West Ham 2 Sunderland 0: Junior's an instant hit on his first senior start

04 April 2009 23:05
If it was a gamble by Gianfranco Zola, then it will be one of the better ones in his managerial career. [LNB]The West Ham boss decided 19-year-old Junior Stanislas should make his first competitive start. And what a start.[LNB][LNB] Upton spark: Junior Stanislas breaks the deadlock[LNB]He showed all the promise Zola had expected when he scored theopening goal against the run of play two minutes before half-time. [LNB]It was the goal that would change United's lacklustre start into afullblooded charge, with James Tomkins scoring the second seven minutesafter the interval, while Sunderland were left to agonise over the result after dominating for significant spells.[LNB] The visitors, desperate for the points, began to apply intensepressure on a West Ham team who had perhaps decided prematurely thatthis match was going to be too easy.[LNB] Grant Leadbitter created a couple of early chances from very little.[LNB][LNB] Happy days: James Tomkins wheels away in delight after his goal[LNB]The first was a 25-yard shot which whistled past Robert Green's postand the second was prevented from crossing the line thanks to anexcellent double-fisted save from the Hammers keeper. [LNB]Steed Malbranque saw a shot go tantalisingly wide in the 19th minuteand four minutes before half-time Djibril Cisse blasted an effort whichwas turned for a corner by Green. [LNB]But it was West Ham who made the breakthrough. Sunderland succumbedto the energy and enthusiasm of Stanislas and the creativity of LuisBoa Morte who began the move on the left.[LNB][LNB] Down and out: Jonathan Spector receives treatment before being carried off on a stretcher[LNB]He pushed the ball forward and ran for the return. [LNB]In a swift attack, he sent the ball across goal where Stanislas was running in on goal and the youngster swept the ball past Craig Gordon. [LNB]The match was then sealed shortly after half-time when James Tomkins rose to head in a Mark Noble corner past Gordon.[LNB] Despite gaining maximum points, a concern for Zola will be the injury to Jonathan Spector, who received lengthy treatment after a clash of heads with Tal Ben Haim.[LNB]WEST HAM (4-3-3): Green; Neill, Spector (Collins 73min), Upson, Ilunga; Noble, Tomkins, Stanislas (Lopez 90); Di Michele (Dyer 81), Tristan, Boa Morte. Subs (not used): Lastuvka, Savio, Sears, Payne. Booked: Ilunga.[LNB]SUNDERLAND (4-5-1): Gordon; Bardsley, Ferdinand, Collins, Ben Haim; Malbranque (Edwards 75), Murphy (Jones 54), Whitehead, Richardson, Leadbitter; Cisse. Subs (not used): Fulop, Nosworthy, Reid, Healy, McShane. Booked: Whitehead.[LNB]Referee: M Jones (Cheshire).[LNB] WEST HAM

Source: Daily_Mail