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FULL-TIME: WEST HAM 3-1 SUNDERLAND: West Ham end a run of three straight defeats with a fortunate win against a plucky Sunderland side which enjoyed the better of the second half at Upton Park and deserved at least a point from the game.
Luis Boa Morte breaks through on goal but Craig Gordon does well to deny him which is fair as 4-1 would be a total injustice on the balance of play.
WEST HAM 3-1 SUNDERLAND: It's very harsh on Sunderland as Luis Boa Morte breaks into the area and pulls the ball back to CRAIG BELLAMY who toe-pokes his shot past Craig Gordon.
It's all Sunderland here as the game moves towards injury time and another four extra minutes to give the visitors more hope.
Sunderland are pushing for an equaliser here and they have already grabbed a few late goals this year so still plenty of hope in the closing stages.
Alan Curbishley definitely shutting up shop here as he looks to hang on for the three points in the final few minutes.
A change here for West Ham as striker Carlton Cole hobbles off to be replaced by defender Anton Ferdinand.
A great inswinging ball from the right and Kenwyne Jones again gets up well to head just wide of the post.
Roy Keane must be wondering how his side is losing this match after being on top for the majority of this second half.
Lee Bowyer is booked for a very high tackle on Michael Chopra and it could well have been a red.
Danny Collins goes of to be replaced by former Leeds United defender Ian Harte.
Craig Bellamy is booked for dissent after over complaining about a tackle on him by Dickson Etuhu.
WEST HAM 2-1 SUNDERLAND: Nolberto Solano fires a shot off the post and the ball rebounds into the net off CRAIG GORDON for a cruel own goal..
Sunderland keep coming forward but West Ham break and Craig Gordon rushes out of his area to clear before Craig Bellamy can get on th end of a throughball.
Luis Boa Morte wins a corner down the left off Greg Halford. He plays it in the middle but Kenwyne Jones again gets up well to clear.
West Ham make a double switch as Mark Noble and Matthew Etherington come off to be replaced by Luis Boa Morte and Nolberto Solano
The balance of play has tipped in favour of Sunderland who really should be in front in this game after a much-improved second half show.
The game resumes after Matthew Etherington is injured again as Greg Halford whips a cross in and again Kenwyne Jones gets a header in which flashes just wide.
West Ham break forward now and into the Sunderland area but Craig Bellamy's bid for a penalty is rightly turned down after a clean tackle on him.
Kenwyne Jones wins another corner as his effort deflects out of play. Grant Leadbitter plays it in and Dickson Etuhu's header is hacked off the line by Mark Noble.
Sunderland cannot clear a Mark Noble corner and when he plays it back in Carlton Cole's effort is saved well by Craig Gordon low to his right.
Sunderland are definitely on top now as they win another corner but Kenwyne Jones cannot repeat his goal and West Ham clear this time.
Liam Miller takes a shot and it hits Danny Gabbidon who is then forced to hack it clear as Kenwyne Jones tries to pounce.
It's still an even clash this one and it is hard to say who is the more likely to go on and win the contest.
Matthew Etherington charges forward in a West Ham break and the home side win a corner, which is cleared by Kenwyne Jones.
Sunderland secure a dangerous looking free kick out on the right but the ball is too close to Robert Green who gathers.
A great flick on by Kenwyne Jones and it lands at the feet of Grant Leadbitter whose effort from the edge of the box thumps back off the post but it was a great save from Robert Green.
The free kick is fizzed into the area and bounces of Carlton Cole and lands at Craig Bellamy's feet but his shot from ana angle is wide.
Greg Halford goes into the book for pulling Matthew Etherington's shirt. It looked a harsh decision.
Grant Leadbitter attempts a half volley inside the area but he screws the effort high and wide of West Ham's goal but Sunderland have been boosted by that equaliser.
That goal is probably deserved for the Black Cats and it has blown this match wide open now as both teams could go and win it.
WEST HAM 1-1 SUNDERLAND: The visitors are on level terms here as KENWYNE JONES gets up well in the area to power in Grant Leadbitter's outswinging corner.
Plenty of miss-placed passes going about here in a scrappy few minutes as Sunderland win a corne down the right.
Matthew Etherington tries to get down the left and put in a cross but Sunderland clear as West Ham are on top early in this half.
Craig Bellamy wastes a good chance to play in Lee Bowyer by trying to lay the ball out wide to the right wing but it goes out for throw in.
Sunderland make a double change at the start of the second half with Michael Chopra going up front in place of Roy O'Donovan, while Anthony Stokes is on in place of Ross Wallace.
The second 45 minutes is now up and running with West Ham looking to settle their nerves by adding a second, while Roy Keane will feel his Sunderland side are still in with every chance of getting a result.
HALF TIME: WEST HAM 1-0 SUNDERLAND: A fairly tight and even opening half comes to an end with the Hammers just getting their noses ahead thanks to Carlton Cole's early header from close range.
Matthew Etherington is okay to carry on and Sunderland take the corner through Grant Leadbitter but it is cleared by West Ham.
Sunderland get a corner as Ross Wallace's effort deflects out off Matthew Upson while Matthew Etherington is down and needs treatment.
Craig Bellamy does well to play in a dangerous cross which is headed behind for a corner by Greg Halford. West Ham play the corner in and Nyron Nosworthy clears the danger.
George McCartney breaks and plays in Carlton Cole whose effort is well blocked in the area but he should have tried to play in Craig Bellamy.
Lucas Neill tries to pick a cross out from the right but Sunderland are back in numbers and are restricting the Hammers' attacking options at the moment.
Hayden Mullins tries to pitch a high ball into the Sunderland area but that is too easy for Craig Gordon who plucks it out of the air.
It's all Sunderland at the moment as they buzz around the edge of the West Ham area before Lee Bowyer gets in a decisive clearing header from an inswinging cross.
Matthew Etherington wins a free kick near the left side corner flag. It's played in by Mark Noble but Lee Bowyer's free header from an angle goes over the top.
Hayden Mullins is back on but West Ham are looking slightly nervy at the moment and that is reflected by the lack of atmosphere from the home fans.
West Ham are playing with ten men for the moment as Hayden Mullins is on the side of the pitch getting treatment on a leg injury.
Danny Gabbidon concedes a corner which is played into the middle as Danny Higginbotham tries an overhead kick but it drops behind for a goal kick.
The second free kick is played high into the area as Craig Gordon just gets enough fist on the ball to clear the danger under pressure.
The game has just got a little scrappy as Sunderland concede two free kicks in the middle of the park.
It's been a fairly even opening 25 minutes on the balance of possession but West Ham have the all important goal.
West Ham come forward again as Matthew Etherington hits an effort which goes right across the face of goal and behind for a goal kick.
Mark Noble plays in the corner but Sunderland manage to get this cross cleared from the danger area.
Nyron Nosworthy is forced to concede a corner under pressure from Craig Bellamy with some good defending.
Fair play to Sunderland they have enjoyed some good possession since falling behind and they are renowned for fighting back as Liam Miller gets a chance but hits an effort straight at Robert Green.
Grant Leadbitter is the first Sunderland man in the book after he clatters Lee Bowyer to the ground.
A good cross from the right wing by Roy O'Donovan almost catches out Robert Green but it flashes across the ace of the bar.
Mark Noble gives the ball away and it lets in Kenwyne Jones whose volley is pushed behind for a corner to Sunderland by Robert Green. The corner is played in and cleared.
Carlton Cole has the bit between his teeth as he fires in a low shot from 20 yards but Craig Gordon gets down well to save.
Matthew Etherington plays a low ball into the danger area but Nyron Nosworthy is on hand to clear for Sunderland.
Carlton Cole now finds himself in the referee's book as he is yellow carded harshly for a foul on Danny Collins.
It's been a great start for the Hammers who have enjoyed the better start and Carlton Cole is rewarded with a first goal of the season.
WEST HAM 1-0 SUNDERLAND: George McCartney whips in a cross from the left byline and CARLTON COLE gets up unmarked to head in from close range.
West Ham are enjoying more possession in the opening exchanges of this clash.
Greg Halford launches a long throw-in into the box and Robert Green manages to gather despite initially fumbling the ball.
Lee Bowyer is brought down by Dickson Etuhu in the same place as West Ham won a previous free kick. However this one is blocked and cleared by the Black Cats.
Grant Leadbitter fouls Mark Noble 35 yards out from goal at the other end. He plays the ball and it's headed behind for a corner to the Hammers.
George McCartney gives a free kick away wide out on the right near the corner flag. Ross Wallace whips the cross in and Kenwyne Jones jumps high but heads over the top.
The game is underway at Upton Park as Alan Curbishley's Hammers bid to get three points to end a run of three straight defeats in the Premiership, while the Black Cats are aiming for a first away win of the season.
West Ham starting XI: Green, Neill, Gabbidon, Upson, McCartney, Bowyer, Noble, Mullins, Etherington, Cole, Bellamy.
Former Sunderland man George McCartney starts in defence for West Ham, while former Newcastle stars Craig Bellamy and Lee Bowyer also start, with Nolberto Solano on the bench as they will be desperate to put one over Roy Keanes side at Upton Park.
Sunderland's starting XI: Gordon, Halford, Nosworthy, Higginbotham, Collins, O'Donovan, Leadbitter, Miller, Etuhu, Wallace, Jones.
The big surprise change is Michael Chopra drops out of the starting XI, with Roy O'Donovan making his first Premier League start, alongside Kenwyne Jones in attack.
Sunderland boss Roy Keane has made three changes to the side for Sundays trip to West Ham. Greg Halford replaces the suspended Paul McShane at right-back, while Dickson Etuhu comes into midfield in place of Dwight Yorke.
West Ham United face a potential injury crisis in the run-up to Sunday's home match with Sunderland. Dean Ashton's injury, sustained during West Ham's 1-0 loss away to Aston Villa two weeks ago, has since been confirmed as sprained medial knee ligament. That will keep the injury-prone striker out for up to six weeks, in an treatment room that already contains Bobby Zamora and Kieron Dyer. Freddie Ljungberg is also rated as extremely doubtful after missing Sweden's 1-1 draw with Northern Ireland on Wednesday with a hamstring problem. Craig Bellamy at least seems fit, making it through the international break with Wales with only mild discomfort. The international fixtures weren't so kind on fellow Welshman James Collins, who suffered a calf injury, but his place on the bench could be taken by Anton Ferdinand, whose sore hamstring is improving. The Hammers have lost their last three league fixtures, leaving them in eleventh place with Sunderland two points and five places below them. Ill-discipline has cost the Black Cats one of their star performers, with defender Paul McShane's red card against Arsenal forcing him out for the next three fixtures. Manager Roy Keane expressed his frustration to the Sunderland official website: "We have not got the strength in depth to get by easily if key players are missing, Paul's a big loss to us." Only Carlos Edwards and Andy Cole are returning to fitness, though both are unlikely to start against West Ham, leaving four long-term injury problems on Teeside. Good news has come from Dean Whitehead, initially thought to be the most serious of the foursome. Speaking to the Sunderland Echo earlier this week, he explained that his return from knee ligament damage could be in late November, not mid-2008 as had first been thought. "It is good to feel I'm on the mend. I was in a cast for six weeks and when it came off I could hardly move my leg. But it is getting better every day and now I'm just working on building up the strength and mobility of the leg," Whitehead said. Sunderland were impressive in defeat to Arsenal two weeks ago, drawing 2-2 until an 80th minute winner from Robin van Persie.
Sorry Sunderland returned to the North East wondering just how they came away from Upton Park with nothing, after a late Craig Gordon own goal and Craig Bellamy's stoppage time strike got West Ham back on the victory trail. Although Carlton Cole had headed Alan Curbishley's men into an interval lead, Kenwyne Jones' second-half header looked to have given the Black Cats at least a point, before the Hammers bounced back off the ropes to secure a much-needed win. Having suffered a hat-trick of Premier League defeats, the injury-hit Hammers were without both Dean Ashton, who damaged his knee ligaments at Aston Villa a fortnight ago and Freddie Ljunberg, who injured a calf on international duty with Sweden. But there was some consolation for Alan Curbishley, who had been able to recall Bellamy and Mark Noble, while Cole came in for Henri Camara, who dropped to the bench. Without a win in three matches, Sunderland also made a treble switch following their 2-3 defeat at Arsenal last time out as Greg Halford, Roy O'Donovan and Dickson Etuhu came in for Dwight Yorke, Michael Chopra and the suspended Paul McShane. Straight from the kick-off, the Wearsiders' game plan was there for all to see as lone striker Jones nodded Ross Wallace's first minute free-kick over the Hammers crossbar The Eastenders looked set for an afternoon of frustration in their quest to find a way through the Black Cats' five-man midfield shield. But following a patient build-up, they took the lead after just nine minutes, when Hayden Mullins picked out George McCartney, whose precision centre from the left-wing was met by Cole, who outjumped both Danny Collins and team-mate Lee Bowyer, to dispatch a looping header beyond Gordon. And after being yellow-carded for felling Collins, the busy Cole then invited the Sunderland keeper to gather his low 18-yard shot. Jones was equally proving a handful for the Hammers defence and when he unleashed a 25-yard sizzler, the in-form Robert Green gave Steve McClaren a reminder of his capabilities with an athletic full-length stop to deny the Trinidad & Tobago dangerman. Grant Leadbitter was booked for a reckless scythe on the battling Bowyer before Liam Miller also forced the Hammers keeper into another assured stop with a 20-yard shot, midway through the opening period. At the other end, Matthew Etherington sent a low 18-yarder whipping wide, before the unmarked Bowyer wasted a great chance to double Hammers lead when he nodded Noble's 33rd-minute free-kick behind. Having gone off at the break trailing to just that solitary Cole goal, Roy Keane introduced both Chopra and Anthony Stokes for the restart, in a bid to get back into the contest. And within just six minutes, he saw his side get back on level terms, when Jones rose highest to meet Leadbitter's corner with a downward header that powered beyond the outstretched right hand of the sprawling Green. Incredibly, having got themselves on course for one point, Sunderland then went bravely looking for all three as they subjected West Ham to some tense exchanges. First Leadbitter let fly with a 20-yarder that Green brilliantly pushed onto his right-hand post and then the well-placed Noble hacked Etuhu's downward header off the line, before Jones nodded inches wide. With the Black Cats showing their claws, Curbishley made a double switch as Nobby Solano stepped from the bench make his debut alongside Luis Boa Morte. It proved an inspired choice. For on 77 minutes, the Eastenders enjoyed a huge slice of luck when those two fresh pairs of legs galvanised Hammers into a match-winning lead after Boa Morte's left-wing cross arrived at the feet of Solano, whose shot cannoned back off the base of Gordon's left-hand upright and back into the net off the grounded keeper's heel. That was tough on Sunderland, who endured further agony in stoppage time, when Bellamy drilled home Boa Morte's unselfish cut back to seal a welcome victory for West Ham.
Corners
Fouls
Goal attempts
Shots off target
Offsides
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