This has been a trying start to the season for West Ham United: a new manager; a poor run of results leaving them rooted to the bottom of the Premiership; as well as an injury list which their already stretched squad can seemingly not cope with.

However, their season seems to be finally picking up a degree of momentum, kick-started somewhat ironically against their fourth round opponents. Following their spirited 1-1 draw at the Britannia Stadium they went on to triumph at Sunderland in the third round of this competition, and then picked up a win and a draw at home against Spurs and Fulham respectively, and the Hammers’ fans will be hoping that this recent spate of strong home form can continue against Tony Pulis’ men.

Stoke of course, will have other ideas. Following a promising start to their Premier League campaign which has seen them climb into nose-bleed territory in seventh place, they will be looking to add a decent cup-run to keep both their fans and chairman happy.

Even Carling Cup betting pundits will accept that the League Cup may not be everybody’s cup of tea, but probably not to Stoke, a team which despite cementing their place in England’s top-flight, have gone 39 years without lifting a major domestic trophy. By their own admission, Stoke aren’t the most glamorous team in the world, but their manager has got them playing with real self-belief these last couple of seasons, and in Kenwyne Jones they have finally found the perfect focal point for a playing style which whilst sometimes criticised as being direct, has also proven to be very successful.

Having beaten Fulham relatively comfortably in the previous round, Stoke will be fancying their Carling Cup Odds of progressing to the quarter finals, but obviously West Ham will have similar ambitions.

One set of fans will inevitably be left disappointed – such is the nature of knock-out football – and the deciding factor could well be the sharpness of their strikers. If it is to be West Ham’s day then their star striker, Piquionne, will be key; but if Jones performs at his best, then the Potters may well have one eye on a trip to Wembley.