In October 2009, Sunderland, under Steve Bruce, looked to extend their impressive home winning streak with a fifth consecutive victory. Facing 19th-placed West Ham at the Stadium of Light seemed like the ideal opportunity to maintain this form. However, the match quickly turned into a more challenging battle than anticipated. Gianfranco Zola’s West Ham put on an impressive first-half display, showcasing grit and skill as they surged to a 2-0 lead. Sunderland’s goalkeeper, Craig Gordon, worked tirelessly to prevent further damage, making several critical saves that kept Sunderland within reach.
The match initially seemed promising for Sunderland as Darren Bent narrowly missed a header off Steed Malbranque’s cross. But West Ham soon took control, with midfielder James Collison standing out. Just before the half-hour mark, Collison broke Sunderland’s offside trap down the right and delivered a perfect cross for Guillermo Franco to tap in the game’s first goal. Minutes later, Collison continued to drive West Ham forward, setting up Carlton Cole to double their lead with a composed finish. The home crowd, stunned by the 0-2 scoreline against a lowly-ranked opponent, erupted in boos, reflecting their frustration.
Sunderland managed to respond swiftly. Shortly after West Ham’s second goal, Malbranque won a free kick on the edge of the box. Andy Reid, known for his precision, stepped up and, after a long wait, curled a perfect shot over the wall into the top left corner, lifting the crowd’s spirits. Unfortunately, Sunderland’s hopes took a hit as Kenwyne Jones received a red card for pushing West Ham’s Ilunga, whose theatrical fall raised questions among fans. Down to ten men, Sunderland faced an uphill battle heading into halftime.
Despite the setback, Sunderland’s second-half display was remarkable. Bruce’s men, now in a 4-4-1 formation, took control and put relentless pressure on West Ham, who now looked like the side with a player disadvantage. Sunderland’s Michael Turner saw his header superbly saved by West Ham’s Robert Green, and Bent missed a promising chance moments later. The crossbar also denied them twice, first with a header from Lorik Cana, followed by Paulo da Silva’s attempt.
Finally, with ten minutes remaining, Sunderland found their equalizer. Kieran Richardson’s determined run into the box allowed him to connect with a deflected cross from Bent, rewarding Sunderland for their spirited second-half performance. Late in the game, West Ham’s own lapse in discipline saw them reduced to ten men following a late challenge on Bent, leveling the playing field once more.
After the match, Steve Bruce expressed his contentment with the hard-fought draw. Despite the setbacks and controversial moments, particularly Jones’ dismissal, Sunderland’s comeback displayed the resilience and tenacity Bruce admired in his squad.
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