WATCH: Lift-off at London Stadium as Summerville sparks life into West Ham’s survival bid with brilliant headed opener vs Sunderland

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.

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.

West Ham confirmed line-up

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

Sunderland confirmed line-up

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

How to watch West Ham vs Sunderland

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.

Key stats for West Ham vs Sunderland

• West Ham have lost just one of their last 12 Premier League home games against Sunderland (W9 D2), going down 3-0 in May 2011. They’ve won their last three all by the same 1-0 scoreline.
• Sunderland are looking to complete the Premier League double over West Ham for just the second time, previously doing so in 2010-11 when the Hammers were relegated.
• West Ham have lost just one of their last 21 Premier League home games against promoted sides (W16 D4) and are unbeaten in 12 since a 2-1 loss to Brentford in October 2021.
• West Ham ended their 10-game winless run by beating Spurs 2-1 last time out. However, the Hammers haven’t kept a clean sheet in any of their last 19 Premier League games, only once having a longer run (24 between March and November 2008).
• Sunderland have won 16 points from losing positions in the Premier League this season, with only Aston Villa gaining more (18). It’s the Black Cats’ most in a single campaign in the competition, and most by a promoted side since West Brom in 2010-11 (27).
• Sunderland are looking to win consecutive Premier League games for just the second time this season, previously beating Wolves and Chelsea in October. However, they’re winless in six away from home (D3 L3) since that 2-1 win over the Blues.