Stoke remain unbeaten at home in 2011 after a 2-1 win over West Ham at the Britannia Stadium earned them a place in the FA Cup semi-finals at Wembley for the first time since 1972. These two teams have already met in the league and cup this season four times and this was the first time Stoke have been successful over West Ham.
Stoke made the most of their fine home form by dominating the early exchanges and taking the lead on 12 minutes in typical trademark fashion.
Rory Delap hurled a trademark long throw into the area and an unmarked Robert Huth headed home past a static Hammers defence.
Backed by noisy home support the Potters continued to press but against the run of play the visitor's levelled with a strong hint of handball from scorer Frederic Piquionne.
Stoke lost some of their impetus after the controversial strike and the crowd roundly booed the officials at half-time.
But the home side were not to be denied a visit to Wembley and just after the hour mark regained the lead as Danny Higginbotham hit a powerful free kick straight through the Hammers wall and past Robert Green.
This winner saved the blushes of Matthew Etherington who had missed a penalty a minute into the second half after Scot Parker was harshly adjudged to have brought down the penalty taker.
Only in the last ten minutes did West Ham make a concerted effort to gain an equaliser but Stoke stood firm to provoke wild scenes of joy from the home supporters at the final whistle.
Referee: Michael Jones
Venue: Britannia Stadium Attendance: 24,550
Stoke scorers: Huth 12, Higginbotham 63 West Ham scorers: Piquionne 30
STOKE 29 Sorensen 03 Higginbotham 04 Huth 17 Shawcross (yellow card) 06 Whelan 12 Wilson 16 Pennant (Whitehead 81) 24 Delap 26 Etherington (Collins 90+2) 09 Jones (Fuller (90yellow card) 19 Walters
Substitutes 27 Nash, 05 Collins, 28 Wilkinson, 14 Pugh, 15 Diao, 18 Whitehead, 10 Fuller
WEST HAM 01 Green 05 Tomkins 15 Upson 22 Da Costa (yellow card 36 Bridge 08 Parker 11 Hitzlsperger (yellow card) 16 Noble (Hines 81) 09 Cole 30 Piquionne (Spector 35) 33 Obinna (yellow card) (Keane 68)
Substitutes 31 Boffin, 04 Gabbidon, 18 Spector, 37 Jacobsen, 13 Boa Morte, 26 Hines, 34 Keane
