Andy Reid netted a last minute winner to help Sunderland to a 2-1 win over West Ham.
Black Cats secure vital three points
Sunderland took a massive step towards Premier League survival thanks to Andy Reid's late, late goal.
The Hammers deservedly went in front through Freddie Ljungberg on 18 minutes after his shot was deflected past Craig Gordon by Nyron Nosworthy.
But the Black Cats got back on level terms through a Kenwyne Jones' tap-in on 29 minutes after Daryl Murphy back-heeled a Kieran Richardson cross into his path.
Sunderland dominated the second half and Murphy blasted over an open goal before Reid won it with a left-footed volley with virtually the last kick of the game.
Temporary respite
The visitors might have taken the lead with just 10 minutes gone when former Newcastle skipper Scott Parker turned up on the left edge of the penalty area to square the ball to Dean Ashton.
The striker needed no second invitation as he deftly side-footed the ball past Gordon, only to see it come back off the upright.
Sunderland's respite, however, was only temporary, and they fell behind eight minutes later, largely as a result of their inability to clear their lines.
Carlton Cole made the most of hesitation in the Wearsiders' defence to lay the ball off for Ljungberg, whose firm shot struck Nosworthy on its way into the bottom corner.
But Roy Keane's men responded swiftly and having previously wasted a series of good openings with poor final balls, they eventually made the pressure tell.
Richardson found space on the left to drill a low cross in towards the near post, where Murphy flicked on for Jones to score from point-blank range.
The Hammers could not believe an offside flag did not put a stop to the Trinidad and Tobago international's celebrations, but replays showed the officials got a close call right.
Michael Chopra and Reid both tested Robert Green as Sunderland took control, but it was Gordon who had to pull off a vital fingertip save eight minutes before the break to keep out Cole's curling effort.
Danny Collins headed a 43rd-minute Reid cross wide, but the home side were grateful for referee Andre Marriner's lenience on the stroke of half-time when Parker went down under Nosworthy's challenge inside the box and the official waved play on.
Sunderland, and Murphy in particular, emerged for the second half in determined fashion with the Irishman forcing a smart save from Green seconds before defender Jonathan Spector hurriedly hacked his cross away at the near post.
Ljungberg agony
Lucas Neill was then in the right place at the right time when he hacked Collins' 54th-minute header off the line.
Keane made a double change with 19 minutes remaining when he replaced Richardson and Chopra with Carlos Edwards and Grant Leadbitter, but it was Murphy who should have won it 10 minutes later.
Jones muscled his way into the penalty area to cross for his strike partner 10 yards out, but he fired high over as the Hammers escaped.
Ljungberg's afternoon ended in agony when he was stretchered off with a hamstring injury which left his side to play out the closing stages with 10 men.
But then substitute Edwards' 88th-minute cross flew across goal, where fellow replacement James Tomkins got a crucial touch to deny Jones a winner.
However, there was nothing Tomkins or anyone else could do to deny Reid when he raced on to Anton Ferdinand's header and blasted a shot past Green.
| Sunderland |
Team Statistics |
West Ham United |
| 2 |
Goals |
1 |
| 1 |
1st Half Goals |
1 |
| 7 |
Shots on Target |
2 |
| 10 |
Shots off Target |
6 |
| 5 |
Blocked Shots |
2 |
| 13 |
Corners |
4 |
| 10 |
Fouls |
14 |
| 1 |
Offsides |
3 |
| 0 |
Yellow Cards |
1 |
| 0 |
Red Cards |
0 |
| 67.4 |
Passing Success |
75.6 |
| 20 |
Tackles |
20 |
| 90 |
Tackles Success |
55 |
| 51.1 |
Possession |
48.9 |
| 62.2 |
Territorial Advantage |
37.8 |
|
