West Ham off the mark at last after draw at Stoke

Stoke City 1 West Ham 1

West Ham United secured their first Premier League point of the season, in their fifth game, when they drew 1-1 at Stoke City on Saturday.

The Londoners travelled to Stoke badly needing to get off the mark after four losses, and without manager Avram Grant, who was observing the Jewish holy day of Yom Kippur.

They were the better team in the first half, taking the lead after 32 minutes when Scott Parker scored from close range following a scramble in the box.

Stoke, who picked up their first points with a win over Aston Villa last Monday, levelled with a Kenwyne Jones header three minutes after the break and were much the better side in the second half.

In Saturday's later matches Arsenal visit Sunderland while Tottenham Hotspur host Wolverhampton Wanderers.

The big game of the weekend is at Old Trafford on Sunday when Manchester United play Liverpool, with Chelsea also in action at home to Blackpool.