West Ham 1 Sunderland 1

The Hammers may have lost their 100 per cent home record, in the Premier League, but the Upton Park faithful would have been glad to grab anything from this game after trailing Sunderland for so long.

Big Sam decided to go with the same starting eleven that served him in the 0-0 draw at Carrow Road last weekend with Andy Carroll back in light training but nowhere near ready for a first class match.

Unfortunately, West Ham were to fall behind quite early on with Martin O`Neill`s side going ahead in the 9th minute when Steven Fletcher got his fourth goal in three games after joining from Wolves, in the summer window, it was also the first goal West Ham had conceded in the last 5 home league games. The goal came after Larssen delivered a chip to the far post where Fletcher controlled it perfectly before hitting a left foot shot home.

West Ham responded well to the goal with Diama looking to control the midfield. However, much of the time it was all a bit too frantic as the Hammers looked to gain the benefit of a flick-on from Carlton Cole rather than play their way through the Sunderland defence.

But half chances were created Kevin Nolan hitting a shot wide before a spectacular overhead kick that had the Hammers fans jumping up in anticipation also went wide. As half time approached Mignolet came to Sunderland`s rescue producing a decent save to deny Nolan after he`d hit a decent volley from a Vaz Te cross.

Half-Time - West Ham 0 Sunderland 1

The Hammers started the second half well but some Hammers fans were surprised that Matt Jarvis was still on the bench. The play was still a little too frantic and clear cut chances were proving hard to come by.

West Ham were camped in the Sunderland eighteen yard box and Titus and Bramble, at the heart of the visitors defence were performing well. But slowly, West Ham increased the pressure and were almost on level terms when a Noble corner was met by Collins and his header hit the bar.

Pressing forward West Ham were always open to the counter-attack and one such move saw Fletcher almost double the lead but, at the crucial moment, not quite reach a cross with his head.

Jarvis, now on the pitch, saw a cross evade the onrushing Yossi Benayoun by inches and another saw another substitute, Maiga, head wide. But, with the game entering the last minute, West Ham got the point they deserved when a high ball in was met by Maiga and Nolan was on hand to sweep home his third goal of the season.



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