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West Ham’s Diafra Sakho strikes late to ruin Dick Advocaat’s Sunderland start West Ham’s Diafra Sakho strikes late to ruin Dick Advocaat’s Sunderland start
(about 2 hours later)
Dick Advocaat has been around long enough to know that football is a cruel game. It had looked like Advocaat’s first game in charge of Sunderland was going to end in a dull stalemate here and there had been a few encouraging signs for his new side, a missed chance here, a flowing move there. Dick Advocaat has been around long enough to know football is a cruel game. It had looked like Advocaat’s first game in charge of Sunderland was going to end in a dull goalless draw at Upton Park and there were a few encouraging signs for his new side, a missed chance here, a flowing move there, even a hint of something approaching defensive cohesion.
Sunderland had also shown resilience in defence throughout a tight second half, until that crucial moment, with two minutes left, when Mark Noble lifted a pass over the top and Diafra Sakho drilled a low finish past Costel Pantilimon from the right of the area. Sunderland were a threat in the first half and although their level dropped after the break they were resilient until Diafra Sakho plunged a dagger into their heart by snatching West Ham United’s first league win since 18 January with his 88th-minute winner.
Relief for West Ham, Sakho’s goal ending their search for a first win since 18 January, but agony for Sunderland. Advocaat has eight games to secure their Premier League status and it will not be straightforward. The twist in the gut for Advocaat and Sunderland was that the referee, Lee Mason, missed an obvious foul on Sebastian Larsson by the West Ham substitute, Nene, in the moments before Sakho’s goal. “I did not expect a goal from West Ham because everything was under control,” Advocaat said. “All my players said it was a foul but I don’t want to start with blaming somebody.”
While the intrigue over what approach Advocaat would adopt for his first match was considerable given that the latest Dutch manager to join a Premier League club has not had long to familiarise himself with his new squad, it was clear that Sunderland simply could not afford a first half as wretched as last Saturday’s farcical offering against Aston Villa. It was an afternoon when Sunderland’s players suffered a collective loss of application and discipline, allowing Villa to score four times before half-time, and it was the final nail in Gus Poyet’s coffin. Sam Allardyce agreed it was a foul, not that he had much sympathy for Sunderland. “About time something went our way, rather than against us,” the West Ham manager said.
Yet Advocaat does not lack self-belief. There were a few raised eyebrows when it emerged that Adam Johnson was on the bench after his club suspension was lifted following his arrest on suspicion of sexual activity with a 15-year-old girl – cue tasteless chants from both sets of supporters – and on the pitch Sunderland were adventurous, with Connor Wickham dangerous in his roving role behind a front two of Steven Fletcher and Jermain Defoe. Advocaat does not have time to worry about refereeing decisions. He has eight matches to secure Sunderland’s Premier League status and the international break means the latest Dutch manager to join an English club now has a fortnight to prepare for Newcastle United’s visit to the Stadium of Light. Advocaat smiled when the derby was mentioned. “The good thing is we don’t have so many international players,” he said.
It was an attack that had the potential to unnerve a West Ham defence that had Cheikhou Kouyaté, who is primarily a midfielder, alongside James Collins at the heart of it because of injuries to Winston Reid and James Tomkins and Sunderland twice threatened to take an early lead, Wickham’s volley stinging the palms of Adrián and Defoe firing over after beating a rickety offside trap. You would have put your house on Defoe scoring as he drew back his right foot and prepared to shoot, but it was a poor miss from the former West Ham striker, one that betrayed Sunderland’s anxiety. There was also support for Adam Johnson who was on the bench after Sunderland lifted his suspension following his recent arrest on suspicion of sexual activity with a 15-year-old girl. The West Ham fans sent loud boos in Johnson’s direction after his introduction in the 73rd minute, and there were a few tasteless chants from both sets of supporters throughout. “Life goes on and he did well,” Advocaat said. “He is a very good player.”
Another problem for the visitors had to overcome was Wes Brown limping off in the 12th minute. Brown was replaced in the centre of their defence by Santiago Vergini, who was soon shanking a clearance out of play and then losing a battle of strength with Sakho. The frustration for Sunderland, who remain a point above the bottom three, was their failure to build on a promising start. Their initial approach was adventurous with Connor Wickham dangerous in a roving role behind Steven Fletcher and Jermain Defoe, and the visitors twice went close to taking the lead in the opening 15 minutes.
West Ham began to create chances. Sunderland’s 4-3-1-2 formation meant that there was space on the flanks and West Ham almost opened the scoring with a winger-to-winger goal, Matt Jarvis inches away from connecting with Stewart Downing’s fizzing low centre from the right. Injuries to Winston Reid and James Tomkins forced Allardyce to play Cheikhou Kouyaté, who is primarily a midfielder, alongside James Collins in central defence and West Ham were uncertain in the early stages. Wickham stung Adrián’s palms with a volley and Defoe fired over after beating the offside trap.
Pantilimon also had to be at his best to push away Alex Song’s volley from 25 yards and when Aaron Cresswell swung in a cross from the left, Sakho’s glancing header just wide. Pantilimon was at full stretch, but he was not getting there, and half of the ground thought that was in. You would have put your house on Defoe scoring as he drew back his right foot and prepared to shoot, but it was a poor miss from the former West Ham striker, one that betrayed Sunderland’s anxiety.
At least a goalless first half represented progress of sorts for Sunderland, but a team in their position needed more. They had started the match knowing that Burnley and Leicester City had already lost and this was a chance to construct a valuable cushion between themselves and the bottom three. Another problem for Sunderland was seeing Wes Brown limp off after 12 minutes. He was replaced by the jittery Santiago Vergini in the visitors’ back four and West Ham began to create a few chances.
Advocaat also had the satisfaction of seeing Allardyce make a substitution at half-time, recognition, perhaps, that Sunderland’s plan was working. Jarvis, who promises much but produces little, was replaced by Carlton Cole as West Ham sought to beef up their attack and soon Sakho was sending another header wide. Sunderland’s 4-3-1-2 formation meant there was space on the flanks and West Ham almost fashioned a winger-to-winger goal, Matt Jarvis inches away from connecting with Stewart Downing’s fizzing centre from the right before Sakho’s glancing header flew just wide. Pantilimon also had to push away Alex Song’s volley from 25 yards.
However, West Ham have misplaced the spark that had made them contenders for a European spot at Christmas. While their performances have been encouraging on the whole, their results have dipped since the turn of the year and they have sunk into mid-table, their season rather grinding to a halt of late. After last Saturday’s debacle against Aston Villa, at least a goalless first half represented progress of sorts for Sunderland.
Upton Park was a frustrated place at times and the discontent was audible when Kevin Nolan sent a pass astray. That 4-0 defeat against Villa cost Gus Poyet his job and it was an afternoon when Sunderland’s players suffered a collective loss of application and discipline, their first-half performance so miserable that it caused a mass walk-out at the Stadium of Light.
Not much was happening. Johnson was introduced to loud boos with 17 minutes left, but it was Sakho who had the last word. This time their effort could not be faulted but Sunderland’s fluidity disappeared in the second half and West Ham, who beefed up their attack at half-time by bringing on Carlton Cole for the disappointing Jarvis, capitalised with two minutes left.
Nenê flattened Larsson, Mark Noble’s clever lofted pass illuminated a game that was sorely lacking in technical ability and Sakho drilled the ball past Pantilimon.