Craig Gordon's unfortunate own goal helped West Ham to a fortuitous 3-1 win over Sunderland at Upton Park.
Hammers get back to winning ways with lucky victory
Craig Gordon's unfortunate own goal helped West Ham to a fortuitous 3-1 win over Sunderland at Upton Park.
The Scottish international unluckily put the ball into his own net 12 minutes from time after Nolberto Solano's shot came back off the post and hit the keeper on the leg before agonisingly rolling into the empty net.
Craig Bellamy made sure of the win when he added a third goal late on when flicking home Luis Boa Morte's cross.
The result was harsh on Sunderland who dominated large periods of the second half after Kenwyne Jones cancelled out Carlton's Cole's early opener.
Sunderland could have been ahead in the first minute after winning a corner. Ross Wallace's corner picked out the towering Jones but his unchallenged header flew over the bar from about eight yards.
Early scares
There was another early scare at the back for Hammers when keeper Robert Green spilled the ball after Halford's throw-in was flicked on but the England candidate soon recovered to snatch it at the second attempt.
Hayden Mullins then sent George McCartney down the left and the fullback's fine cross was looped in over keeper Gordon by a header from Cole who scored his first goal of the season in only his third start.
Green was called into action again though when he turned Jones' speculative shot from distance over the bar for a corner but West Ham comfortably cleared the set-piece.
Etherington was fouled by O'Donovan as Sunderland started to pull back in numbers and his free-kick was swept to the far post where unmarked Lee Bowyer headed over the crossbar.
Sunderland showed little attacking ambition, often leaving the powerful Jones up front on his own but despite his industry the former Southampton striker was starved of real support.
It was no surprise to see two Sunderland substitutes on the field for the second half, former Arsenal youngster Anthony Stokes and striker Chopra replacing the ineffective Ross Wallace and Roy O'Donovan.
Double sub
Keane clearly needed to knock Hammers out of their stride but it was the familiar figure of Jones who levelled just seven minutes into the second half.
He made full amends for his early miss when Leadbitter flung over a corner from the right, again outjumping the defenders and, this time, powering is header into the corner of the net for his fourth goal of the season for his new side.
And there was a major let-off for West Ham on 58 minutes when Leadbitter's powerful drive seemed certain to put Sunderland ahead as he raced on to Jones's aerial assist before Green palmed it on to a post and it was scrambled clear for a corner.
Another flying leap by Jones forced Gabbidon to concede a corner which West Ham struggled to clear but when they earned a dubious flag kick of their own - Danny Higginbotham was convinced he was fouled by Bellamy - Cole almost forced a rebound home with a stabbed shot which Gordon grabbed just in time.
Then, after Bowyer knocked Dickson Etuhu's header off the line, it was Etuhu whose last-ditch intervention stopped Bellamy and Noble both tucking away a West Ham chance in the six-yard area.
Jones was just off target for Sunderland with a 69th minute header as both sides went for the winner.
Vital contribution
West Ham replaced Noble and Etherington with Boa Morte and debut-making Solano in the 73rd minute and the pair combined for a goal four minutes later, an unlucky own goal for goalkeeper Gordon.
Boa Morte's run down the left produced a deflected cross, with Solano, in acres of space at the far post moving in for the kill.
The Peruvian's careful shot beat Gordon but came back off a post, hitting the keeper's legs before rolling in.
Bellamy made sure for Hammers in injury time, finishing off another left-wing run by Boa Morte.
| West Ham United |
Team Statistics |
Sunderland |
| 3 |
Goals |
1 |
| 1 |
1st Half Goals |
0 |
| 5 |
Shots on Target |
7 |
| 5 |
Shots off Target |
7 |
| 3 |
Blocked Shots |
6 |
| 6 |
Corners |
7 |
| 9 |
Fouls |
17 |
| 0 |
Offsides |
1 |
| 3 |
Yellow Cards |
2 |
| 0 |
Red Cards |
0 |
| 73.8 |
Passing Success |
70.7 |
| 20 |
Tackles |
13 |
| 80 |
Tackles Success |
69.2 |
| 52.8 |
Possession |
47.2 |
| 48.8 |
Territorial Advantage |
51.2 |
|
