Hammers need that touch of magic to match their great expectations

What most of the clubs do possess, however, is a game-breaker, a man who can find the answers when his colleagues cannot or when the team are outwitted by their opponents’ tactics: Marouane Fellaini, Gareth Bale, Santi Cazorla, Dimitar Berbatov, Michu, Luis Suarez. You get the idea.

This is not to criticise West Ham, whose spending potential does not match some of these rivals and whose summer transfer policy is proving fruitful. Allardyce knows, though, that impressive results raise expectations, especially at a club with the Hammers’ history.

On the District Line train back towards central London from Upton Park, some fans were complaining about their team’s failure to take all three points against Stoke, who have not won any of their six away games in the league this season. No matter that West Ham are below Arsenal on goal difference alone and two points ahead of Tottenham.

These fans certainly see the importance of Kevin Nolan, the club’s top scorer with five. Andy Carroll was brought in on loan from Liverpool but does not give the impression he will find the net regularly and is still to get off the mark.

Allardyce understands where the difficulties might lie. “Creating chances is difficult enough, but taking them is the most difficult thing to do in this league,” he said.

“The quality of player and composure needed to score is hugely expensive.

“There was £50million spent by Chelsea on Fernando Torres and then £24m on Robin van Persie, who was in the last year of his contract, by Manchester United, so it shows you how expensive it is to find the man who will put the ball in the net.

“At the moment, Kevin Nolan is the only one doing it on a regular basis for us, and he will be disappointed with the chance he missed against Stoke.

“I can’t be over-critical of the players but we couldn’t quite find the winning touch in front of goal.”

Despite their lack of precision, Allardyce could be forgiven for fancying his side’s chances at Tottenham on Sunday. Spurs struggle at home against sides who adopt West Ham’s uncomplicated tactics, their confidence is fragile and they will have had only two days to recover from Thursday’s Europa League tie at Lazio.

Thereafter, Manchester United, Chelsea, Liverpool, West Brom, Everton and Arsenal must be tackled in a five-week period that may reveal much about this West Ham squad.

The challenges they present will be different from those offered by Stoke, who took the lead through Jonathan Walters from a 13th-minute corner routine.

West Ham might have fallen further behind before Joey O’Brien’s first Premier League goal levelled the score shortly after half-time.

West Ham have the spirit, commitment, athleticism and durability required for comfortable survival. Whether they have the magic to aim for higher targets is another matter.