West Ham United boosted their Premier League survival hopes with a convincing 3-1 win over Sunderland at the London Stadium, turning the tables on the Black Cats after losing the reverse fixture earlier in the season.

Sunderland started brightly and tested Alphonse Areola inside the opening two minutes, with Noah Sadiki forcing the West Ham goalkeeper into an early save from the edge of the box. However, the hosts soon settled into the contest and struck first in the 14th minute. Jarrod Bowen drove to the byline and delivered a teasing cross, allowing Crysencio Summerville to climb above Nordi Mukiele and power a header into the net.

Both sides wasted chances soon after, as Trai Hume nodded onto the roof of the net at one end before Pablo blazed an effort over at the other. Sunderland threatened again through Dan Ballard’s header, but their afternoon took a further turn for the worse before the half-hour mark. Ollie Scarles tempted Hume into a rash challenge inside the box, and Bowen calmly dispatched the resulting penalty past Robin Roefs, despite the goalkeeper diving the right way.

West Ham were in full control as the London Stadium buzzed with confidence. Taty Castellanos saw a header saved before Summerville had another effort deflected behind. The hosts then capped a dominant first half in style when Mateus Fernandes unleashed a stunning strike into the top corner, with Roefs unable to keep it out despite getting a hand to the ball.

The Hammers maintained their authority after the interval, though Sunderland showed renewed intent following a triple half-time change by Régis Le Bris. Habib Diarra saw a shot blocked by Jean-Clair Todibo, while Castellanos later curled an effort straight at Roefs.

Sunderland eventually found a way back into the contest in the 66th minute, as Mukiele delivered a precise cross that Brian Brobbey headed inside the post. That goal sparked a spell of pressure on West Ham, but the visitors failed to capitalise, with Wilson Isidor volleying over when well placed.

Areola was then called into action to make an excellent save from Luke O’Nien’s cross-cum-shot, preserving West Ham’s two-goal cushion. The result sealed back-to-back Premier League victories for the Hammers, ending a 10-match winless run and moving them to within two points of 17th-placed Nottingham Forest ahead of their clash with Brentford. Sunderland, meanwhile, suffered their second defeat in three league outings.