East End kids put boot into Sunderland

Homegrown youngsters Junior Stanislas and James Tomkins hit the net as West Ham left Sunderland just one place and three points clear of the drop zone with a 2-0 win at Upton Park.

Stanislas, only 19 and making his first start for the club, broke the deadlock just before half-time and Tomkins, a year older, sealed the points just after the interval.

Injuries to Carlton Cole and Scott Parker had given the youthful duo their chance and they responded in a way that suggests West Ham’s famous academy still has the knack of turning out top quality talent.

Before the goals however, Gianfranco Zola’s side had reason to be grateful to goalkeeper Robert Green, who came off his line to deny Grant Leadbitter after the midfielder had been sent clear by Djibril’s Cisse’s flick.

But with West Ham looking the sharper of the two sides, it was no surprise that they took the lead two minutes before half-time after a slick counter-attack.

David di Michele released Luis Boa Morte and the Portuguese winger’s cross was tapped in by Stanislas for his first goal for West Ham.

Green had to get down smartly to keep out Phil Bardsley’s drive in the first significant action of the second half but the visitors were soon to find themselves trailing by two goals.

A strike from Diego Tristan won the Hammers a corner and Mark Noble’s delivery was headed in by Tomkins for what was also his first senior goal for the club.

Sunderland huffed and puffed but a lack of real quality in the final third meant they rarely threatened to force their way back into the contest and the home side might easily have added to their score but for a string of saves from the visiting goalkeeper, Craig Gordon.