Stoke 2 West Ham 1

WEST HAM are still searching for their second win of the season after they were beaten 2-1 by a James Beattie double at Stoke.

An early penalty was cancelled out by a Matthew Upson header, but Beattie reacted quickest after Robert Green made a save from Ricardo Fuller.

The Hammers can consider themselves unlucky not to have come away with at least a point, as they enjoyed a strong period in the lead-up to Stoke's second.

Things got off to a bad start for Gianfranco Zola's side, as Julien Faubert hauled down ex-Hammer Matthew Etherington in the box, and Beattie stepped up to fire the resulting kick into the top corner.

Upson restored parity for the Irons when he connected with a Mark Noble corner, sending the visitors into the break on level terms.

A slick five-man passing move almost resulted in West Ham taking the lead after the interval, but Alessandro Diamanti's curling effort was saved by Thomas Sorensen.

Carlton Cole, making his 100th appearance for the Hammers, then looked poised to put his side in front, but he was denied by a last-ditch tackle from Ryan Shawcross as he bore down on goal.

It proved to be a decisive intervention, as Stoke took the lead just two minutes later.

Fuller's shot was palmed away by Green, but Beattie was on hand to bundle in the rebound and give the Potters all three points.

West Ham remain second-bottom after Portsmouth lost at home to Tottenham.