Jordan Henderson’s first goal of the season was enough to see off strugglers West Ham United 1-0 at a bitterly cold SOL on Sunday afternoon. The midfielder struck the game’s only goal in the first half to seal all three points for the lads and move us up to seventh in the table. The performance wasn’t the best and at times we rode our luck in the second half but we ground out the win which is the most important thing after last week’s disappointing defeat at Wolves.
 
With injuries to our central defence pairing of Titus Bramble and Michael Turner the manager had hinted that attack could possibly be our best form of defence and Bruce didn’t disappoint naming a positive line-up. Craig Gordon remained in goal behind a back four of Bardsley, Mensah, Ferdinand and Onuoha. In midfield Henderson, Richardson, Cattermole and Welbeck. Up front Gyan and Bent. The visitor’s side included former SAFC loanee Tal Ben Haim as well as ex Mags Scott Parker and Kieron Dyer.
 
Up until Henderson scored on thirty five minutes the game was a dull affair, the best efforts we managed were long range shots from Cattermole and Richardson. Cattermole was booked for fouling Boa Morte who had earlier been booked for a hard challenge on Richardson. A rare mistake from John Mensah on the half way line looked to have given Carlton Cole a clear run on goal but Anton Ferdinand did well to get across and clear the danger.
 
We took the lead with a well worked goal from Henderson who broke into the box and side footed Gyan’s cross beyond Green. It was a well taken effort and the midfielder’s first goal of this season.

Moments later Gyan almost scored a spectacular second when he spotted Robert Green off his line but the strikers audacious chip was a fraction too high and clipped the top of the bar. Just before half time West Ham had a chance to equalize when Spector thought he was Nedum Onuoha and waltzed past three Sunderland shirts unchallenged but he poked his effort wide.
 
After the break West Ham went close when Cole fired a left foot shot across the goal before Richardson warmed Robert Greens hands with powerful shot. Jordan Henderson played Gyan through on goal and the striker again forced Green into action taking his shot early from outside the box. There was also a shout for Carlton Cole to see red in the second half after the striker who had been booked for a challenge on John Mensah in the first half, blatantly handled a long ball forward. Though the ref awarded the lads a free kick he didn’t book the forward even though it was a deliberate handball.
 
We were our own worst enemy at times and struggled to keep possession for large spells in the second half and when we did have it we didn’t use it well enough in the final third. This was demonstrated when Bent and Henderson broke clear on goal but couldn’t create a chance after over elaborating with a one two.
 
West Ham hit the post with ten minutes remaining through Obinna, but with five minutes remaining Danny Welbeck should have sealed all three points for Sunderland. Robert Green spilled the ball into the path of Welbeck after being challenged by Kieran Richardson but the strikers shot was blocked by a sliding challenge from James Tomkins.

So another home win and more importantly, after last week, a clean sheet.
 
Final Score Sunderland: 1-0

ALS Man of the Match: Anton Ferdinand

Aidan Crowe

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