West Ham United come from two goals behind to earn a point at the Stadium of Light.
Sunderland had taken a two goal lead courtesy of Stephen Fletcher and Jermain Lens in the first half, before being pegged back on the stroke of half-time by West Ham's Carl Jenkinson. After Lens was shown a second yellow at the start of the second half, the Black Cats were unable to hold onto their narrow lead, allowing Dimitri Payet to level the game on the hour mark.
After an abysmal start to their 2015/16 campaign, Sunderland fans were treated to uncharacteristically brilliant first half performance from their side. Sunderland took a surprise lead inside the opening ten minutes through Stephen Fletcher. The Scottish international confidently rifled into the roof of the West Ham net, after Yann M’Vila had brilliantly pulled a free kick from near the left corner flag back to edge of the 18-yard box.
Sunderland began to dominate after going ahead, with Fabio Borini coming close to scoring the Black Cats’ second goal of the game moments after Fletcher had opened the scoring. Borini brilliantly found his way into the West Ham box, however his subsequent effort from the right hand side of the penalty area, skewed just wide of the right post.
Lens doubles Sunderland's lead
The home side deservedly doubled their lead in astonishing fashion on the 20th minute mark. Jermain Lens put himself into contention for the 2015/16 goal of the season award with a sublime lobbed effort from just outside the penalty area. After being played through on goal by M’Vila, the Dutch winger looked seemingly set to proceed into the penalty area before testing Adrian in the West Ham goal. However, Lens instead opted to strike early, chipping the ball over the Hammers’s number one and into the back of the net.
Dick Advocaat’s men continued to dominate after going 2-0 ahead, spurning two glorious chances to make their lead unassailable. A quick passing move in through the centre of the park culminated in Fletcher flicking the ball through to Borini who, after controlling the ball on the penalty spot, side footed the ball narrowly wide of the right post. Borini, once again, came close to scoring his side’s third goal of the game five minutes later; however his effort from the edge of the 18-yard box curled just wide of the post.
In additional time at the end of the first half, West Ham reduced the deficit to one goal through Carl Jenkinson. The loanee latched onto a low cross from the left flank from Victor Moses, to side foot the ball into the bottom right hand corner of the net, to give the Hammers a much needed lifeline prior to half-time.
Ten minutes into the second half, West Ham were thrown another lifeline at the Stadium of Light, when Lens was shown a second yellow card for a clumsy challenge in the centre circle.
Payet draws level
Moments later, West Ham drew level through Dimitri Payet. After Costel Pantilimon failed to deal with a long range strike from Manuel Lanzini, Payet stole in on the left of the penalty area to tap the rebound into the net.
The visitors largely dominated the final thirty minutes of the game, with Payet pulling the strings for Slaven Bilic’s men. Payet almost provided West Ham with their third goal of the game in the 65th minute, when he curled a fantastic ball into the back post from the right flank. Nikica Jelavic’s subsequent volleyed effort on goal however, looped just over the Sunderland crossbar.
The result means that Sunderland remain without a Premier League win this season; while West Ham continue their impressive unbeaten away run under Slaven Bilic.