As I type I’m still shaking from excitement and I’m probably not going to sleep tonight with the amount of adrenaline that’s pumping through my body. All this thanks to an injury time winner from the latest ALS cover boy Andy Reid whose super strike sealed a 2-1 win over West Ham.

The lads came from a goal behind to grab back to back Premiership win’s, take a step closer to survival and in the process leap frog the Scum in the table. West Ham opened the scoring through Freddie Ljunberg but Sunderland replied through Kenwyne Jones and the midfield magician Andy Reid.

As I left home this morning the sun was shining so my choice of Nike rifts with no socks, T shirt, Jeans and jacket seemed appropriate. However, by midday the decision to dress for summer back fired when the sky turned grey and the heavens opened.

The rain made the pitch nice and slick and the game started openly. This was probably helped by the fact that Keano opted to play 4-4-2 and have a go. Having become a solid unit the back four and keeper remained unchanged. There were changes in midfield with Edwards having to make do with a place on the bench. Despite scoring as a striker last week Michael Chopra started on the right with Kieran Richardson on the left, in the centre Andy Reid and Dean Whitehead. Up top we had Daryl Murphy and Kenwyne Jones.

West Ham fired a warning shot after ten minutes when the lively Ashton curled a shot past Craig Gordon but onto the post. Ten minutes later we were one down when Ljungberg’s low drive nestled into the bottom corner. Replays will later determine whether it was deflected or not but the fact of the matter is we had numerous chances to clear the ball but like at home to Chelsea; we failed to and were made to pay.

The goal stirred Sunderland and the crowd as we went in search for an equaliser. Good pressure from both flanks forced corners but West Ham keeper Robert Green dealt with these well despite intense pressure from Kenwyne Jones. One corner however saw Jones hauled to the ground off the ball by Lucas Neill and although visible to 46 odd thousand people in the stadium the officials missed it.

Despite playing right wing Chopra was causing problems and tested green with a left foot shot after cutting in. Then Whitehead and Murphy had efforts but both were tame and off target. Our goal came from a great passing move with Andy Reid heavily involved again. He played a one two round Scott Parker before laying the ball wide left to Kieran Richardson. Richardson went past his man and crossed low with the ball eventually falling to Jones who tapped in.

Before the break Craig Gordon was called into action when Carlton Cole shot from long range. The former Chelsea hitman’s strike looked to be bound for the top corner but Scotland’s number one produced an acrobatic save, tipping over for a corner.

After the break it was all Sunderland. We poured forward in search of a goal but were thwarted by poor finishing and from whatever view you take good defending or fouls. I take the latter with the officials again deciding that elbowing, holding or pushing Kenwyne Jones is fair play. Reid continued to pull the strings in midfield and I lost count of the number of times we got crosses into the box and someone was either a yard ahead or behind the ball. Daryl Murphy was causing the Hammers loads of problems with his pace, power and excellent crosses. With twenty minutes to go and results elsewhere not looking too good Keano made a double change. Richardson and Chopra made way for Leadbitter and Edwards.

We continued to push forward and though Ashton was a nuisance for West Ham he was handled superbly by Nos and Johnny Evans. Sunderland looked to have missed their best chance of the game with ten minutes to go. A cross from the left eluded everyone except Daryl Murphy with an open goal to aim at. The Irishman’s shot however was sliced miles over the bar. This was to be Murphy’s last involvement as he was replaced with O’Donovan. As full time loomed Freddie Ljungberg was stretchered off and as West Ham had made three changes they were forced to play the remainder of the game with ten men.

Five minutes of injury time were signalled and as we entered the fifth the game looked to be heading for a draw. The lads were camped in West Ham’s half but didn’t look like carving out an opening. However with injury time seemingly up the ball was floated over to the unmarked Andy Reid who smashed a volley into the bottom corner. It was one of those feelings only an injury time winner can give you, hugging strangers, screaming at the top of your voice, basically going absolutely mental. Get in!

Final Score: Sunderland 2 West Ham United 1

ALS Man of the Match: Andy Reid

Aidan Crowe

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