1. Remain Tight At The Back
Key to West Ham's progress this season has been their defensive discipline, and an enviable record at the back that has seen them conceding at a rate only better by last season's champions, Man City. And that defensive record is currently even more important considering the team's comparative lack of bite in front of goal: they are currently the lowest scoring team in the top 11, and 19th placed Southampton have managed four more goals than them in the league so far this season. While Andy Carroll's loan signing was a big deal for Hammers fans and showed a statement of intent for the direction the club's owners want to go in, the big England man has so far failed to find the net, and with his fellow strikers failing to take the league by storm, it falls to the defence to keep it tight to protect their lofty position. Luckily for Allardyce, Stoke aren't exactly famed for their own high-scoring games, having only scored 9 goals so far this year, but West Ham will still have to remain as vigilant as possible, and hope that James Tomkins has as good a game as he did against Newcastle last weekend once more.