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Valon Behrami’s first goal for West Ham was enough to give them a much-needed victory over a below-par Sunderland.

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Behrami’s shot took a deflection off Sunderland striker Kenwyne Jones to beat stranded keeper Marton Fulop.

Sunderland had penalty appeals turned down when both Jones and Djibril Cisse went down in the area.

Behrami should have added a second but hit the bar from five yards out, while Sunderland striker Cisse was guilty of missing a number of chances.

The Hammers’ reward for a battling defensive performance was a first victory in eight games to ease some of the pressure on manager Gianfranco Zola.

Sunderland suffered a fourth home defeat of the Premier League season – and a third in a row – on a thoroughly frustrating afternoon for their fans and manager Roy Keane.

LAST SEASON’S CORRESPONDING GAME

Sunderland 2-1 West Ham United
29 March 2008 – Ref: Andre Marriner
Sunderland scorers: Jones 29, Reid 90
West Ham scorer: Ljungberg 18