Premier League
West Ham United 2-1 Stoke City 

Sunday, 28th December 2008
by Gordon Thrower

Strange one this. And flipping cold as well!



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Player Ratings

Robert Green
A spectator for most of the match ?EUR" was probably as cold as I was. Did what he had to do without fuss.


Julien Faubert
Defensively not given much to do. Going forward he got into some good positions but boy does he need lessons in how to cross a ball.


Herita Ilunga
An easy afternoon at the back but when we were going forward he lacked support from the midfield. All too often he was given the ball with nobody alongside to provide extra width.


James Collins
At fault big time for the goal when he left Fuller unattended. Otherwise coped well with Delap?EUR(TM)s throws.


Matthew Upson
The expected aerial onslaught didn?EUR(TM)t materialise and he coped well with what little came his way.


Scott Parker
Gave the ball away a bit too much for my liking before his replacement by Mullins late on.


Jack Collison
Got through a lot of running before being sacrificed as we searched for the winner.


Valon Behrami
Tireless. Didn?EUR(TM)t stop running all day.


Luis Boa Morte
Swapped between the centre of midfield and wide left. Did ok without really dominating. Needs to cut down on the silly tackles though.


Carlton Cole
Some of the stick he?EUR(TM)s got of late has been ridiculous ?EUR" one bloke near me had a go when a defender got a brilliant block on him. He missed harder chances than the one it took, it has to be said, and there are times when he could make more of an effort in chasing down defenders. The goal was excellent though.


David Di Michele
Ran around a lot to little effect. Will hopefully only ever be a deputy for Bellamy.



Substitutes

Diego Tristan
(replaced Collison, 77) So he does exist! The goal was streaky but they all count.


Hayden Mullins
(replaced Parker, 77) Came in for the tiring Parker and did his usual job.


Jonathan Spector
(replaced Di Michele, 89) Came on at the death with little time to influence matters.


Jan Lastuvka
Did not play.


Bondz N'Gala
Did not play.


Lee Bowyer
Did not play.


Fred Sears
Did not play.



Match Facts

West Ham United: Robert Green, Julien Faubert, Herita Ilunga, James Collins, Matthew Upson, Scott Parker, Jack Collison, Valon Behrami, Luis Boa Morte, Carlton Cole, David Di Michele.

Goals: Carlton Cole 51 Diego Tristan 88                .

Booked: Carlton Cole 23 Luis Boa Morte 32 David Di Michele 36      .

Sent off: None.

Stoke City: Sorensen, Griffin, Abdoulaye Faye, Shawcross, Higginbotham, Delap, Olofinjana, Whelan, Pugh, Cresswell, Fuller.

Subs not used: Simonsen, Lawrence, Soares, Tonge, Sonko.

Goals: Faye (5).

Booked: Olofinjana (45), Higginbotham (65), Faye (73).

Sent off: None.

Referee: Michael Jones.

Attendance: 34,477.

Man of the Match: Valon Behrami.