New boys Sunderland beat West Ham 3-0 at the Stadium of Light on Saturday as the Black Cats secured their first Premier League win in over eight years.
WATCH — Full match replay
A second half surge saw new-look Sunderland score three times as Eliezer Mayenda, Dan Ballard and Wilson Isidor, three players who were key in their promotion back to the Premier League, all finished superbly. Regis Le Bris celebrated wildly on the sidelines and so too did the Sunderland faithful at a packed Stadium of Light.
West Ham were woeful throughout as the pressure continues to mount on Graham Potter and the Hammers never had any control of this game.
Sunderland’s summer of spending looks wise
It was harsh for Sunderland to move on from plenty of the team which got them promoted back to the Premier League but a convincing win against West Ham proved their decision makers were right to make a huge number of additions. Sunderland have signed 11 new players so far this summer and seven of those started against West Ham. The biggest compliment you can pay Regis Le Bris is that this didn’t look like a team full of new players. Sunderland were solid defensively, had a clear plan to whip in crosses and play on the counter and Granit Xhaka was excellent conducting everything from midfield. It’s still early days but this is a big win for Sunderland as they will go to fellow new boys Burnley next weekend full of confidence and could well be on six points after their first two games of the season. Given how badly newly-promoted teams have struggled in recent years, this is a very positive start for the Black Cats. Oh, and their fans were fantastic.
What’s next?
Sunderland head to fellow new boys Burnley on Saturday, August 23, while West Ham host Chelsea on Friday, August 22 in a big London derby.
Sunderland vs West Ham score: 3-0
Mayenda 61', Ballard 73', Isidor 90+2'
Sunderland vs West Ham live updates! — By Joe Prince-Wright
Wilson Isidor slots home!
The sub runs free on the counter and fires home a low finish. Hermansen should save it, but Isidor is celebrating. Sunderland in dreamland!
Roefs with a fine save!
What a save from Roefs as a free kick is whipped in and comes off the back of Isidor and flies towards his own goal. Top stop from Sunderland’s new goalkeeper.
Ballard heads home!
Simon Adingra whips in a brilliant cross and center back Dan Ballard, who stayed up after a corner, heads home superbly. What a moment for him! What a moment for Sunderland.
Mayenda heads home!
For the first time in over eight years Sunderland have scored in the Premier League! Omar Alderete’s cross from the left is a good one and Mayenda does really well to head home across goal. What a header. The Stadium of Light erupts.
Diarra fires over
Sunderland have been decent in the second half and Diarra drives towards go but his shot is rising and goes over. They are more than holding their own!
Half time: Sunderland 0-0 West Ham
The new boys have done okay and look solid enough defensively. Both teams have had one big chance and it’s a very even game at the Stadium of Light.
Ballard with a huge clearance!
Slick play from West Ham and Malick Diouf is in on goal. His low shot beats Roefs but Ballard slides in and clears off the line.
Big chance for Sunderland!
Great play from Diarra and he smashes a shot on goal which Hermansen pushes wide for a corner. The home fans are fired up! That was excellent running from Diarra.
Bowen goes close!
Good chance for the Hammers as Jarrod Bowen tries to finish at the near post but Sunderland block his effort.
Sunderland lineup
Roefs; Hume, Seelt, Ballard, Reinaldo; Sadiki, Xhaka, Diarra; Talbi, Mayenda, Adingra
West Ham lineup
Hermansen; Todibo, Kilman, Aguerd; Wan-Bissaka, Rodriguez, Paqueta, Ward-Prowse, Diouf; Bowen, Fullkrug
Sunderland team news, focus
OUT: Dennis Cirkin (wrist), Romaine Mundle (thigh), Leo Fuhr Hjelde (achilles), Aji Alese (shoulder) | QUESTIONABLE: Marc Guiu (undisclosed), Omar Alderete (undisclosed), Luke O’Nien (shoulder)
West Ham team news, focus
OUT: Crysencio Summerville (thigh)
Sunderland vs West Ham prediction
Only time will tell if Sunderland have a fairytale ending in May, but they’re going to ride the wave of momentum to a storybook start and a moment for supporters to remember for a long, long time. Sunderland 3-1 West Ham.
Sunderland vs West Ham preview
Sunderland spent a decade in the Premier League from 2007 to 2017 before quickly falling into turmoil and, before you know it, the Black Cats spent nearly a decade trying to earn their way back. They spent four seasons in League One after suffering back-to-back relegations in 2017 and 2018, and were genuine surprise promotion candidates last season after finishing 16th a year prior. Less than three months after beating Sheffield United in the playoff final, Sunderland have spent just shy of $200 million for eight players, including former Arsenal captain (and new Sunderland skipper) Granit Xhaka for $23 million, central midfielder Habib Diarra ($40 million) from Strasbourg, winger Simon Adingra ($28 million) from Brighton and winger Chemsdine Talbi ($26 million) from Club Brugge. If you simply spend like a Premier League club, does that make you a Premier League club? We’re going to find out.
Heading into the summer transfer window, you could have made a fantastic argument that the Premier League side in most desperate need of a full-on rebuild was West Ham. The counter-point is that the Hammers have undergone so much change in recent seasons that less explosive modifications would better serve Graham Potter’s needs, and that appears to be the route they have gone. After finishing 14th, scoring just 46 goals and conceding 62 (bottom-6 in the PL in both), West Ham have made Jean-Clair Todibo’s loan a permanent move, and added goalkeeper Mads Hermansen from relegated Leicester for $27 million, 20-year-old Senegalese wing back El Hadji Malick Diouf from Slavia Prague ($25 million) and Kyle Walker-Peters and Callum Wilson on free transfers.
How to watch Sunderland vs West Ham live, stream link and start time
Kick off time: 10 am ET, Saturday
Venue: Stadium of Light — Sunderland
TV Channel: Peacock
Streaming: Stream live on Peacock
