West Ham United grabbed a vital 3-1 victory over Sunderland AFC at the London Stadium on January 24, 2026. Goals from Crysencio Summerville, Jarrod Bowen, and Mateus Fernandes drove their Premier League relegation battle forward. This win gave Nuno Espírito Santo’s side a crucial lift. They were seven points from safety less than two weeks prior. The Hammers now sit on 20 points after 23 matches, improving their record to 5 wins, 5 draws, and 13 losses. ESPN reported the decisive outcome.
First Half Blitz Shakes Sunderland
The match kicked off with West Ham under intense pressure, languishing near the relegation zone. Sunderland, in contrast, held a comfortable mid-table position. But the home side started strong. Just 90 seconds in, Sunderland’s Noah Sadiki forced a smart save from Alphonse Areola. That was a warning shot.
West Ham found their rhythm quickly. The 14th minute saw Jarrod Bowen beat Reinildo Mandava down the right wing. He sent in a cross for Crysencio Summerville. Summerville headed it home. It made it 1-0. Summerville, laughing afterward, told TNT Sports, “I was surprised with myself, this was my first header!” Then, in the 28th minute, Ollie Scarles drew a penalty from Trai Hume. Bowen stepped up and converted coolly, his first goal of 2026, for 2-0. The Guardian’s live coverage captured the early dominance.
The Hammers weren’t done. Just before halftime, a Taty Castellanos shot was blocked. The rebound fell to Mateus Fernandes, about 30 yards out. The former Southampton midfielder curled a superb strike into the top corner in the 43rd minute. “I need to shoot more, as I always score in training. I was lucky a little bit,” Fernandes remarked later. West Ham led 3-0 at the break, looking unstoppable. Sunderland, missing injured captain Granit Xhaka, looked shell-shocked.
Survival Scramble Continues Despite Late Goal
The second half began with Sunderland attempting to find a foothold. Manager Regis le Bris made triple substitutions at halftime, aiming to spark a comeback. But West Ham still had control, even though their fans weren’t entirely comfortable at 3-0, remembering past collapses.
However, the clean sheet Nuno Espírito Santo craved wouldn’t materialize. In the 66th minute, Brian Brobbey headed in Nordi Mukiele’s cross, making it 3-1. It denied Nuno his first clean sheet since taking over in September 2025. His team had conceded in 17 previous games since his appointment. That’s a poor defensive record, BBC Sport noted. West Ham’s goalkeeper Areola wouldn’t get that late January clean sheet.
Late drama saw Luke O’Nien hit the woodwork for Sunderland. And Granit Xhaka, still injured and on the bench, had a heated exchange with West Ham fans. Souček even had a fourth goal for West Ham disallowed after a scramble. Mateus Fernandes was named player of the match, a fitting reward for his wonder strike and overall performance. Bowen and Summerville also played great. It was a solid display from the Hammers.
Relegation Landscape Shifts for Hammers
This 3-1 victory gives West Ham some much needed breathing room in the Premier League. Their 20 points from 23 games puts them above Wolves (8 points) and Burnley (14 points). Nottingham Forest, on 22 points, is just two points ahead in 17th. So, West Ham is now within striking distance of safety. They were 18th going into this game.
Sunderland, despite the loss, remains in a solid mid-table spot on 33 points. They sit tied with Brentford and Newcastle United. Their away form, though, has been a concern this season. This result will temper their good return to the top flight. But they’re still well clear of any relegation worries.
Nuno’s side needed this win. They’re “in a good flow” now, Summerville said post-match. The goals from Summerville, Bowen, and that incredible strike from Fernandes have injected new life into their fight. It sets them up for momentum heading into upcoming fixtures. The battle to avoid the drop is far from over, but West Ham took a big step today. They’ll need to build on this now.
Priyanjan Paul 
Ishaan Singh