West Ham 3-1 Sunderland
by Paul Donovan
at the London Stadium

A REJUVENATED West Ham ran out comfortable winners of this game against Sunderland at the London Stadium on Saturday.

The home side were ahead on the quarter hour, when Jarrod Bowen crossed from the byline for Crysencio Summerville to rise and head home. His third goal in successive games.

A couple of minutes later, West Ham should have doubled their lead when a Bowen shot rebounded to Pablo, who skied his effort from a couple of yards out.

The second goal came eventually, when Ollie Scarles went over Trai Hume’s leg to earn a penalty. Bowen duly converted.

The pick of the goals came just before half time, with Mateus Fernandes picking up the ball 25 yards out and firing home.

In the second half, Sunderland hit back, when a cross from Nordi Mukiele was headed home by the incoming Brian Brobbey.

Enzo Le Fee then blasted over, when a cross fell to him in the penalty area.

What looked like an Alphonse Areola fumble saw the big keeper catch the ball as it rebounded off post and bar.

In the dying minutes, it looked as though West Ham had got a fourth, when another Fernandes rocket rebounded off the bar to find Callum Wilson who headed across goal. Tomas Soucek was pushed into the path of the ball by a Sunderland defender, deflecting the ball into the keeper’s hands. It looked as though he maybe over the line but the referee ruled no goal.

West Ham head coach Nuno Espirito Santo was pleased at the way his players started the game, then managed things in the second half.

“It was a good performance but we must keep working, harder and harder,” said Espirito Santo, who told how there are more smiles and happiness around the place now.

The coach confirmed that Guido Rodriguez was moving onto another club and so James Ward-Prowse was back in first squad contention. Ward-Prowse has not featured since Espirito Santo arrived at the club, but was among the unused subs today.

Sunderland head coach Regis Le Bris was not searching for excuses. “We must accept the defeat, analyse and learn for the next game,” said Le Bris.

So the bubbles are flying again at the London Stadium, as West Ham recorded their third win in a row.