Sakho strike a suckerpunch for Adovcaat on Sunderland bow

Dangerman Diafra Sakho made the difference with a last gasp goal to ensure West Ham took all three points in a hard fought 1-0 win over struggling Sunderland.

Both teams could claim to feel aggrieved, after industrious Mark Noble had two penalty claims dismissed, and the unlucky Black Cats were denied a free kick in the build up to Sakho’s match-winning strike.

New boss Dick Advocaat is famed for disappointing club debuts but, while the travelling Wearside team will be disappointed to leave empty handed, there was promise in this display.

Just one point above the drop zone before this Upton Park encounter, Sunderland burst quickly out of the blocks with a new-look system.

Jermain Defoe spearheaded a three-pronged attack, with support provided by Steven Fletcher and a reinvigorated Connor Wickham, who thrived in a role with more freedom than usual.

The change worked well and Wickham in particular impressed with his workrate, power, pace and tricky feet. The Black Cats certainly had the better of the opening exchanges, in a game where clear cut chances were few and far between.

Hosts the Hammers found it difficult to deal with former West Ham man Jermain Defoe, duly booed by home fans, and the striker found plenty of space on the break. If not for uncharacteristically wayward finishing from the former Spurs star, Sunderland could easily have taken the lead and will now rue a handful of missed chances.

Raking balls from deep, provided by Barcelona-born Jordi Gomez and Sweden star Sebastian Larsson, troubled the Upton Park outfit several times, in the absence of sidelined centrebacks James Tomkins and Winston Reid.

As for the Hammers, Alex Song almost provided a highlight reel moment with an instinctive volley from distance, but custodian Costel Pantilimon palmed away superbly.

As Sakho, fed on scraps for the majority of the match, failed to convert a series of crosses, the game seemed certain to end on even terms.