Kieran Richardson earned a remarkable point for Sunderland with a 77th minute goal against the club he played for as a teenager.It capped a tremendous comeback by Sunderland, who trailed by two goals at one stage and played the entire second half with 10 men.
Both teams had chances before West Ham went ahead in the 30th minutes when Guillermo Franco turned in a cross from Jack Collison, who also set up Carlton Cole for his well-taken goal 35 minutes later.
A superb free-kick from Andy Reid in the 39th minute offered Sunderland a route back in a game that was slipping away from them.
But they had to play with 10 men throughout the second half after the dismissal of Kenwyne Jones in stoppage time for pushing Herita Ilunga in the face.
To their credit, Sunderland still created chances, with West Ham keeper Robert Green saving well from Darren Bent and Michael Turner, before Richardson forced in Bent's deflected cross at the far post.
REACTION:
West Ham manager Gianfranco Zola led the praise for Sunderland's comeback as his West Ham team failed to win for the ninth successive game.
The dismissal of Jones appeared to he presented them with an overdue victory, but Sunderland refused to buckle - and Zola was certainly impressed.
He said:"The story was about Sunderland. They showed great determination and desire. It enabled them to overcome the fact they were a man short. We lost control of a game that was totally ours and we let them back in. I can't tolerate that.
"We opened the door for them and, in this league, you can't afford to do that. It wasn't about our tactics. We just had to find our spare man on the pitch and we couldn't find him - it's as simple as that. They were superior to us."
Sunderland manager Steve Bruce singled out Reid for inspiring their second half show. "Reid gave us a bit of magic," said Bruce, who relished an entertaining affair.
"What a game that was," he said. " It's what the Premier League is all about. It was terrific to see the way they got back into the game. If I'm being greedy, I'd say we were good enough to win it - even with 10 men.
"But the two goals we gave away were poor and you get punished in the Premier League. We've got to eradicate that."
Bruce had no complaints about the dismissal of Jones, but was unhappy at the way West Ham's medical team went on the pitch to treat Herita Ilunga with an ice pack for an apparent head injury.
Bruce said:"Yes, Kenwyne pushed him , but I didn't like to see the physio runing on with an ice pack. They was nothing there - it was just a ploy,
"The refereee has got a decision to make, but the play acting left a lot to be desired. I was looking for a big gash, but there wasn't even a bruise - and there wouldn't be because Kenwyne got him on the neck.
HOW IT HAPPENED:
Unbelievably. Even Bruce probably thought his team were doomed after going down to 10 men, but Sunderland showed a magnificent attitude in the second half and could even have gone on to win a hugely entertaining match. Reid was the main reason for the fightback, sparking it with a goal and putting in a performance that leaves a question mark over Giovanni Trapattoni's refusal to put him in the Republic of Ireland squad. West Ham simply couldn't match their desire and that's a worry for Zola.
WHAT IT MEANS:
West Ham remain in trouble and their second half fade-out raises major doubts about the character of Zola's team. The same cannot be said of Sunderland. Here was further proof for Bruce that he has assembled a squad with an iron-willed approach that should ensure they make substantial progress this season.
QUOTABLE:
"I was too upset to ask him anything"
Zola's reaction when asked if he talked to the referee about Kovac's dismissal
SUNDERLAND 2 (Reid 39, Richardson 77) WEST HAM 2 (Franco 30, Cole 35)
PLAYER MARKS:
Sunderland (4-4-2): Gordon 6; Da Silva 6,Turner 6, Nosworthy 5, Richardson 6; Malbranque 5 (McCartney 81,5), Henderson 6, Cana 5, Reid 9; Jones 5, Bent 6.
Subs (not used): Fulop, Ferdinand, Bardsley, Meyler, Healy, Murphy.
West Ham (4-4-2): Green 8; Spector 5, Tomkins 6, Upson 6, Ilunga 6; Behrami 5 (Diamanti 68,5), Kovac 5, Noble 6, Collison 8; Cole 8, Franco 6 (Hines 72,5).
Subs not used: Kurucz, Gabbidon, Jiminez, Faubert, Stanislas, Stanislas.
ATTENDANCE: 39,033
NEXT UP:
- Sunderland v Tottenham (Away), Premier League 7/11, 1500 GMT
- West Ham v Aston Villa (Home) Premier League 4/11, 1945 GMT
MAN OF THE MATCH:
Andy Reid (Sunderland) Giovanni Trapattoni does not rate him as good enough for the Republic of Ireland, but Reid's non-stop running was one of the main reasons Sunderland managed to beat the odds and battle for a draw in the second-half.
Comments (Page 1 of 1)
This match just shows Brucie's tactical nous,he switched the team to 3 at the back shortly after half time and when the goal came swiftly reverted to 4 at the back we then had to cope with some real pressure.I was dubious about his appointment initially not because of his roots but because of his record but no longer, I can see him becoming England manager in the future.