
West Ham’s survival bid gathered more pace when Crysencio Summerville brilliantly headed them in front with an early goal against Sunderland.
The Hammers went into the game looking to record back-to-back wins in the Premier League after ending a 10-game winless run in their last game away at Tottenham.
Nerves were palpable at the London Stadium with this game such a huge one for their hopes of survival and an unconvincing start for the hosts only made matters worse.
But after growing into the contest, there was lift-off in East London when Summerville scored for the second successive game in the 14th minute.
After Jarrod Bowen drove at the defence on the right, the skipper played a teasing cross for someone to attack in the middle and the man to meet it was Summerville, who rose well to crash a header past Robin Roefs.
Crysencio Summerville thumps in the opener for West Ham inside 15 minutes 🔥
📺 @tntsports & @discoveryplusUK pic.twitter.com/iqqaGtusx5
A victory will take the Hammers within two points of 17th-placed Nottingham Forest, who play on Sunday against Brentford.
Nuno Espirito Santo’s men have not won at home at the London Stadium since beating Burnley at the start of November.
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Nuno Espirito Santo has named an unchanged team from last weekend’s 2-1 win at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, with new arrivals Pablo and Taty contimuing their run in the team.
There is no Lucas Paqueta in the squad for the Irons amid speculation he could leave the club and return to Brazil this month.
West Ham: Areola, Wan-Bissaka, Todibo, Mavropanos, Scarles, Soucek, Fernandes, Bowen, Summerville, Pablo, Taty
Subs: Hermansen, Walker-Peters, Kilman, Ward-Prowse, Wilson, Diouf, Magassa, Potts, Kante
Today's Hammers 🥁 pic.twitter.com/atamH67yay
Sunderland are without key midfielder Granit Xhaka for the trip to the London Stadium amid rumours he could be facing several months out, with Trai Hume stepping into midfield in his place.
The Black Cats do have Habib Diarra and Chemsdine Talbi back from AFCON, with the Senegal and Morocco internationals selected on the bench.
Sunderland: Roefs, Mukiele, Ballard, Aldrete, Reinildo, Hume, Sadiki, Le Fee, Mundle, Mayenda, Brobbey
Subs: Patterson, O’Nien, Geertruida, Cirkin, Rigg, Diarra, Adingra, Isidor, Talbi
RLB's XI to take on West Ham! 👊#WHUSUN pic.twitter.com/Nbfgd5pA1M
West Ham vs Sunderland is available to watch in the UK on TNT Sports 1, TNT Ultimate and Discovery+. US residents can watch all the action on USA Network.
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