West Ham United manager Sam Allardyce has bemoaned two "shocking defensive moments" which cost his side against Stoke City in the Premier league.

The Hammers took an early lead at the Britannia Stadium through Andy Carroll's fifth-minute opener, but were pegged back by the hosts who went on to win 3-1.

"Unfortunately our defending let us down in the second half," Allardyce is quoted as saying by the club's official website.

"We didn't need to defend very often either, so it's very upsetting that I didn't see the defensive side of our game come together today, when the attacking side was a lot better than it was against Everton.

"There was a lot more chances, a lot more creativity, a lot more pressure on the opposition, but two shocking defensive moments have cost us the game, as well as the referee not giving us a penalty."

West Ham return to league action next Saturday when they host Manchester United.