Sunderland 2-2 West Ham United
- Published
Sunderland are yet to win in the Premier League this season after blowing a 2-0 lead to draw against West Ham at the Stadium of Light.
The Black Cats raced 2-0 ahead, Steven Fletcher firing home from Yann M'Vila's free-kick before Jeremain Lens's sublime chip doubled the advantage.
Carl Jenkinson led the fightback after Victor Moses' cutback before Lens was sent off for a second yellow card.
A mistake by Costel Pantilimon allowed Dimitri Payet to equalise.
What next for Advocaat?
There were mixed feelings for Sunderland boss Dick Advocaat at the final whistle.
Though his side allowed a comfortable lead to slip, the point was enough to haul them off the bottom of the table above Newcastle United, who lost 6-1 at Manchester City.
The build-up to the game was dominated by reports Advocaat was considering quitting,, external having apparently become disillusioned with working on a limited budget.
The former Netherlands manager's players showed they were behind him by turning in their best 45 minutes of the season against a team who had won their previous three away league games - at Manchester City, Liverpool and Arsenal.
Fletcher marked his return by lashing home from inside the area following M'Vila's free-kick before a sublime finish from Lens doubled the lead.
The Dutch forward produced a wonderful chip over Adrian after a through-ball from the impressive M'Vila, the goal reducing Advocaat to tears of joy.
But Sunderland were made to pay as Fabio Borini spurned one great chance to put the game out of sight and John O'Shea was denied by Adrian.
West Ham hard to beat
West Ham, who twice came from behind to secure a point in their last game against Norwich, again showed character to rescue a point when all seemed lost.
They were back in the game when Jenkinson converted Moses's cutback on the stroke of half-time.
Sunderland's afternoon went downhill when they were forced to play more than half-an-hour with 10 men after Lens' 57th-minute red card for a second bookable offence.
West Ham were level when Pantilimon could not hold Manuel Lanzini's shot from distance and Payet was on hand to convert the rebound.
The Hammers, who drop from third to fifth in the table, are unbeaten in their past five league matches.
Man of the match - Victor Moses
What they said
Sunderland manager Dick Advocaat: "The performance has to lift the spirits. We showed if we work hard, we can get points and results, because West Ham are a good side and we know they have had good results in their away games, so I have to give compliments for their performance."
Click to read what Advocaat had to say about his future at Sunderland.
West Ham United manager Slaven Bilic: "If you asked me yesterday would I take a point, I would never say I would take a point, we want three but we knew it would be a hard game.
"Emotions are mixed, a point is a point is especially when we were 2-0 down, but if we look at the last 20 minutes I am disappointed we didn't capitalise on it. But we are not greedy. It's a good point for us."
What next?
There will be relief at the Stadium of Light that Sunderland are not propping up the Premier League table going into the international break. Yet they face a challenging time when the domestic campaign resumes in two weeks' time. They are away at West Bromwich Albion on 17 October before hosting fellow strugglers Newcastle United in the Wear-Tyne derby on 25 October.
West Ham, unbeaten on their travels this season, are at Crystal Palace on 17 October before hosting champions Chelsea on 24 October.
The stats that matter
Sunderland have won just one of their past seven Premier League games against the Hammers (D4 L2).
Advocaat's first Premier League game in charge of Sunderland was the meeting between the two sides in March, won by West Ham. The Dutchman has taken just 15 points from 17 league games.
Payet has had a hand in 14 goals (five goals, nine assists) in his past 16 league appearances (Premier League & Ligue 1 combined).
Mark Noble's booking after one minute 44 seconds was the second-quickest in the Premier League this season.
Sunderland have averaged a red card every 852 minutes in Premier League history - only two clubs have received one more frequently (Blackburn - 842 mins, Hull- 720 mins).
Sunderland had 12 shots in this game but only one of them came after half-time.
- Published3 October 2015
- Published28 September 2015
- Published3 October 2015