Tide turns for Hammers at the Stadium of Light

West Ham United put a worrying string of results in the Premiership behind itself yesterday, as Valon Behrami scored his first goal for the club to give the Hammers a 1-0 victory over Sunderland at the Stadium of Light.

West Ham, who have been plagued by rumours of financial difficulties, were bolstered by a brilliant performance by Matthew Upson on defence. Coach Gianfranco Zola singled out Upson as his player of the match after seeing his club win for the first time in eight matches.

“The players have been fantastic and this win is all down to them but Matthew was absolutely perfect,” Zola told the Telegraph. “I could not give him a mark out of ten because I would have had to give him 11. I can’t remember him losing one challenge and he commanded the defence.”

Sunderland, meanwhile, were left in the doldrums after suffering their fifth defeat in six matches. Roy Keane’s players were booed as they walked off the pitch at the end of the match.

We need to be doing better and that’s why we all need to be taking responsibility, ultimately the manager,” Keane said at the end of the match. “We can’t seem to string two wins together and sometimes that feels like it’s in the mentality and the fibre of the club. We’re working daily to change that.”