Classic match
West Ham United 2-1 Sunderland
League Cup - second round
12 October 1988
West Ham United enjoyed some light relief from a troubled start to this league campaign, with League Cup victory over second-tier Sunderland on this day 27 years ago.
Having won just one of their opening seven top-flight fixtures, the Hammers proppped up the division at this early juncture.
Leading 3-0 from the first-leg at Roker Park, courtesy of a David Kelly double and Leroy Tosenior, the Hammers never looked in danger of losing out to their lower-league opponents.
As it was, goals from Kelly, once more, and Alan Dickens, (pictured), handed John Lyall's side a 2-1 victory on the day and a 5-1 run aggregate success.
The win was a welcome distraction from a league campaign which provided little to cheer, as the Hammers were eventually relegated from the old First Division, finishing 19th with 38 points.
They would, however, make it all the way to the last four of the League Cup, before coming unstuck in dramatic fashion against Luton Town, to whom they lost out 5-0 over the two-legged tie.
Complete record - 12 October
1929 West Ham United 1-2 Leicester City (Division One)
1935 West Ham United 4-0 Swansea Town (Division Two)
1946 Burnley 2-1 West Ham United (Division Two)
1957 Charlton Athletic 0-3 West Ham United (Division Two)
1963 Sheffield Wednesday 3-0 West Ham United (Division One)
1968 Leeds United 2-0 West Ham United (Division One)
1974 Coventry City 1-1 West Ham United (Division One)
1985 West Ham United 0-0 Arsenal (Division One)
1988 West Ham United 2-1 Sunderland (League Cup)
1996 Everton 2-1 West Ham United (Premier League)
Played 10, Won 3, Drawn 2, Lost 5, Scored 13, Conceded 13