Michail Antonio scored once again at the Boleyn Ground as his winning strike helped West Ham United move back up to fifth in the Premier League and made it a disappointing return for former manager Sam Allardyce.
Antonio scored the crucial match-winner after 30 minutes and made it three goals in his last three matches at Upton Park.
The Hammers winger celebrated in style with some impressive breakdancing moves and maintained the Club's superb unbeaten home form with the last defeat coming back in August.
The victory capped off a memorable day as the Club welcomed back the heroes from the 1960's and the likes of Sir Geoff Hurst and Martin Peters would have been impressed with what they saw from the current team as they kept alive their hopes of securing a European spot.
After a slow start to the game, West Ham finally created their first clear-cut chance on 17 minutes when Aaron Cresswell burst clear down the left hand side and saw his dangerous cross well saved by Sunderland keeper Vito Mannone.
The home side were then denied by the woodwork on 19 minutes. Manuel Lanzini weaved his way to the edge of the box and laid the ball off for Mark Noble who struck a powerful right-foot shot which beat Mannone but his effort cannoned back off the bar.
The rebound fell to Emmanuel Emenike and he just failed to connect with the ball.
The Hammers were almost made to pay on 21 minutes as Adrian took too much time dealing with a back-pass from James Collins and with former striker Jermain Defoe racing in on goal he just managed to clear the ball.
Wahbi Khazri then had a free-kick on the edge of the box and his curling effort hit the top of the bar.
The deadlock was finally broke on the half hour mark when Antonio cut in from the right hand side and burst his way past two Sunderland defenders before curling a left-foot shot past Mannone into the corner of the net.
The Hammers winger raced over to the Sir Trevor Brooking stand and showed off his breakdancing celebrations – much to the delight of the home supporters.
Antonio could have added his second of the game on 38 minutes after striking a left-foot half-volley from the edge of the box which produced a fine save from Mannone diving low to his left hand side.
Sunderland came out at the start of the second half pushing for an equaliser and came close on 47 minutes.
James Collins mis-judged a high ball over the top of the defence and Defoe fired a left-foot volley inches past the post.
Sunderland came close again on 55 minutes when Patrick van Aanholt had space inside the box and fired his shot wide of the goal.
Adrian then came to the home side's rescue on 73 minutes when he made a superb save with his legs to deny substitute Jack Rodwell who looked certain to score from close-range.
The Hammers could have put the game beyond Sunderland after Andy Carroll was also denied by the woodwork on 76 minutes.
Noble played the perfect cross in for Sam Byram who headed the ball back across goal and Carroll fired his volley against the bar.
Sunderland refused to lie down and came close again when Rodwell burst clear into the box but saw his deflected shot fall inches over the bar.
But the home side held to record another crucial three points and will be full of confidence as they prepare for another big London derby against Tottenham on Wednesday night.
West Ham United: Adrian, Byram, Ogbonna, Collins, Cresswell, Kouyate, Noble (Obiang 81mins), Lanzini (Moses 65mins), Antonio, Payet, Emenike (Carroll 58mins)
Subs not used: Randolph, Song, Henry, Oxford.
Bookings: Byram
Sunderland: Mannone, Yedlin, Kone, O’Shea, Van Aanholt, Kirchhoff, N’Doye, Cattermole (Rodwell 65mins), M’Vila, Khazri, Defoe.
Subs not used: Jones, Larsson, Borini, Pickford, Kaboul, Toivonen.
Referee: Mike Dean (Wirral)
Attendance: 34,946