Stoke and West Ham edged closer to Premier League safety after a goalless draw at the Bet365 Stadium. Mark Hughes will be the happier of the two managers after the Potters reached the 40-point mark, nine points clear of Swansea in 18th with three games remaining. In a match with plenty of chances, goalkeepers Jack Butland and Adrian were in top form to ensure both sides kept a clean sheet. Andre Ayew had the best of West Ham's chances, with an acrobatic overhead kick forcing an equally impressive save from Butland.

Marko Arnautovic looked to be through on goal for Stoke, but his volley from point-blank range was denied by Adrian. The biggest cheer of the afternoon came when Jack Butland's name was announced prior to kick-off. Today was the 24-year-old's first Premier League appearance at home since 12 March 2016 - 413 days ago after an ankle injury ruled him out of action. The Stoke goalkeeper was called into action early on when Manuel Lanzini forced a save inside the first minute. The West Ham midfielder cut inside from the left, but his shot wasn't enough to trouble Butland.

Butland was the busier of the two goalkeepers in the first half, and he produced a moment of magic to deny what would have been a spectacular goal from Ayew's overhead kick. England manager Gareth Southgate, who was watching on from the stands, will no doubt like what he saw from Butland, who picked up his ankle injury in England's 3-2 win over Germany last March. "I felt really good just being out there again. I'm pleased to be able to contribute and keep a clean sheet today," said Butland after the game. "The fans have been incredible throughout the last 13 months and supported me. It's been tough personally and I thoroughly enjoyed the really good reception today."

After a run of five straight Premier League defeats, the Hammers have gone four games unbeaten and manager Slaven Bilic looks to have steadied the ship. West Ham are finding their form at the business end of the season, after a much-needed win over Premier League strugglers Swansea earlier in April followed by three consecutive draws against Sunderland, Everton and Stoke. Stoke have reached the 40-point benchmark, which usually secures Premier League safety, and West Ham are now just one point behind them with three games to play. Bilic guided West Ham to seventh last term - his first season in charge - while Stoke have finished ninth for the past three seasons. As it stands, just two points separate the Hammers in 14th and Southampton in ninth, leaving it all to play for in the congested mid-table battle. If Swansea lose against Manchester United on Sunday, Stoke will will require a single point to be mathematically safe, while West Ham will need just an additional two points.