Sunderland 1-0 West Ham United FT

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Final score - Sunderland 1-0 West Ham United

93 mins - Last chance... HInes is fouled by Malbranque ten yards outside the penalty area. Faubert stands it up and Gordon claims. That's it. The final whistle is blown.

92 mins - West Ham have plenty of men in the box, but they can't get a decent delivery into them. First, Piquionne loses possession on the edge of the area, then Obinna's cross is wayward and flies wide.

91 mins - The Hammers come forward and Faubert wins a throw. Before it can be taken, Gyan is replaced by Bolo Zenden.

90 mins - Parker is the latest player to go into Atkinson's notebook for a foul on Gyan. We're going to have a minimum of three more minutes. Sunderland have the ball, though, deep inside the West Ham half.

89 mins - Faubert has acres of space down the right and at least three men to aim at running forward to his left. He curls a cross over, but it's behind all of them and Sunderland clear with ease.

87 mins - Cole is distraught again as he is penalised for a foul inside the Sunderland half. He has got to be careful he doesn't say too much as he has already been booked.

86 mins - Henderson is replaced by Almohamedy.

85 mins - Take a bow, James Tomkins. Gyan clips a super ball through for Malbranque, who slides in to challenge Green. The ball spins to Gyan, who has the whole goal to aim at, but the No5 makes a miraculous block with his left foot. Corner. Henderson takes and Onuoha heads wide.

83 mins - Grant rolls his final dice, replacing Ben Haim with Faubert.

83 mins - Obinna gets clear down the left and lashes in a low cross. Parker tries to divert the ball into the net with his left foot, but it flies across the face of goal and out for a goal kick.

82 mins - Richardson volleys the ball with his weaker right foot and it spins into Green's hands.

80 mins - Gyan gets to the by-line, but his cross is intercepted. Corner. Henderson crosses and the header lands at Parker's feet. He thunders a volley miles up into the night sky that spins back and forces Green to tip over the top.

79 mins - As if to illustrate my point, Spector wins possession just outside the Sunderland box and finds Cole. He cuts the ball back to Obinna, who controls and sees his left-foot shot clip the outside of the post on its way wide.

78 mins - It is just not going West Ham's way at present. Obinna wins the ball down the left and races down the touchline. He crosses towards Piquionne but Ferdinand cuts it out.

76 mins - Parker's cross is going nowhere until Mensah heads it behind. Corner. Obinna's effort fails to beat the first man but the ball finds its way to Hines. He slaloms past two tackles before losing control and the chance is gone.

75 mins - Sunderland make a change. Bent is replaced by Steed Malbranque.

74 mins - Richardson curls in a free-kick that eludes everyone and is caught by Green.

73 mins - The corner comes to nothing and Green bowls the ball out to Obinna. He runs over half-way before curling a cross over for Cole or Hines, but it is too strong and Gordon collects.

72 mins - Green throws the ball straight to a Sunderland player. Henderson comes down the right and his cross hits Gabbidon and goes behind for a corner.

71 mins - Cole gets another talking to from the referee after reacting to a decision against him. Captain Upson comes over and the trio have a discussion before it is decided no further action will be taken.

69 mins - Boa Morte is replaced by Hines, while Dyer is replaced by Piquionne. I think that's called going for broke... West Ham have a free-kick but although Tomkins wins the header, it only sets up a Sunderland counter. The Black Cats look to be in, but the Hammers sprint back and eventually snuff out the danger.

68 mins - Piquionne will be on soon, as will be Hines.

66 mins - Parker thinks he is fouled by Cattermole, but referee Atkinson allows play to go on. Gyan races clear of Upson and shoots. Green dives to his right and pushes the ball aside before Ben Haim completes the clearance. Parker runs up to the referee to remonstrate.

64 mins - It is Sunderland's turn to attack and Spector's clearance is poor. Richardson picks up possession and shoots powerfully, but it's again straight at Green.

63 mins - West Ham have definitely evened this up as a contest, but they can't find a way through just yet as two Dyer crosses come to nothing. The first is cut out and the second over-hit.

61 mins - West Ham come again and Obinna releases Cole down the right. He crosses and the ball is headed on to Boa Morte. He takes a touch before his shot is charged down.

60 mins - Dyer looks to be fouled by Mensah right on the edge of the penalty area. The defender throws his arms up to suggest he did nothing wrong. Nothing is given.

58 mins - Today's crowd is 36,948. Dyer and Obinna have swapped positions, with the No7 playing off Cole and Obinna wide on the right.

57 mins - Cole is a lucky boy there, some might suggest. A long clearance is going over his head until the striker inexplicably sticks his arm up in the air and handles. A free-kick is given, but no second yellow card.

56 mins - Obinna does well initially to clear, but then presents possession back to Sunderland about 30 yards from goal. Thankfully, Boa Morte is dilligent and crowds out Gyan and the chance is lost.

53 mins - Gordon pumps the ball upfield and Tomkins' header falls to Henderson. I'm not sure what the midfielder was trying to do there, but his half-volley flies sideways and about 40 yards out for a throw.

52 mins - Ferdinand was injured in a challenge with Boa Morte a bit earlier and needs treatment.

51 mins - Fantastic tackle by Spector on the edge of the West Ham penalty area to foil a Sunderland attacker. West Ham break and have numbers, but Cole is crowded out on the edge of the box.

49 mins - It looks like someone has had a go at the Hammers at half-time as they're much-improved so far. Obinna drives forward and finds Cole. He spins on to his left foot and shoots low, but the ball flies wide of the far post. That looked fairly close.

48 mins - The Hammers build again and Gabbidon gets past Henderson. He floats a left-foot cross into the box, but it's an easy claim for Gordon.

47 mins - The visitors knock the ball around confidently enough at the back, but it comes to nothing and the move ends with Gyan charging down Ben Haim's clearance.

46 mins - Cole and Parker kick-off...

Both teams are back on the pitch following their half-time oranges. West Ham will get proceedings back up and running, but they're still waiting for Obinna to emerge from the tunnel...

Half-time score - Sunderland 1-0 West Ham United

47 mins - Obinna gets a bit lucky in midfield to retain possession. He sends Parker away down the left, but the Hammer of the Year treads on the ball. Moments later, the half-time whistle is blown.

45 mins - Boa Morte's cross is cleared behind for a corner. It is taken short to Parker, who plays it back to Dyer, but the No7 is challenged on the by-line. Another corner. A near-post delivery is cleared to Parker, whose shot takes a couple of deflections before trickling wide for a goal kick. We're going to have at least two added minutes...

44 mins - West Ham's best chance of the half and it's that man Spector again, spinning away from one midfielder before beating another. Unfortunately, he loses his footing as he shoots, but the American's effort still flies just a yard wide of the target. Great stuff.

42 mins - Henderson again, flicking the ball infield towards Richardson. It spins to Cattermole 25 yards out, and his shot clips Tomkins on the head and loops behind for a corner. Henderson takes, but Ferdinand can't direct his header on target and the ball flies behind for a goal kick.

40 mins - Sunderland threaten again down the right. Henderson crosses and Richardson picks the ball up after it hits Upson in the back. His shot hits Bent on the back, but the No11 is offside.

39 mins - Dyer spins away in midfield and slides the ball to Cole. His control lets him down and he ends up fouling Mensah. Referee Atkinson shows Cole the yellow card for his troubles.

37 mins - Welbeck spreads play from one side of the pitch to the other to Onuoha. He has at least three men to aim at, but his cross is straight into the arms of Green.

36 mins - West Ham are rocking here. Sunderland swarm forward and Welbeck has plenty of space on the left. He crosses, but the ball floats over the head of Green and kisses the top of the crossbar on its way over.

34 mins - GOAL! Ben Haim plays Gyan onside and the Ghanaian races down the right. He pulls the ball back and Henderson finishes first-time, sliding the ball inside Green's far post.

33 mins - The atmosphere is a bit subdued here at present. Maybe it's the cold? Parker's clearance lands at the feet of Bent, who cuts on to his right foot and shoots. Again, the effort is straight at the goalkeeper and Green pats the ball down before catching and smashing the ball upfield.

32 mins - Steve Bruce is not very happy about something. The Sunderland manager is out on the edge of the technical area shouting and waving his hands around.

31 mins - Boa Morte does well to win possession and West Ham knock the ball around in midfield before Spector clips the ball towards Cole, but the forward is offside.

28 mins - Tomkins wins a tackle on the edge of the area and Dyer breaks clear. He pops the ball inside for Obinna, who has space but instead decides to shoot from more than 30 yards. He doesn't catch hold of it and the ball rolls harmlessly wide.

27 mins - Gabbidon's clearance is worked to Henderson, who rounds the left-back before crossing low. Green calls loudly and collects under no pressure.

25 mins - Still Sunderland on the offensive, but Gabbidon does well to cut out Gyan's cross. West Ham pick up possession and Cole gets goal-side of Mensah, but he can't control and Ferdinand comes across to smash the ball into the stand.

23 mins - Henderson escapes down the right and sends over a fantastic cross that is too high for Bent, forcing Ben Haim to head over his own crossbar for a corner. Boa Morte heads the initial corner clear and when Cattermole clips the ball back into the box, it is easy for Green to collect.

22 mins - Obinna takes the free-kick and hits it well. The ball dips over the wall, but it is too close to Gordon and the Scot gathers at the second attempt.

20 mins - Wally Downes is out on the edge of the technical area barking out instructions. Spector responds by spinning away from his marker before being tripped by Onuoha about 28 yards from goal in a central position.

19 mins - Sunderland are having all of the possession at present and look to profit when Gyan turns Ben Haim. The ball is worked to Richardson in space on the edge of the box, but he skies his shot miles over the top.

17 mins - Richardson tries to pick out Welbeck with a diagonal pass, but it is over-hit and bounces behind for a goal kick. Murmurs from the home fans...

14 mins - Sunderland work space down the left before switching the ball inside to Cattermole. He takes a touch before shooting from 25 yards, but it's straight at Green.

12 mins - Boa Morte is now back on the left flank, with Dyer on the right. Henderson finds Onuoha, who crosses towards Bent. The striker's touch down for Gyan is cut out by Tomkins. The home fans want a penalty, but referee Martin Atkinson waves away the protests. West Ham break immediately and Obinna tries to slide in Cole, but the ball just evades the No9's boot and Gordon collects.

10 mins - Obinna's free-kick is dangerous, but Bent is there to head half-clear. Gabbidon picks up possession but Sunderland crowd him out and the ball is eventually hacked up towards the half-way line. Parker wins a header and then swaps passes with Boa Morte, but the latter is crowded out on the edge of the penalty area.

9 mins - Cattermole drives a ball towards the head of Bent. He flicks on into the box, but Green is there. Moments later, the Hammers break and Cattermole fouls Boa Morte. Yellow card for the home captain.

7 mins - Dyer and Boa Morte have switched flanks already. Dyer now on the left and Boa on the right. The latter gives away a free-kick about ten yards inside the West Ham half. After receiving a talking to for his tackle on Bardsley, the No13 is booked. The free-kick is taken short but comes to nothing.

5 mins - Sunderland come forward down the left and, after Tomkins had cleared initially, Welbeck wins a corner. Henderson takes the corner but Green is there to punch clear above the head of Gyan. The hosts work the ball back out wide left to Henderson, but the newly-capped England man's cross is low and easily hacked away.

3 mins - The pitch looks very green and lush considering the awful weather they've had in this part of the world in recent days. The wonders of under-soil heating! West Ham win a throw deep in Sunderland territory down their right flank. It is taken short by Dyer, who is offside when he receives a return pass.

2 mins - After being penned in for the opening 90 seconds, Upson's clearance finds Dyer. He passes to Obinna, whose through-ball for Cole is too strong and bounces into the hands of Craig Gordon.

1 min - Sunderland enjoy the early possession, working the ball from one side of the pitch to another before Bent lays it off for Gyan, whose shot is charged down by Upson.

4pm - Captains Matthew Upson and Lee Cattermole go through the pre-match pleasantries and Sunderland will kick-off through Bent and Gyan...

3.58pm - Former Newcastle players Kieron Dyer and Scott Parker get a warm welcome from the Sunderland fans! Jonathan Spector's name is met with a loud cheer from the travelling faithful.

3.56pm - Here come the two teams. West Ham are in their change strip of white and light blue, while Sunderland are in their traditional red and white stripes, black shorts and red socks. The Barclays Premier League anthem plays as the two sets of players shake hands. The Hammers have brought about 800 fans with them today, which is not a bad effort at all.

3.52pm - I am informed that Danny Welbeck, the on-loan Manchester United man, will play on the wing in a 4-4-2 formation for Sunderland. Darren Bent will partner Ghana FIFA World Cup star Asamoah Gyan in attack. For West Ham, mid-week hero Jonathan Spector will continue in his new central midfield role alongside fit-again Scott Parker. Tal Ben Haim will switch from left-back to right-back, with Danny Gabbidon in on the left of the defence.

3.50pm - It is getting dark here in snow-bound Sunderland. Unlike down south, the city has not received any rain in the past 24 hours to clear the white stuff. Instead, there is still inches and inches of the stuff covering all but the major roads. The pavements, I can tell you, are like ice rinks! The two teams have completed their pre-match warm-ups and are back in the warmth of their respective dressing rooms.

Good afternoon and welcome to a decidedly chilly Stadium of Light, the home of Sunderland AFC and also the scene of West Ham United's sole away victory since 15 August 2009.

That success, of course, came in the Carling Cup third round, when goals from Frederic Piquionne and Victor Obinna fired Avram Grant's side through back on 21 September.

Ten weeks on, the Hammers arrive on Wearside seeking a third consecutive win in all competitions for the first time since January/February 2009, when Fulham, Hartlepool United and Hull City were defeated. Should West Ham win today, they would also record a first away-day maximum in 25 Barclays Premier League matches.

West Ham defeated Wigan Athletic 3-1 at the Boleyn Ground last Saturday before thumping holders Manchester United 4-0 on Tuesday evening to continue their Carling Cup conquest.

Team news-wise, manager Grant has made three changes to the starting XI that defeated the Red Devils in mid-week. Julien Faubert, Radoslav Kovac and Pablo Barrera  drop to the substitutes bench, with Danny Gabbidon, Kieron Dyer and Scott Parker restored to the line-up.

Parker makes his 100th start in claret and blue, while Gabbidon will make his 100th appearance for the club.

Tal Ben Haim faces one of his old clubs, having spent a three-month loan spell at the Stadium of Light in early 2009. Sunderland pair Anton Ferdinand and Kieran Richardson both previously turned out for the Hammers.

Sunderland: Gordon, Onuoha, Mensah, Ferdinand, Bardsley, Henderson (Elmohamady 86), Cattermole, Richardson, Welbeck, Gyan (Zenden 90), Bent (Malbranque 75)
Subs not used: Mignolet, Angeleri, Da Silva, Riveros

West Ham United: Green, Ben Haim (Faubert 83), Tomkins, Upson, Gabbidon, Dyer (Piquionne 69), Spector, Parker, Boa Morte (Hines 69), Obinna, Cole
Subs not used: Stech, Reid, Kovac, Barrera