Hammers add to Black Cats misery
The east London club win their first league game since September 15th
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Sunday, 21, Oct 2007 06:27
West Ham have ended their run of three straight defeats after a 3-1 win over Sunderland at Upton Park.
The Hammers move into the top half of the Premier League table after strikes from Carlton Cole and Craig Bellamy along with an own goal from goalkeeper Craig Gordon.
Roy Keane's side, who remain a point off the drop zone in 16th place, created the better chances and had equalised from the impressive Kenwyne Jones.
The injury-ravaged Hammers brought back Craig Bellamy and Mark Noble while Danny Gabbidon again deputised for Anton Ferdinand.
Roy Keane surprisingly left Dwight Yorke and Michael Chopra out of the starting line-up while Greg Halford replaced the suspended Paul McShane.
The first-half was a lively affair with both teams not looking like sides struggling for form.
The Black Cats created the first clear chance on two minutes when Kenwyne Jones headed Ross Wallace's cross narrowly over.
Curbishley's side began to dominate possession and took the lead when Cole headed George McCartney's hipped cross from the left into the net for his first goal of the season.
Jones continued to be a threat for the visitors and his shot from 25 yards was brilliantly tipped around the post for a corner on 16 minutes.
Lee Bowyer should have made it 2-0 when he found himself unmarked at the back post but nodded Noble's cross over the bar on 33 minutes.
Keane made two changes at the break with Chopra and Anthony Stokes coming on in search of an equaliser.
The attacking changes reaped rewards on 52 minutes when Grant Leadbitter swung a cross into the box for Jones to head home to make it 1-1.
The visitors went agonisingly close to taking the lead six minutes later when Leadbitter controlled a long ball and fired a shot from the edge of the box which was tipped onto the post by Green.
Cole then nearly grabbed his second after collecting a loose ball with his low strike well saved by Craig Gordon on 65 minutes.
Against the run of play, the Hammers regained the lead in cruel fashion on 78 minutes.
Luis Boa Morte's cross from the left found substitute Nolberto Solano whose shot hit the post before striking Gordon and trickling over the line.
In the dying minutes, the home side wrapped up victory when Bellamy turned in Boa Morte's low cross from close range.