West Ham United extended their unbeaten run at home to 13 matches with a 1-0 win over Sunderland at Upton Park on Saturday.
Michail Antonio scored what proved to be the winning goal on the half-hour mark after working his way into the penalty area before firing a low shot past Black Cats shot-stopper Vito Mannone.
Jack Rodwell appeared to have put the visitors back on level terms after the half-time interval, only for his goal to be disallowed for a handball in the build-up.
Andy Carroll went close to doubling the Hammers' lead, only for volley to be denied by the woodwork.
In the end however, one goal proved to be enough as West Ham continue their push for a European place.
MATCH OVERVIEW
West Ham United: 1 (Michail Antonio 30')
Sunderland: 0
Upton Park, London (34,946)
TALKING POINTS
West Ham have now kept five clean sheets in their past eight home matches, which is a major factor behind their superb record at Upton Park this season. Hammers winger Antonio also loves playing at the Boleyn, having scored in his past three outings at the venue.
Sunderland missed a golden opportunity to move out of the relegation zone in a fixture where they created enough opportunities to come away from the match with at least a point. The Black Cats remain second from bottom and are one point from safety.
WHAT'S NEXT?
West Ham host Tottenham at Upton Park on Wednesday, while Sunderland welcome Crystal Palace to the Stadium of Light on Tuesday.
TWITTER INSIGHT
Good performance and great to get on the scoresheet again! @whufc_official#WHUFC#COYIpic.twitter.com/gXs9GiWMYP
— Michail Antonio (@Michailantonio) February 27, 2016
Good win and great record at home! Now onto Wednesday... @whufc_official#WHUFC#COYI#WHUSUNpic.twitter.com/4k8hDygXHA
— James Tomkins (@TomkinsOfficial) February 27, 2016
QUOTES CORNER
West Ham boss Slaven Bilic feels his side deserved the victory:
“They had a couple of chances but if we are counting them, we deserved to win the game. I was hoping to score again so we could play more freely but we didn't. We didn't have a great game but we deserved to win and are happy about it."
Sunderland manager Sam Allardyce believes his side should have taken at least a point from the match:
“The bottom line is we haven't scored. Not converting chances is costly and it's a victory lost on chances created. Getting back in the game and getting the draw was at least what we deserved."
STATS SPECIALS
*Thanks to Opta
3 - Michail Antonio has scored in each of his last three games at Upton Park. Glut.
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) February 27, 2016
