Scott Parker's first half strike was enough to earn West Ham their first point of the season at the Brittania Stadium this afternoon.
West Ham's vice captain gave United the lead on the half hour mark - a lead which the Hammers took into the half time break. But Stoke pulled level within two minutes of the restart through Kenwyn Jones to earn a share of the spoils.Much had been made before the game of Avram Grant's planned absence as a result of the Jewish calendar's Day of Atonement. However his shoes were ably filled by first team coaches Paul Groves and Kevin Keen, who did an admirable job as they led United to their first Premier League point of the season.
Always a lively affair, this fixture lived up to its name with four first half bookings, two for each side. Valon Behrami was first in referee Lee Mason's notebook on 20 minutes for a foul on Jermaine Pennant before being followed by Rory Delay for Stoke four minutes later.
Carlton Cole became the third name taken when he clattered into former team mate Matthew Etherington five minutes ahead of the break and Dean Whitehead made it two each when booked in first half injury time. In stark contrast, only Danny Collins managed to find his way into referee Lee Mason's notebook after the break.
Parker - registering his second strike of the season - put the Hammers ahead on 32 minutes. Victor Obinna's free-kick led to a scramble in the six yard area and West Ham's number eight profitted from the melee by stabbing the ball home from no more than a yard out.
Frederic Piquionne went closes to adding a second goal for the Hammers when he struck the crossbar with a dipping drive from the edge of the box four minutes after Parker had given United the lead. The Hammers could also have been awarded a penalty when Ryan Shawcross clearly handled Piquonne's striker from the edge of the box - though strangely perhaps, there were no appeals from West Ham.
The second half started in the worst possible fashion when Jones - an £8million summer signing from Sunderland - equalised with a simple header at the far post following some good work on the right flank by Jermaine Pennant less than two minutes after the restart.
Travelling Hammers fans could have been forgiven for fearing the worst at this stage, and when Stoke began to pile on the pressure a second goal for the home side was beginning to look inevitable. Jones went close to adding it when a 59th minute effort smashed against Rob Green's far post after Matthew Upson had, not for the first time this season, been beaten far too easily.
However, to their credit, the Hammers dug in and produced enough chances to win the game themselves; the lively Victor Obinna forced a great stop from Thomas Sorensen whilst both Parker and Noble also brought the best out of the veteran 'keeper.
Stoke almost grabbed a winner in the closing stages when yet another Rory Delap throw was hurled into the box; substitute Ricardo Fuller climbed highest but he saw his downward header rebound off the crossbar to safety; Rob Green had already given it up as a goal and was more surprised than anyone to see it stay out of the net.
A goal at that stage would however had been hugely unfair on west Ham, who had more than deserved a point which, hopefully, will be the kickstart this campaign has required. Next up for Avram Grant and his side is the visit of local beighbours Tottenham.
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