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West Ham snatched a late win over a Stoke side that was reduced to 10 men after striker Ricardo Fuller was sent off for fighting with a team-mate.

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Abdoulaye Faye’s free header to put Stoke ahead was the highlight of a scrappy first half.

Carlton Cole turned Andy Griffin to level for West Ham and some fiery Stoke recriminations saw Fuller dismissed.

Stoke looked to be heading for a draw until Cole’s shot was deflected off Diego Tristan into the net.

The first half was a disjointed affair, characterised by Stoke defending in numbers, West Ham piling forward to little clear purpose and over-officious refereeing.

Stoke’s hopes of a first away win of the season received an early boost when they went ahead from the first corner of the match.

Faye was left totally unmarked at the far post to head in Danny Pugh’s corner from the right-hand side.

Most of West Ham’s threats were inspired by Julien Faubert on the right, with Cole usually his intended target.

But for all the problems his physical presence caused the Stoke defence, he rarely managed to create any serious chances.

Having taken an early lead, Stoke seemed happy to soak up the West Ham punches and they were lucky to get away with it when Herita Ilunga found a way through on the left wing and laid the ball back into a crowded box, somehow missing all his team-mates.