Image source, PA

We have a winner. Diafra Sakho is in the mixer, as he has been all game and it is fitting that this goal comes from a 50-50 contest on the edge of the area.

This has been a battle, headers, tackles, you name it and Mark Noble out jumps a Sunderland shirt on the edge of the area, Nene turns the ball into the path of Sakho and here comes the knockout. The ball hangs in the air, takes an age to drop, but when it does he lashes it right footed across goal and into the bottom corner.

From being a drab, tight affair, suddenly both sets of players now want this won.

Mark Noble's shot is blocked on the edge of the area and Sunderland will bring on Danny Graham for Jermain Defoe. Some boos as Defoe departs.

"HANDBALL", is the shout from home fans. West Ham players protest. Adam Johnson is the target of their claim as a ball brushes his side in the area. It is not clear cut.

James Collins is well placed again to turn a cross-shot from the increasingly involved Patrick van Aanholt away.

There were bodies lurking in the six-yard box.

Jab, jab, jab from both of these sides. No one has knockout power. Can either summon it?

Jermain Defoe is one slippery customer. You wonder what some younger legs could do for him as his experience is there for all to see as he bends his runs, leaves defenders and generally shows a canny knack of losing his marker.

He slips one defender with good movement and just as he pokes the ball into the clear to race in on goal, James Collins slides about six feet to tap it out of his path. Crucial.

Suddenly we look like we may get a winner. Van Aanholt went close at one end but West Ham are not backing down and push forward. Cross, clearance, cross, clearance. The pressure builds.

On comes Nene for Kevin Nolan. This would be a good time to get his first Hammers goal.

Former Millwall defender Matt Lawrence
BBC London 94.9 at Upton Park

"What a fantastic effort from Patrick van Aanholt. It was dipping and moving in the air, but it was probably going just wide too. Adrian wasn't to know that though, he made a brilliant save."

Patrick van Aanholt has a BANG... great save by Adrian. The left-back moved forward and his effort was swinging from right to left, possibly just going wide by Adrian was not to know and flew across to tip wide.

Adam Johnson gets into the action, again there is some booing, and his pass up the touchline cannot find a runner. Is there a goal in this game? We have not had a clear-cut chance for a long time.

Former Millwall defender Matt Lawrence
BBC London 94.9 at Upton Park

"Different people react differently to this type of situation. I remember at Leeds when Jonathan Woodgate and Lee Bowyer were arrested and they reacted completely differently - the reaction Bowyer got seemed to lift him, while it affected Woodgate more negatively and he lost a lot of weight.

"I'm not sure what type of character Adam Johnson is, so I can't say how he will react to this."

Image source, Getty Images

Sunderland introduce Adam Johnson for Steven Fletcher.

Johnson has not played since being arrested on suspicion, external of having sexual activity with a 15-year-old girl. Johnson was released on police bail, which was extended to 23 April.

It is an unfriendly welcome for Johnson at Upton Park. Some booing and jeers.

Replays show the penalty appeal Kevin Nolan saw turned down should perhaps have been given. A raised offside flag ended his hope of a spot-kick but it looks like the ball was actually flicked on to him by a Sunderland player so he should not have been flagged.

Sunderland are getting Adam Johnson ready to come on.

Much has been made about Dick Advocaat's first outing, but do not overlook the significance of this game for his opposite number.

Sam Allardyce is overseeing relegation form for the Hammers as since Christmas Day, the only two sides with a worse points return than the eight they have amassed are Queens Park Rangers and you guessed it, Sunderland.

Will Dick Advocaat take Connor Wickham off now he has a yellow card to his name? This game is finely poised after all.

Image source, Opta

Wickham has been unselfish for his side. Battling for ball after ball, dropping deep to help when needed and has generally showed plenty of fight.

As many as 57 touches in the game, only Aaron Cresswell has more.

Former Millwall defender Matt Lawrence
BBC London 94.9 at Upton Park

"Definitely offside. Kevin Nolan was pulled back by Santiago Vergini, and it would have been a penalty, but Nolan was a clear half-yard off.

"You can sense as this game progresses that the home crowd are growing more frustrated. West Ham definitely had the better of the opening period but this second half has been much more equal. Sunderland are coming into this game a bit more now."

PENALTY... no. Kevin Nolan is rugby tackled in the area by John O'Shea but the West Ham man had strayed half a yard offside before being hauled down.

Connor Wickham has been everywhere today and here is in midfield hacking down Mark Noble. Referee has the card out and rightly so.

Jack Rodwell is afforded time 35 yards from goal and shoots wildly wide.

Sunderland struggle to inject pace into their attacks on the rare occasions they gain territory in the final third. All too often their exchanges are slow and so they get left with few options, Rodwell's poor effort summed up the limited choices he had at his disposal.

Connor Wickham picks the ball up deep, he has ran hard today, brings Jack Rodwell into the play, he passes left but Sunderland's play breaks down.

Can either of these sides capture any sort of rhythm? If either does then there are three points waiting.

Carlton Cole chases Costel Pantilimon down and forces the goalkeeper to kick for touch. The hour ticks closer but still we wait for some quality to match the obvious battling qualities on show.