Fit-again Butland gives Southgate plenty to cheer

With safety not yet quite guaranteed, the win that both sides craved eluded them, although it was not for want of trying in a goalless but engaging contest in which England manager Gareth Southgate will have been delighted with Jack Butland’s form.

Southgate was present to check on the England goalkeeper’s first test on his home ground since he suffered a broken ankle on international duty in March 2016 and witnessed a performance that will have provided only encouragement.

Butland made a number of saves as West Ham matched Stoke for opportunities, but two stood out. The first denied Andre Ayew a goal from a spectacular bicycle-kick midway through the opening half, Butland beating the ball away at close range.

The second, pulled off again with the quickest reactions, kept out a secondhalf header from Manuel Lanzini, Butland this time throwing out his left foot to prevent a goal. “I felt we dominated possession but there were occasions today when we needed a top-class keeper to make match-defining saves and undoubtedly that’s what Jack is,” Stoke manager Mark Hughes said.

“We have got to be a little bit careful with him because of the severity of his injury and the couple of false dawns he had in rehab, but I see no reason why he can’t be pushing to be in England’s plans for the World Cup.

“His focus now is on making sure he is right for Stoke City but clearly his ambition is to be the number one ’keeper for England and I’m sure the reason Gareth was here today was to see how Jack is.”

West Ham have now won once in 11 matches. Yet they are unbeaten in four and if Butland was the key figure for Stoke, so Adrian was equally important for West Ham, saving from Saido Berahino, Joe Allen and Marko Arnautovic. “I’m pleased with the way we played, pleased with a third clean sheet in four games, but there is a little bit of frustration that we didn’t win the game,” said manager Slaven Bilic.