Stoke 0-0 West Ham: Hammers move step closer to safety

West Ham inched closer to confirming Premier League survival with a 0-0 draw at Stoke on Saturday.

The best chance of the game fell to the Hammers, with Andre Ayew forcing a fine save from Jack Butland with an acrobatic effort.

Xherdan Shaqiri went close on two occasions in the second half, while Saido Berahino also saw a fine effort tipped wide by Adrian, but both sides eventually had to settle for a point.

The result means Stoke reach the 40-point mark and stay 11th, while West Ham are a point behind in 14th, eight points clear of the drop zone.

During a first half lacking in chances, Winston Reid pulled off a superb block to deny Berahino from close range, before the West Ham defender pulled off a similar tackle later in the half from Stoke's January signing.

Then came the chance for Ayew, whose brilliant overhead kick from Arthur Masuaku's left-wing cross was tipped away brilliantly by Butland, who impressed in front of England manager Gareth Southgate.

West Ham almost took the lead on the stroke of half-time through Jonathan Calleri, who instead of wrapping his left foot around the ball from a rebound eight yards out, opted for a bizarre 'Rabona'-style effort, which was blocked.

The game livened up in the second half with chances for both sides, the first falling to Cheikhou Kouyate, who struck just wide from 15 yards out on the right.

Shaqiri then bundled an effort wide from six yards, before Berahino came close with a fierce effort from an acute angle, tipped wide brilliantly by Adrian.

Butland then made two fine saves from Manuel Lanzini, first beating away a fierce effort from 20 yards, then saving with his feet from a close-range header.

Stoke had the chance to win it with 14 minutes remaining as Shaqiri's fine ball found Marko Arnautovic, but the Austrian could not convert on the stretch as Adrian kept West Ham level again.

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Player ratings

Stoke: Butland (7), Johnson (6), Shawcross (7), Martins Indi (6), Muniesa (6), Cameron (6), Whelan (6), Allen (6), Shaqiri (6), Berahino (6), Arnautovic (6)

Subs: Adam, Crouch.

West Ham: Adrian (7), Fonte (6), Reid (7), Collins (6), Fernandes (6), Kouyate (7), Nordtveit (6), Masuaku (6), Lanzini (6), Ayew (6), Calleri (5).

Subs: Cresswell (6), Snodgrass (6), Noble (6)

Man of the match: Winston Reid