Stoke City – West Ham United

<b>KICK OFF</b>

Great atmosphere inside the Britannia.

An early chance for Etherington as he meets Walters cross and forces Rob Green into a superb point blank save.

Delap's first throw in bomb is met by Huth but he nods wide.

Etherington with the cross this time and neither Jones nor Pennant can get on the end of it.

A good start from Stoke, who lost 3-0 at Upton Park last week don't forget.

A poor touch from Shawcross who concedes a corner when he was trying to knock it out for a throw.

Etherington does well to deceive Parker and find Walters but his shot on the turn is wild.

Nose bleed stuff from Upson who comes forward before knocking the ball out of play.

<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/goal.gif"> <b>GOAL</b> Huth scores from a Delap bomb!

Easy as you like. Delap's throw finds an unmarked Huth on the edge of the six-yard box and his powerful header flies into the net.

Obinna fires a hopeful ball towards Cole, who can't get near it.

These sides have met three times already this season, West Ham winning two and drawing the other.

Noble's shot takes a flick off Huth but Sorensen gets down to save easily.

Another ball into the box but Green comes to claim this one.

Tomkins registers his contender for 'worst shot of the season' award.

Walters does well to rob Piquionne and feed Jones but the return ball is too strong and the chance is lost.

<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/yellow_card.jpg" height="15"> A very painful one for Obinna, who is holding the family jewels, after Higginbotham caught him. But the West Ham man's boot was high and he is the one carded.

Stoke are first to everything at the moment as Jones nearly creates an opening for Pennant. Upson concedes a corner.

Green collects the corner and falls in a heap with Shawcross.

Green took an elbow in the face in that challenge as Shawcross went up. A little naughty.

Neat move from Stoke as Etherington and Walters find room for Pennant to cross but Da Costa hoofs clear. Only one team in it at present.

West Ham are struggling with a lack of options for the man in possession but they keep it well in that move.

<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/goal.gif"> <b>GOAL</b> Piquionne bundles it home!

A delicious ball over the top from Hitzelsperger but Stoke are furious because Piquionne controlled it with his arm before knocking it over the keeper and bundling it over the line.

No reason why the officials shouldn't have spotted that. Might have something to do with the sun, which is shining directly into the linesman's eyes.

Piquionne limped off after the goal after Huth's desperate challenge but he is back on.

West Ham have hardly been in this but now they are level. Cruel on Stoke.

Another poor decision goes against Stoke. Tony Pulis is chewing the ear off the fourth official.

Piquionne needs more treatment and it looks like his race is run.

<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/subs.gif"> Piquionne hobbles off and Spector comes on. Odd, seeing as Robbie Keane is on the bench.

Now Walters is down after a Stoke free kick and he needs treatment. They're dropping like flies.

<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/images/2011/0313/roberthuthscoresvwhufc_275x155.jpg"> <br>Stoke City's Robert Huth (right) scores his team's opening goal.

West Ham's fans are rubbing it in now, screaming "handball" at the home support.

<b>Stat:</b> Robert Huth is now Stoke's top scorer this season with eight goals in all competitions.

<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/yellow_card.jpg" height="15"> Hitzlsperger slides in from behind on Whelan and Stoke have a free kick.

Green punches clear the free kick then Whelan's shot is well wide.

Scott Parker spots Sorensen off his line and tries a chip that ends up as more of a dribble.

Parker closes down Etherington and concedes a throw. You know what that means.

Cole nods this one clear at the near post. Not one of Rory's best. Here's another chance though.

Green does well to punch clear from the second throw. Three minutes added for stoppages.

<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/yellow_card.jpg" height="15"> Da Costa sees yellow for chopping down Whelan. No argument from the defender.

<b>Half time</b> A right scramble in West Ham's box as Delap finds space at the byline, shoots and forces Green into a save, then Walters tries to run and finish but his shot is blocked. Eventually West Ham clear. And that is half time.

During the break why not have a read of <a href="http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story/_/id/893533/arsenal-can-still-win-the-title---wenger?cc=5739" target="_blank">Arsene Wenger's thoughts on the title race</a> after they were knocked out of the cup by Man Utd yesterday.

Or how about <a href="http://soccernet.espn.go.com/columns/story/_/id/893490/sweet-roar-of-victory?cc=5739" target="_blank">Brett Taylor's report</a> on a thrilling A-League final between Brisbane Roar and Central Coast Mariners.

<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/images/2011/0313/fredericpiquionnegoalvscfc_275x155.jpg"> <br>West Ham United's Frederic Piquionne bundles the ball over the line to score.

We begin again...

STOKE PENALTY

Just 15 seconds into the half Etherington takes a dive as Parker stuck out a leg and the ref points to the spot instantly.

Saved by Green! Justice is done!

Well, Tony Pulis can stop his moaning now because Stoke were handed an unjust penalty but failed to take advantage of it. A shameless dive from Etherington. Parker was furious about it.

Now a series of corners and throw in's ensue and West Ham are under heavy pressure.

Shawcross met Etherington's centre but flicks it wide. He should have done better.

<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/yellow_card.jpg" height="15"> Shawcross flies into Parker now and is booked. He did get a graze on the ball.

West Ham's free kick is saved then Parker passes straight to Etherington.

Noble gets into the area but can't get the ball under control properly in order to shoot.

Stoke building pressure again now.

Bridge concedes a needless corner after a long ball from Wilson.

Green can't make the punch this time and Cole nods it behind for a corner. Wasn't that far off the net to be honest.

Green gets a touch on the next one but only knocks it out for a throw.

Da Costa piles through the back of Walters trying to clear and Stoke are awarded a free kick 30 yards out.

Pennant's effort hits Cole's arm which was up protecting his face and the free kick moves ten yards nearer goal. Handbags between Walters and Parker.

<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/goal.gif"> <b>GOAL</b> Higginbotham fires one home!

A powerful, low effort from the defender and Green can't keep it out, though he directs it onto the post it trickles over the line.

West Ham are the ones who are unhappy now. The first free kick did hit Cole's arm, but it was in front of his face. The Hammers' wall did rather break up before Higginbotham's strike as well.

Obinna tries to level things up but his shot isn't a patch on Higginbotham's.

Superb save from Sorensen as Obinna fires in a powerful effort. Corner.

<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/subs.gif"> That's Obinna's last involvement as Robbie Keane comes on.

Hitzlsperger has a pop but that one is weaker than we've become accustomed to.

Green is out and makes a slight hash of his clearance. Stoke gifted a corner.

Green redeems himself with an excellent punch from Pennant's dangerous corner.

Now Jones heads over as Etherington centres.

A chance for Pennant as a dribbled cross falls to him charging into the box but he slices his effort wide.

Good move from West Ham as Parker feeds Tomkins and his low cross is hooked on target by Keane forcing Sorensen into a save at his near post.

Role reversal as Sorensen punches clear a corner.

Keane screams from a penalty off Huth as Huth blocks his touch inside. He goes off chasing the ref rather than trying to win the ball back.

Keane has had a bit of a mare since coming on.

<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/subs.gif"> Changes: Zavon Hines comes on for Noble, while for Stoke, Whitehead replaces Pennant.

Hines wins a free kick. Pulis is livid.

West Ham scream for a penalty now as Tomkins is hauled down by Walters. The defender is furious. The free kick actually goes Stoke's way.

A hard day's work for ref Mike Jones. No-one is happy with him.

<b>Upson hits the bar!</b> He rises highest from the corner but smacks his effort off the bar with Sorensen beaten.

Wst Ham peppering the box now but Stoke standing firm.

Good effort from Cole who wriggled free in the area. The ball was going wide but Sorensen turned it behind.

Stoke penned in now. Can the Hammers find an equaliser?

<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/subs.gif"> Kenwyne Jones comes off and Ricardo Fuller comes on.

Four minutes added...

<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/yellow_card.jpg" height="15"> Fuller has a yellow already after losing the ball and hacking at Bridge.

<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/subs.gif"> Etherington heads off and Danny Collins comes on.

<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/images/2011/0313/dannyhigginbothamcelebvwhufc_275x155.jpg"> <br>Stoke's Danny Higginbotham jumps for joy after scoring his team's second goal.

Silly from Hines, who nudges Walters when the ball looked like running out for a West Ham corner.

Parker overhits his cross and that should be the end.

<b>Full time</b> Stoke hang on and probably shaded it on the day. It's 39 years since Stoke made the final four of the FA Cup. Now they're off to Wembley.