Sam Allardyce felt West Ham United failed to adjust to the conditions at Stoke City as the Hammers came from two down to secure a point on Saturday.

Victor Moses and Mame Biram Diouf struck either side of half-time to give Mark Hughes’ side a 2-0 lead, but just four minutes after the Potters’ second, Enner Valencia pulled one back for the visitors with a diving header.

With 17 minutes remaining, Stewart Downing kept up his excellent form by driving home his second goal of the season to snatch a point for the Hammers – a result which leaves the east London outfit fifth in the Premier League.

Allardyce told the club’s website his side had not been good enough in the first half: "I think there is no doubt about it and we won't pull the wool over anybody's eyes - certainly in the first half we were second best.

"There were reasons for that and they were one, we didn't adjust to the conditions which were windy, blustery and a bobbly pitch. Two, we tried to get our passing game going but Stoke weren't letting us and three, in the end, we didn't adapt to the way the game needed to be played," explained Allardyce.

"In the end, it was all about changing the system and the way we played and getting the subs on. Losing Winston Reid to a thigh injury we couldn't help, but the other two subs were tactical and they helped us to change the shape of the team, get Stewart in the hole and get two up top," Allardyce observed.

The role of Downing in securing a point proved invaluable and Allardyce was quick to back the former Liverpool man’s claim for an England recall – two years after his last appearance for the national side.

Allardyce enthused: "If England need a central midfield player either in a three or in the hole, it's well worth looking at him.

"We told him he should have a go in the new role and try to express himself a bit more. ’You've got all the experience with England and in the Premier League, can we move you inside and get more ball to you, will you be a better danger?'

"And up to now the answer has been yes. Anything that Stewart has played in central midfield has been exceptional and it turned the game on the Saturday in our favour by putting him in the middle.

He added: "It doesn't matter whether people mark him or don't mark him, he can go either way. He can twist or turn and get his way out of trouble and start running at people's back fours, which is better than running at full-backs."

England boss Roy Hodgson will announce his squad for the 2016 European Championships qualifier against Slovenia and friendly with Scotland on Thursday, and Downing believes he is one of several Englishmen in the Hammers side to impress in recent weeks.

"If he picks me it would be unbelievable - I'd love to play," confirmed Downing. "I've just got to keep playing well and if I can nick goals and create, it gives him a problem to think about.

"I know he's been to games and is watching us, so we'll see. That's my attitude at the minute. If he picks me, great. If not, I'll just carry on.

"If you've been watching us over the last six or seven weeks, I think not only me, but also other players in our team would have a shout for that squad. It will be interesting."

West Ham return to Premier League action on Saturday by hosting Paul Lambert’s Aston Villa at Upton Park (3pm kick off).