week, so James Collins and Michail Antonio come in.
It's a first West Ham start for Michail Antonio, who joined the Hammers for £7m in the summer. He lit up the Championship for Nottingham Forest last season as he netted 15 goals and Slaven Bilic will be hoping he can replicate that sort of form to soften the blow of losing the likes of Manuel Lanzini and Dimitri Payet.
Stoke have also lost a key attacking player to injury, as Xherdan Shaqiri doesn't make the squad today. He's replaced in the starting lineup by Marco van Ginkel as Stoke make just one alteration from the side that beat Manchester City 2-0 seven days ago.
Just how good were Stoke last weekend? The front three of Xherdan Shaqiri, Marko Arnautovic and Bojan caused all sorts of mayhem and in truth they could have racked up five or six goals. Mark Hughes will be hoping the loss of the Swiss playmaker won't affect the Potters too much.
While all the talk surrounded their scintillating attacking display, the win saw Stoke rack up their sixth clean sheet in the last eight Premier League games. Jack Butland has earned plenty of plaudits, but another key component in the defence is Ryan Shawcross. He acts as a steadying presence and Stoke haven't conceded a league goal while the captain has been on the pitch this season - a run which stands at 407 minutes.
In fact, the watertight Stoke defence is the fourth best in the Premier League, behind only Manchester United, Tottenham Hotspur and Arsenal.
And to think, this has all come off the back of Stoke's worst ever Premier League start. It's all hunky-dory now!
While Stoke are improving with each passing week, West Ham seem to be going backwards a little. They started magnificently and were in third place after 10 games. However, they haven't won since then and have dropped down to eighth in the current standings.
The injury to Dimitri Payet seems to be a massive factor in West Ham's slump and although the Frenchman has been missing for more than a month, he remains their top goalscorer with five league goals.
It's not just Dimitri Payet who's out. Enner Valencia is a long-term absentee too, while fellow attackers Victor Moses, Manuel Lanzini and Diafra Sakho are also missing. Can Michail Antonio dazzle on his full debut?
The winger has told the club's official Twitter account that he's hoping to please the fans:
WATCH: @Michailantonio is raring to go ahead of his first start for @whufc_official this afternoon #WHUFC #COYI pic.twitter.com/VEyT9TcK1R
— West Ham United FC (@whufc_official) December 12, 2015
You've heard from Antonio, but why not take a listen to the Sports Mole gang too? Here they are discussing the game in this week's podcast. If you like what you hear, don't forget to click the subscribe button!
UPDATE: The early Premier League game has finished in a 1-1 draw between Norwich City and Everton. Click here to read Chris O'Keefe's on-the-whistle report. In the Championship, Ipswich Town have moved into the top six with a 1-0 win at MK Dons. That man Chris O'Keefe has also written a full-time report from that game, which you can find here.
The two games between West Ham and Stoke last season both finished in draws. Hammers winger Victor Moses scored for Stoke in a 2-2 draw in the clash at the Britannia Stadium back in November 2014. In the reverse tie at Upton Park, Marko Arnautovic's 95th-minute goal earned Stoke a 1-1 draw.
Here's Andy Carroll firing in a shot during the warm up. He's not quite that slow though, I promise.
VIDEO: @AndyTCarroll tests @SpiegelRaphael's reflexes in the warm up #WHUSTK #COYI #WHUFC pic.twitter.com/TAj93NNAJS
— West Ham United FC (@whufc_official) December 12, 2015
Just a few minutes until kickoff, so it's time for me to put my neck on the line. Stoke really impressed me last week and an injury-ravaged West Ham have picked up just two wins at home this season, so I'm predicting a 2-0 win for Stoke this afternoon.
The bubbles are flying around the stadium as the teams walk out onto the pitch. It's almost time!
KICKOFF: Stoke City get us underway this afternoon. Can they continue their impressive form?
They're on the front foot in the early stages, but Bojan's through ball to Arnautovic is too strong and runs through to Adrian.
SAVE! Kouyate winds up a shot from 25-yards, which takes a nick off a Stoke player on its way to goal and Butland has to push it away to safety.
SAVE! The ball is kept in play by West Ham and Shawcross's high clearance falls to Antonio, but he sends a half-volley straight at Butland from just outside the area. Two relatively comfortable saves for the Stoke 'keeper, but encouraging signs from the Hammers.
Antonio and Song both see long-range attempts blocked before the former wins a corner. They look up for this!
Stoke clear and break in numbers. Bojan's pass forces Van Ginkel a little wide and the midfielder's low cross is cut out at the near post by Tomkins.
Carroll hunts down Wollscheid, then Butland and then Shawcross before Afellay miscues the ball to of play. The hosts are full on energy in the opening stages.
CLOSE! Afellay sends a wicked cross into the box which bamboozles Adrian, but Van Ginkel can't get a touch on the ball. As he flies in, he catches the West Ham 'keeper, but he's back on his feet after a period of treatment.
CHANCE! Wow! What a miss by Van Ginkel! Afellay sneaks to the byline twice in quick succession. His first cross is cut out by Adrian, but the second delivery is deflected to Van Ginkel just eight yards out. He's in acres of space, but scuffs a poor volley past the upright.
West Ham come down the other end and Song's pass to Kouyate just runs out of play.
Song is lucky to escape a booking as he brings down Afellay, who was looking to break for Stoke.
Stoke can't live with Antonio here and the winger glides past Pieters far too easily. He reaches the byline, but rolls the ball into Butland's hands with a poor cross.
Afellay stands up Cresswell on the edge of the box before going past him. As he lines up a shot, Collins dashes out to deflect the strike behind for a corner.
Cresswell is down on the turf after his cross rebounded back off Whelan and into the left-back's nether regions. Ouch...
It's all incredibly congested at the moment and Bojan concedes a throw-in after dallying on the ball in his own half.
Johnson wins his side a corner after slamming a cross into the shins of Zarate.
Bojan's corner causes panic in the West Ham defence, but they eventually clear. Antonio races down the other end and brushes past Whelan, but gets the ball stuck under his feet as he arrives in the box and Wollscheid dispossesses him.
Butland dashes from his line to nick the ball off Carroll's toes as the forward races onto a through ball. Good decision-making from the Stoke 'keeper.
CHANCE! Johnson gets forward well from right-back and slides a cross into the path of Arnautovic at the near post, but the winger sidefoots his shot wide from close range!
UPDATE: Just a couple of goals in the Premier League so far. Wilfried Bony has given Manchester City the lead against his former side Swansea City, while Odion Ighalo has put Watford 1-0 up at Sunderland.
Bojan dinks the ball over Noble fantastically in the middle of the park, but doesn't see Arnautovic's run through the middle and the attack fizzes out. He just needed to get his head up!
Shawcross and Carroll are having what some might call a 'good old fashioned battle'. The Stoke defender flings an arm into the face of Carroll, who is back on his feet after a bit of treatment. Just a word from the referee, but he'll be keeping his eye on that one...
The first 10 minutes were packed with action, but it's all gone a bit quiet since then.
Carroll's switched over to play on Wollscheid now, but he's penalised for leaning into the Stoke defender with his forearm. He needs to keep his cool as he is becoming visibly frustrated.
BOOKING: It's a first yellow card of the game for Pieters, who slammed into Kouyate. The defender lay on the turf in an attempt to avoid the punishment, but Marriner saw through his play-acting.
Collins has three bites at the cherry from the free kick, but doesn't make a meaningful connection with any attempt. He stabs the ball goalwards while laying on the floor with his third effort, which Butland clasps to his chest.
It's all become incredibly scrappy. There's plenty of endeavour on show, but very little quality.
Shawcross inexplicably gives the ball straight to Noble, but races back to make a last-ditch tackle and make up for his mistake. The home fans want a penalty, but it was a fine tackle.
The Shawcross - Carroll battle continues and the Stoke defender gives away a needless free kick on the edge of the box for pushing the West ham forward. Carroll and Karate are standing over it...
Zarate takes the set piece, but it is put behind via a deflection off the wall.
TWO MINUTES OF ADDED TIME
CLOSE! Cresswell's teasing cross into the six-yard box is brilliantly turned behind by Wollscheid. He's just a few yards from his own goal, but the defender makes a vital interception.
HALF TIME: West Ham 0-0 Stoke
Not the finest half of football, but it's still entertaining. Stoke have hit West Ham on the counter attack a few times, but have yet to register a shot on target. Having said that, Marco van Ginkel really should have out them ahead early on.
Not much to shout about from either side in all honesty.
HT: Stats of the first half here at the Boleyn Ground #WHUFC 0-0 #SCFC pic.twitter.com/PjZsX37DLR
— Stoke City FC (@stokecity) December 12, 2015
UPDATE: There have been just three first-half goals from the 3pm Premier League kickoffs. Manchester City lead Swansea City 1-0 thanks to Wilfried Bony's strike, Odion Ighalo has put Watford 1-0 ahead at Sunderland and Yohan Cabaye's goal separates Crystal Palace and Southampton.
Let's hope we see goals here in the second half too!
KICKOFF: West Ham get us back underway.
Hmmm. Not the greatest start as Antonio slices a wayward pass out for a Stoke goal kick.
SHOT! Kouyate hammers a shot into the body of Wollscheid after a neat layoff inside the area by Zarate. That's much better.
SAVE! Butland makes a sprawling save at his near post to turn Carroll's inventive header round the post. It was an unorthodox attempt by the forward, but it needed saving!
Antonio's mammoth throw in clears all the West Ham players and sails into the arms of Butland.
Noble cleverly buys a free kick from Bojan's challenge on the edge of his own box to give the Hammers a chance to settle down.
Carroll wins another header in the Stoke area, but sends his wayward attempt high and wide. Promising signs for West Ham early in the second half though.
SUBSTITUTION: Hughes makes an attacking alteration, bringing on Diouf for Van Ginkel. Bojan is likely to drop back into the No. 10 role now.
CHANCE! Cresswell swings a pinpoint cross onto the head of Antonio from a deep position, but the winger skies his header from 12 yards.
30 minutes left for Stoke to get themselves another clean sheet.
PHOTO West Ham have had 10 attempts on goal against Stoke, but no breakthrough yet. It's 0-0 (58 mins) #WHUSTK pic.twitter.com/KI9lz3U1tU
— Premier League (@premierleague) December 12, 2015
SAVE! Stoke fail to deal with a routine long ball and Antonio swivels before sending a powerful strike towards goal, but Butland punches it clear.
SAVE! Stoke go down the other end and Adrian makes his first save of the game from Arnautovic's low strike, which was hit from a tight angle.
Carroll is found by Zarate's left-wing cross but the forward is crowded out and can't get any purchase on his header.
BOOKING: Afellay enters Marriner's book now for a foul.
SUBSTITUTION: West Ham also make an attacking change by throwing on Valencia for Song.
Johnson skews a wild cross into the stand behind Adrian's goal. That just about sums up this game so far!
SUBSTITUTION: It's a second Stoke alteration, with Walters replacing Afellay.
BOOKING: Kouyate picks up a yellow card for hacking down Cameron as he took a bouncing ball beyond the West Ham midfield. Marriner points out that it's not his first offence, either! Arnautovic is standing over the ball 30 yards from goal.
OFF THE BAR! So close! Arnautovic's free kick hits Kouyate before dipping and swerving towards the top corner, but it rattles the frame of the goal and bounces out. It's the closest either side have come so far!
SUBSTITUTION: Stoke are forced into their final change as Cameron hobbles off the pitch after that challenge by Kouyate. Adam takes his place.
Pieters makes a vital intervention as he jumps with Carroll as the West Ham attacker heads towards goal, giving Butland a comfortable save.
Noble has the chance to test Butland from 25 yards, but he's forced to take the shot early by Whelan and the West Ham captain slips before ballooning his effort well over the bar.
Pieters has to be careful. He's already on a yellow card and seems to block off Antonio, but Marriner waves play on.
Stoke finally have a target to hit now that Diouf's on the pitch. Bojan's a wonderful player, but he dropped too deep when he was the lone striker. Johnson and Pieters both send crosses in the direction of Diouf, but West Ham clear.
It's been a war of attrition this afternoon. Not the liveliest game at all.
SAVE! As I say that, Butland makes a fine save! Cresswell hits a first-time shot towards the top corner and Butland makes a flying, one-handed save to his left!
Butland breathes a sigh of relief as Noble's mishit corner falls onto the roof of the net. It looked as though it was going in at one point!
SAVE! Diouf has the chance to win it late on, but Adrian makes a save with his foot from the forward's low shot. It was a great pass from Johnson to release Diouf, but he hit the shot straight at the West Ham 'keeper.
Antonio leads a West Ham counter attack, but slams a shot into the shins of Johnson when the pass to Valencia looked the better option!
OFF THE POST! Finally, this game has come to life in the last few minutes! Karate waltzes round three challenges on the edge of the box before hitting a thunderous attempt against the upright from 20 yards out! The ball is worked back into the area, but Antonio can't hook Carroll's knockdown beyond Butland.
SUBSTITUTION: Antonio's full West Ham debut comes to an end as he's replaced by Jelavic. The winger has been one of the livelier players today.
Johnson makes a stupid foul as he clatters into the back of Valencia.
SAVE! What a strike from Valencia! He sends a dipping attempt towards goal from almost 40 yards which Butland tips over the bar!
Both sides want to win this! Why have they only decided to play like this so late on?
Adam's a lucky boy to avoid punishment after swinging his boot in the direction of Valencia's head. That was naughty.
CHANCE! Wonderful play by Bojan and Arnautovic ends with the latter feeding Diouf, but the Stoke substitute can't fire his low shot past Adrian when one-on-one! It was a good save by the West ham 'keeper, but Diouf is rightly frustrated!
It's end to end stuff! Zarate is robbed by Arnautovic and Walters wins a corner late on for Stoke. Can they find a winner?
FOUR MINUTES OF ADDED TIME
Adam's corner ends up 15 yards outside the area... That was atrocious and Hughes is seething on the touchline!
Johnson can't quite reach a through ball in time as it squirms out of play for a goal kick. Is there time for a bit of late drama?
A West Ham corner. This will be the final act of the game...
OFF THE LINE! Butland spills the ball and it's cleared off the line twice! First time round Whelan heads Tomkins's attempt away before Johnson spares his goalkeeper's blushes from Koyate's attempt!
FULL TIME: West Ham 0-0 Stoke
West Ham came so, so close to winning it right at the death but two magnificent blocks on the line have earned Stoke a draw! It wasn't a great game, but the final 20 minutes were incredibly open and quite how it ended goalless I'm not sure!
That's all from me, but make sure you stick around on Sports Mole for live coverage of Bournemouth vs. Manchester United, which can be found here. Until next time!
Written by
Kristian Johnson
Kristian Johnson
