Premier League - Odemwingie puts West Ham to the sword for Stoke
Peter Odemwingie, Stoke City
Britannia Stadium, Stoke City 3 (Crouch 32, Arnautovic 69, Odemwingie 79) West Ham 1 (Carroll 5)
Peter Odemwingie’s emphatic finish into the top corner put the final nail in the West Ham coffin as Stoke ran out 3-1 winners at the Britannia Stadium. Odemwingie ran the length of the pitch to catch up with the breaking Stephen Ireland, who slipped him into a narrow angle on the right side of the penalty area. But that didn’t stop the Nigerian forward from attempting the shot which flew past Adrian at the near post and in to the top corner.
His 79th minute strike put the game beyond West Ham, who'd had a penalty appeal turned down just minutes before they conceded the second to a Marko Arnautovic effort in the 69th minute.
The first half started fast as Andy Carroll took advantage of some slack goalkeeping from Asmir Begovic in just the 5th minute. The England striker rose highest at the far post from a Mark Noble floated free-kick to nod into an empty net as the Serbian ‘keeper misjudged the flight of the ball.
Barely a minute had gone by when Peter Crouch flicked the ball on to Odemwingie on the right wing. He in turn crossed low to Stephen Ireland just eight yards out but his side-footed effort was weak and gave Adrian the chance to paw the ball round the post with a good reflex save.
Stoke eventually equalised in the 32nd minute through some good work from Crouch. He won a header at the far post from a corner only for the ball to bounce up on to the cross bar leaving Adrian stranded. Crouch reacted faster than James Tomkins to acrobatically throw himself at the bouncing ball and poke the ball home off the shoulder of Odemwingie on the goal-line. The Dubious Goals Panel will have some work to do this week to figure out what to do with that one.
Just moments before half-time Marko Arnautovic played a delightful through ball to Ireland who went one-on-one against Adrian, but his close range effort was smashed straight at the Spaniard to keep the scores level at half-time. It took 15 minutes for West Ham to create something in the second half as Kevin Nolan played in Carroll on his right foot but his low shot was well saved by Begovic with his feet.
In the 61st minute the Hammers could have gone 2-1 up but Nolan had ventured beyond the goalkeeper as the ball was pumped back in, and was given offside.
Arnautovic then gave The Potters the lead as he nutmegged Winston Reid on the edge of the box before a lucky deflection saw the ball back at his feet. He took one touch before lacing a shot past Adrian low into the bottom corner.
West Ham could have had a penalty minutes later when Muniesa jumped with Carroll only to handle the ball in the box but referee Craig Pawson gave nothing.
It took until the 79th minute before Stoke could put the game beyond West Ham with their fantastic counter attack goal finished by Odemwingie.
This win sees Stoke rise to 10th in the table three points ahead of West Ham who fall to 12th on 31 points.
MAN OF THE MATCH
Peter Odemwingie – He worked so hard throughout the game and might have himself a brace should the dubious goals panel award him Stoke’s first which came off his shoulder. His desire to get up with Ireland for the breakaway third goal, followed by the delightful finish, means he was a cut above.
PLAYER RATINGS
STOKE: Begovic 5; Cameron 6, Shawcross 7, Wilson 7, Pieters 5; Odemwingie 9, Nzonzi 7, Ireland 8, Whelan 7, Arnautovic 8; Crouch 8.
Subs: Muniesa 7.
WEST HAM: Adrian 6, Reid 6, McCartney 6, Nolan 6, Tomkins 6, Carroll 8, Noble 6, Demel 6, Diame 7, Downing 5, Nocerino 6.
Subs: Armero 5,C.Cole 6, J.Cole 6.