Sunderland beat West Ham on return to Premier League

Sunderland marked their return to the Premier League in style with a 3-0 win over West Ham at the Stadium of Light.

Following an eight-year absence from the top flight, the Black Cats withstood some promising attacks spearheaded by Hammers captain Jarrod Bowen in the first half and after the break it was their Championship play-off heroes who proved to be the difference.

They went ahead through Eliezer Mayenda’s header and Dan Ballard soon extended the advantage, nodding home into the same spot as his last-gasp winner against Coventry in the play-off semi-finals.

Substitute Wilson Isidor struck in added time to wrap up three points in Sunderland’s first Premier League appearance since May 2017.

Sunderland have made 11 signings so far this window and seven of those new arrivals were handed their first starts, with Trai Hume, Ballard and Mayenda the sole survivors from the starting XI who beat Sheffield United in the Championship play-off final.

There were two new signings making their West Ham debuts as El Hadji Malick Diouf and goalkeeper Mads Hermansen both started and new signing Callum Wilson made the bench.

Bowen threatened in the early stages, weaving through the home defence and forced a low stop from Robin Roefs at his near post before Hermansen denied Habib Diarra at the other end.

The visitors began to grow in confidence, with Bowen causing particular problems and the Hammers skipper was at the heart of a brilliant chance, beginning a move which saw Diouf blast a first-time effort on goal, but Ballard made a superb block.

As half-time approached, Sunderland won a series of corners, where Hermansen made a comfortable collection from Ballard’s header.

The hosts had an early opportunity in the second half when