West Ham boost survival hopes

January 24, 2026 / 9:55 PM

Sharjah 24 – AFP: West Ham strengthened their push for Premier League safety with a convincing 3–1 victory over Sunderland on Saturday in Matchday 23, marking their second straight win and moving them two points closer to safety.

First-half dominance seals win

The hosts put the game beyond doubt before halftime. Dutchman Cristian Summerville opened the scoring in the 14th minute, Jarrod Bowen doubled the lead from the penalty spot in the 28th, and Matheus Fernandes added a fine long-range effort just before the break in the 43rd minute.

Sunderland’s late response

Sunderland pulled one back through Dutch striker Brian Brobbey in the 66th minute, but the visitors struggled overall, particularly in the absence of Swiss midfielder Granit Xhaka, who missed his first match of the season.

Turning point for West Ham

Nuno Espírito Santo’s side had looked in serious trouble earlier this month, sitting seven points behind 17th-placed Nottingham Forest. However, a dramatic late win over Tottenham last week appears to have sparked a revival, with West Ham now building momentum at a crucial stage of the season.