Sunderland 1 - 1 West Ham UnitedJordi Gomez 22 Pen'
Stewart Downing 29'
Andy Carroll’s declaration that West Ham United are title contenders was made to look slightly optimistic by the divisional draw specialists. Sunderland may have won only two of their 16 Premier League games this season but 10 have ended all square and Sam Allardyce’s players were the latest set of visitors to leave Wearside frustrated.
Although Gus Poyet’s side could quite easily have ended up stealing a surprisingly open game, West Ham were the better, infinitely more fluent, side. If Stewart Downing was arguably their oustanding individual, Carroll came a close second. John O’Shea and Wes Brown struggled to contend with the former Newcastle United centre forward’s aerial threat throughout and the afternoon was not very old before Lee Cattermole felt moved to offer him a little discouragement. By accidentally on purpose leaving a foot in on the No9, Cattermole not only ensured his studs caught Carroll just beneath the ankle, but earned a loud cheer.
The striker who has a history of troublesome injuries in that area, grimaced in pain but continued to pose Gus Poyet’s defence serious problems. Indeed the moment when James Tomkins shoved Adam Johnson in the back and the winger tumbled over in the area came very much against the run of play.
It seemed a bit of a soft penalty but Jordi Gómez had no complaints, stepping forward to send Adrián the wrong way with a textbook low kick into the bottom corner. Cue an apoplectic Allardyce launching an invective heavy touchline tirade in Phil Dowd’s direction and looking lucky not be sent to the stands.
West Ham’s manager – once a Sunderland centre half – appeared a little happier when Downing equalised. During his Middlesbrough days, Downing enjoyed an extremely successful loan spell at the Stadium of Light but, when Sunderland neglected to close him down, he disappointed his former public by unleashing a low, angled, left foot shot from the edge of the area.
Courtesy of a deflection off Gómez it flew past Pantilimon, leaving Poyet’s players contemplating an uphill task. Although Johnson – who cleverly drew Tomkins into that foul, even if contract proved minimal – started brightly, overall Sunderland lacked cohesion, let alone fluidity.
They seemed confused by Diafra Sakho’s habit of leaving his central attacking station, pulling out wide to the right wing and running at a clearly unnerved Anthony Réveillère. Allardyce would doubtless have reminded his players that Réveillère, largely excellent since replacing the injured Patrick van Aanholt, is out of position at left back and would be much more comfortable in his natural right-sided role.
With Kevin Nolan’s penchant for breaking late from deep and joining Carroll in attack discomfitting O’Shea and company Sunderland were up against it but, incredibly, could easily have been back in the lead by half time.
When Sebastian Larsson delivered a brilliant right wing cross, Jozy Altidore was well placed to divert it into the back of the net from around two yards. Poor Altidore had done well to sneak in front of Allardyce’s defence and Larsson placed the ball straight at his feet. Yet somehow he missed the ball, his failure to extend a boot meaning it bounced harmlessly off his knee. A collective groan echoed around the stadium and a grateful Jenkinson cleared. Things have never quite clicked on Wearside for The United States striker who looked close to tears after apparently freezing at the vital moment.
West Ham began the second half in strangely sluggish mode but as much as Sunderland’s confidence grew the odd classy cameo from the impressive Downing, not to mention the moment Carroll chipped a shot onto the roof of the net reminded everyone that the visitors could not be taken lightly.
Poyet, who had earlier swapped Altidore for Steven Fletcher, rather suprisingly replaced Johnson with Ricky Álvarez. His side might have won a handball penalty against Winston Reid before Connor Wickham shot narrowly over the bar. Equally though a late Carroll volley whizzed fractionally wide of a post.
Guardian