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BBC News
a day ago
- Sport
- BBC News
Sunderland 3-0 West Ham - the fans' verdict
We asked for your thoughts after Saturday's Premier League game between Sunderland and West are some of your comments:Sunderland fansColin: Outstanding performance by the lads in red and white. We needed to start on the front foot and boy did we do that. Great win and hoping to build on The performance and the goals were just brilliant. You could see what it meant to the fans and the players by the pure passion displayed by every one in the stadium. I would have LOVED to have been there! Liked the comment by the commentator likening Dan Ballard's goal to Niall Quinn!David: A truly emotional and memorable return to the Premier League for the club and fans, with hugely encouraging performances from all of the debutants resulting in an important win. A long way to go, of course, but on this evidence there could be a lot of people outside of Wearside eating humble pie come the end of the It's an incredible time to be a Sunderland supporter. I'm very pleased to see the three goalscorers were players who got the club where they are I've followed Sunderland since the 1973 cup final and this season is the most confident I've been about a good start for a long, long time. Craig: Championship play-off semis: Sunderland won't win. Final: they won't win. Get promoted: Sunderland are coming straight back down. Proving the naysayers wrong is what we what we love to do! More Ham fansTom: If you have a bad season, look at what was wrong and fix it. Or, in our case, just ignore it and hope for the best. This result was as inevitable. Either Potter is a poor manager or he's just being handcuffed by poor owners. It's going to be VERY hard to find three worse teams than us this season. I don't think there Trouble is with our midfield - there's no energy or bite in there. To be honest, if they could shake it up between now and when the window shuts, we'd be OK. Probably need to offload four or five players and get in four or five younger and hungrier For 60 minutes we looked OK and were really troubling Sunderland. Then, like a deck of cards, we folded. I have to question Freddie Potts not starting after playing every pre-season game. Our midfield must be the slowest in the league. This needs addressing asap and we also badly need a Same old, same old. Don't look fit enough, don't look hungry enough. Might as well keep Potter's post-match interview and play it each week. Fans deserve First half was fair - the rest of the game West Ham were rubbish. Last season all over again. It's a shame for the fans becaiuse we expected more from Potter and the We've started where we finished off last season. Can't say I expected anything else when a club I've supported for over 50 years doesn't back the manager with top-class signings that never happen year in, year out. Yet another stressful season for us Hammers fans!
Hindustan Times
2 days ago
- Sport
- Hindustan Times
Premier League 2025: Sunderland crush West Ham 3-0 in dream return; Dan Ballard shines on debut
Sunderland announced their Premier League return in emphatic style with a 3-0 win over West Ham, sending the Stadium of Light into raptures. After years of frustration in the lower leagues, the Black Cats looked sharp, organized, and clinical against a toothless Hammers side. This is Sunderland's first Premier League win since 2017(X/@SunderlandAFC) The breakthrough came on 61 minutes when Eliezer Mayenda met a superb Omar Alderete cross with a thunderous header to give Sunderland the lead, reported The Guardian. Dan Ballard, later named Player of the Match, doubled the advantage 12 minutes later with yet another commanding header before substitute Wilson Isidor wrapped things up in injury time. Dan Ballard shines like a star on debut For Ballard, the occasion was extra special. According to Sky Sports, he delivered a near-flawless defensive performance, and his headed goal sealed a clean-sheet victory on his Premier League debut. Speaking to Sky Sports, Ballard said it was the perfect start and added that he believes the team executed their game plan 'really well'. 'The new signings have added quality, but the spirit of this team is what got us promoted, and you saw that today,' he was quoted as saying. The numbers reflected his dominance: no player won more aerial duels (10) or made more clearances (eight). Sky Sports' Lewis Jones compared Ballard to 'Concorde' commanding the skies. Granit Xhaka's leadership and Habib Diarra's energy The Guardian report added that new captain Granit Xhaka marshalled the midfield with authority while Habib Diarra caused West Ham problems throughout with his pace and direct runs. Their composure in transition allowed Sunderland to nullify West Ham's possession game and strike decisively when chances arose. Manager Regis Le Bris, who was overseeing his first Premier League game, was full of praise. He was quoted in The Guardian that he is happy for the fans and that it was a strong performance against a tough side. Le Bris said, 'We just have to enjoy this moment.' Also read: Mohamed Salah breaks down in tears as Anfield sings for Diogo Jota right after injury-time goal in Premier League opener Graham Potter's Hammers Falter A nightmare beginning for Graham Potter at West Ham. In contrast to a rather dominating 64% possession, the side hardly created much, managing just a mere 0.63 expected goals out of 11 shots, the Sky Sports report stated. Potter was quoted as saying that the second half was not good enough, and the team did not perform the basics: defend their box. He said that although it was disappointing but they 'must improve quickly'. Reportedly, questions have begun arising on Potter's system, which seems to be throttling Jarrod Bowen and Lucas Pagueta, West Ham's two most creative outlets. Bereft of their trademark counter-attacking snap, the Hammers indeed looked blunt and frail. Match Stats Goals: Mayenda (61'), Ballard (73'), Isidor (90+2') Possession: Sunderland 36.8% – West Ham 63.2% Shots on Target: Sunderland 5 – West Ham 4 Corners: Sunderland 5 – West Ham 7 FAQs Q1: Who scored for Sunderland against West Ham? Eliezer Mayenda, Dan Ballard, and Wilson Isidor. Q2: Who was named Player of the Match? Dan Ballard, for his goal and defensive dominance. Q3: How many new signings started for Sunderland? Seven new signings were handed starts, with Xhaka captaining the side.
Daily Mail
2 days ago
- Sport
- Daily Mail
Sunderland 3-0 West Ham: A mixture of old and new signings blended perfectly to help the Black Cats ease to victory - and why record signing Habib Diarra was the stand-out performer
Sunderland handed debuts to eight new players on their Premier League return but it was a trio of familiar faces who ensured they made a perfect start to the season. Promotion heroes Eliezer Mayenda and Dan Ballard each produced thumping second-half headers before Wilson Isidor capped off a wonderful afternoon with a late breakaway third to leave manager Regis Le Bris jumping with joy on Sunderland's first top-flight game since 2017. This deserved victory will give hope The Black Cats have a realistic chance of avoiding an immediate return to the Championship but they will face tougher opposition than West Ham who were hopeless with the sole exception of captain Jarrod Bowen. INSTANT CONNECTION BETWEEN NEW AND OLD Play-off winners Sunderland have spent £130million on a dozen players to give themselves a fighting chance of survival and on this evidence it looks money well spent. Record signing Habib Diarra was the stand-out with a performance of pace and power that will make him a crowd favourite at The Stadium of Light. He came close to scoring on a couple of occasions and was helped by having the composure of Granit Xhaka next to him. None of the new players played like strangers and even goalkeeper Robin Roefs had a part to play at the end with a reflex save following a West Ham corner. Mayenda, who scored at Wembley in May, and Ballard enjoyed their goals – the defender flexing his muscles in celebration - but they will be the first to note they were supplied with quality crosses from their new team-mates Simon Adingra and Omar Alderete. A seamless connection between new and old. Substitute Isidor scored a solo third to complete the rout. Asked last week, if Sunderland could stay up, he retorted: 'Of course!' Now you can see why. STADIUM OF LIGHT THE 12TH MAN Having been starved of top action for so long, passionate Wearsiders were arriving at the ground from midday, creating a very special atmosphere. When West Ham walked out, it was an intimidating sight, a sea or red-and-white and an ear-splitting rendition from 45,000 fans of Elvis Presley's 'Can't help falling in love.' After Mayenda's opening goal after an hour, the deafening volume went up another notch and broadcasters could no longer hear instructions from their radio station through their headphones. In the last two seasons, all three promoted teams have gone straight back down. But if Sunderland can build on the momentum of this result, and they have winnable games against Burnley and Brentford next, nobody is going to fancy travelling to the north-east. NO PAQUETA BOUNCE West Ham hoped Brazil international Lucas Paqueta could rediscover his form with spot-fixing allegations now resolved. Instead, he played just as poorly as he did last season; slow, casual in possession and falling too easily to try and win free-kicks. Granit Xhaka completely schooled him. The only thing in the midfielder's defence is that none of his team-mates were much better with Niclas Fullkrug and Jean-Clair Todibo particularly awful. The honourable exception was Jarrod Bowen who ran his heart out but after a positive pre-season, Graham Potter's optimism for the new season has expired in its first 90 minutes. POTTER TOO SLOW West Ham trailed 1-0 and had been second-best for a long while before Potter turned to his bench after 71 minutes to bring on striker Callum Wilson – booed ferociously by Sunderland fans for his Newcastle connections – and Tomas Soucek. They'd barely been on the pitch a couple of minutes before Daniel Ballard netted a killer second. A more pro-active manager might have made changes earlier seeing that Sunderland were clearly out-running and out-playing the visitors. Maybe Potter was being shrewd, trying to show the ownership he needs more bodies, particularly in attack. Mohammed Kudus hasn't been replaced since joining Tottenham.
The Independent
2 days ago
- Sport
- The Independent
Regis Le Bris praises Sunderland's ‘togetherness' after beating West Ham
Sunderland head coach Regis Le Bris hailed his side's 'togetherness' as they marked their return to the Premier League with a 3-0 win over West Ham. Following an eight-year absence from the top flight, second-half goals from Eliezer Mayenda, Dan Ballard and substitute Wilson Isidor wrapped up three points. The Wearsiders cemented their spot in the Premier League with a Championship play-off win against Sheffield United in May and have since made 11 signings in preparation for the competition's demands. Seven new arrivals were handed their Sunderland debuts in the starting line-up, but it was play-off heroes Mayenda, Ballard and Isidor who proved to be the difference. Asked about the importance of those goalscorers, Le Bris said: 'It's really important for two reasons at least, the first one they showed they can step up today. We'll see later, but today it was the case. 'At the same time they are really important because they keep the identity of the club and the way we worked last season. 'We've built this strength about togetherness, about the way we can work as a team and I think we showed it today. These players are important for that.' West Ham had controlled the game in the first half before the hosts grew into the match. Mayenda, goalscorer in the semi-final and the final of last season's play-offs, sent Sunderland ahead in the 61st minute with a header. Ballard extended their lead 12 minutes later, nodding home into the same spot as his last-gasp winner against Coventry in the play-off semi-finals. Another play-off goalscorer Isidor completed the afternoon with a cool finish into the bottom corner and Le Bris urged his newly-promoted side to soak up the moment. He said: 'Just enjoy now, first of all. Second point, Granit (Xhaka) spoke 30 seconds about this togetherness, this way of suffering together because it will be key for the season, stay humble and reset.' West Ham boss Graham Potter believes his side struggled to find their rhythm after half-time. The Hammers found themselves in promising positions around the box throughout the first half, with captain Jarrod Bowen particularly impressing in their attack. Although they continued to retain possession after the break, they struggled to trouble the Sunderland goal until the final stages when Bowen, Tomas Soucek and Callum Wilson went close. Reflecting on the game, Potter said: 'We didn't get into the rhythm at all. 'We started a little bit passive when we had the ball, I think we could've been brave, more assertive and played better. We didn't play at a level I think we can play at. 'It wasn't a result – with the greatest respect – of Sunderland pushing us back and playing well. It was an action, a cross from 30 or 40 metres we should be happy to defend. 'Before you know it, you're 1-0 down here at the Stadium of Light and they've been waiting eight years, of course it's going to be difficult. 'The second goal isn't a particularly good one from our perspective either. 'If you don't do the basics in football, you're in trouble. We've paid that price today.'
BreakingNews.ie
2 days ago
- Sport
- BreakingNews.ie
Sunderland beat West Ham on return to Premier League
Sunderland marked their return to the Premier League in style with a 3-0 win over West Ham at the Stadium of Light. Following an eight-year absence from the top flight, the Black Cats withstood some promising attacks spearheaded by Hammers captain Jarrod Bowen in the first half and after the break it was their Championship play-off heroes who proved to be the difference. Advertisement They went ahead through Eliezer Mayenda's header and Dan Ballard soon extended the advantage, nodding home into the same spot as his last-gasp winner against Coventry in the play-off semi-finals. Substitute Wilson Isidor struck in added time to wrap up three points in Sunderland's first Premier League appearance since May 2017. Sunderland have made 11 signings so far this window and seven of those new arrivals were handed their first starts, with Trai Hume, Ballard and Mayenda the sole survivors from the starting XI who beat Sheffield United in the Championship play-off final. There were two new signings making their West Ham debuts as El Hadji Malick Diouf and goalkeeper Mads Hermansen both started and new signing Callum Wilson made the bench. Advertisement Bowen threatened in the early stages, weaving through the home defence and forced a low stop from Robin Roefs at his near post before Hermansen denied Habib Diarra at the other end. The visitors began to grow in confidence, with Bowen causing particular problems and the Hammers skipper was at the heart of a brilliant chance, beginning a move which saw Diouf blast a first-time effort on goal, but Ballard made a superb block. As half-time approached, Sunderland won a series of corners, where Hermansen made a comfortable collection from Ballard's header. The hosts had an early opportunity in the second half when Mayenda managed to keep the ball in and cut a pass back into Simon Adingra, but he sliced his effort wide. Advertisement Regis Le Bris made an enforced change as Jenson Seelt was taken off with an injury while challenging for the ball and Omar Alderete – who joined the club on Tuesday – came on for his debut. Diarra continued to impress for the hosts, winning a corner following a good break down the right before blasting an effort over the bar. Mayenda then found the breakthrough for Sunderland in the 61st minute when Alderete fired a looping cross into the box and the striker jumped high to nod into the bottom corner. West Ham made a double substitution as Tomas Soucek and former Newcastle striker Wilson were introduced, but the hosts extended their lead in the 73rd minute. Advertisement Adingra picked out Ballard on the left side of the box and the centre-half fired a header into the bottom corner. The Hammers looked to strike in the final stages, but Bowen's flicked header from a corner was blocked and Soucek's tame effort was held by Roefs. The Sunderland goalkeeper made a great stop to tip Wilson's deflected header from a free-kick over the bar in the 88th minute. Isidor then capped off an impressive afternoon for Sunderland two minutes into added time after cutting in from the left and rolling a cool finish into the corner. Advertisement
