Preview: West Ham United vs. Stoke City

West Ham United manager Sam Allardyce will be without midfielder Alou Diarra after he was ruled out for the rest of the season with a knee injury.

Diarra was withdrawn during the first half of the club's Capital One Cup clash with Cheltenham Town in midweek, and Allardyce will also have Andy Carroll absent through injury.

Stoke City boss Mark Hughes will have been encouraged with his side's displays against Crystal Palace and Walsall over the past seven days.

Striker Kenwyne Jones netted a hat-trick in midweek, but he is expected to find himself on the bench for the trip to Upton Park.

Recent form

West Ham United: WDW

Stoke City: LWW

Possible lineups

West Ham United: Jaaskelainen; Reid, O'Brien, Collins, Demel; Nolan, Noble, Diame, Jarvis, Downing; Maiga

Stoke City: Begovic; Pieters, Huth, Shawcross, Cameron; Wilson, Nzonzi, Adam, Walters, Etherington; Crouch

Sports Mole says: 1-1