TONY PULIS has likened West Ham United to last year's early season strugglers Tottenham Hotspur ahead of their visit to the Britannia Stadium on Saturday.

The Hammers are currently struggling second from bottom in the Barclays Premier League after managing to win only one of their first seven matches this season.

But Pulis has warned that they are in a false position and says that his Stoke City side will face a tough test when they come to the Britannia Stadium this weekend.

"It's similar to the Tottenham scenario last season when they got off to a bad start," insisted the Potters boss. "Like Spurs, West Ham have too many good players to stay in the position they are currently in and I am sure it won't be long before they are climbing the table.

"So anybody who takes one look at the table and thinks it's going to be a walk in the park is badly mistaken. We know that we are in for a very tough match against them."

He added: "With the likes of Carlton Cole, Scott Parker and Matthew Upson in their side - all of whom have played at the highest - they are capable of beating anyone on their day."

Pulis is urging supporters to get behind his team as they look to bounce back from the successive home defeats inflicted by Chelsea and Manchester United recently.

But he admitted: "We have to give the fans something to shout about, especially after the last home game against United when everything seemed to go very flat."