A sublime free-kick from Diego Tristan earned West Ham an impressive 1-0 away win against Stoke which moves them into a European place in the Premier League table.

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The Spaniard curled the ball into the top corner from the edge of the box on the half-hour mark to reward a dominant first-half display from Gianfranco Zola's side.

Stoke peppered the visitors' penalty area with corners, free-kicks and long throws in the second period as they looked to avoid a rare home defeat, but West Ham's defence stood firm, securing three points which moves the Hammers up to seventh place.

The first half made for an interesting tactical battle between Stoke's direct, physical approach and West Ham's neat passing game.

Stoke looked to have drawn first blood in the 14th minute when Ricardo Fuller bundled the ball over the line from a long Rory Delap throw, but referee Peter Walton ruled the goal out for a push by Fuller on West Ham keeper Robert Green.

Just a minute later Walton ruled out a goal at the other end after David Di Michele had turned nicely in the box and steered the ball home. The referee adjudged that Tristan had handled as he directed a Luis Boa Morte cross from the right into Di Michele's path.

Stoke continued to threaten from set pieces, as Ryan Shawcross and Abdoulaye Faye both headed opportunities over in quick succession.

But West Ham had the bulk of possession, and took the lead through Tristan's cultured strike after Di Michele had been tripped on the edge of the Stoke area.

Fuller almost grabbed an equaliser for the hosts on the stroke of half-time, but he was denied by a smothering save from Green at his feet after the striker had turned skilfully away from his marker. Moments later Liam Lawrence was appealing for a penalty after collapsing in a heap inside the West Ham box, but the referee booked the Stoke midfielder for diving.

Stoke had another shout for a penalty just after an hour when a Delap throw resulted in the ball striking Junior Stanislas on the arm inside the visitors' area, but again nothing was given.

Stanislas then had a glorious chance to double his side's lead five minutes later after Lucas Neill cut the ball back to him in acres of space on the penalty spot, but the youngster smashed the ball over.

West Ham were almost made to pay for that profligacy when Faye headed a Lawrence corner towards the top corner 15 minutes before the end - but Mark Noble was in the right place at the right time to head off the line.

Chances came and went for both sides in the dying moments as first Tristan chipped wide when clean through on goal before Fuller shot over from close range.

West Ham held on for a win which puts them on 48 points, one point ahead of Manchester City, Fulham and Tottenham Hotspur in the race for a place in next season's Europa League.