2009

In October 2009, Sunderland aimed to extend their impressive home winning streak against 19th-placed West Ham, a team seemingly ripe for the taking. But what unfolded at the Stadium of Light was far from expected. West Ham took an early lead, capitalizing on a dominant first-half performance with goals from Guillermo Franco and Carlton Cole, leaving Sunderland stunned and the home crowd in disbelief. Yet, a stunning free-kick from Andy Reid reignited hope just before halftime, and despite being down to ten men after Kenwyne Jones’ controversial red card, Sunderland fought back valiantly. Kieran Richardson’s late equalizer epitomized the grit and resilience of Steve Bruce’s team, who ultimately turned a challenging situation into a hard-earned draw.