Henderson sends West Ham back to bottom

Jordan Henderson pushed West Ham back to the bottom of the Premier League as the Sunderland midfielder’s goal clinched a 1-0 win at the Stadium of Light on Sunday.

The Hammers had moved up into 19th place without playing on Saturday after Wolves’ heavy defeat at Blackburn, but Henderson’s first half winner ensured Avram Grant’s team finished the weekend back where they started.

Henderson’s strike also secured a first win in three matches which lifted Sunderland into seventh place.

Sunderland boss Steve Bruce hailed Henderson but insisted the youngster still has room for improvement with his finishing.

“He’s a wonderful young talent and arguably his best position could be out wide because he’s got a terrific delivery,” he said.

“We all know he’s got a goal in him and hopefully there’s more to come from him.

“The biggest challenge I have is managing Jordan. He’s played solidly for 18 months so you’re always monitoring him.”

Grant remains confident West Ham can stay up and he said: “I think we have a very good squad to stay up. We showed that in our last two games.

“It’s fair to say that we need to improve, but the gap is not too big.”

Grant made three changes to the side which dumped Manchester United out of the League Cup in midweek as Danny Gabbidon, Kieron Dyer and Scott Parker returned, but his established stars were unable to repeat that shock result.

West Ham had a narrow escape when Luis Boa Morte was guilty of a two-footed tackle on Kieran Richardson which could have earned a red card but only brought a booking from referee Martin Atkinson.

Bruce’s men dominated the early stages and Robert Green was called into action for the first time when Darren Bent and Danny Welbeck combined to set up Lee Cattermole, whose drive was well held by the Hammers goalkeeper.

Green was in the right place again to keep out Bent’s dipping effort five minutes later, but there was nothing he could do to keep the home side out as Henderson struck in the 34th minute.

Asamoah Gyan broke into space down the right and pulled the ball square for England midfielder Henderson, who deftly side-footed it past the goalkeeper to open the scoring with his first goal of the season.

It could have been 2-0 within two minutes when Welbeck picked up possession on the left and cut inside before curling in a shot which clipped the top of the crossbar.

The visitors went close early in the second half when Carlton Cole turned on Victor Obinna’s pass as John Mensah slipped and blasted a low left-foot drive just wide of the far post.

Boa Morte was wasteful when Cole’s cross arrived at his feet beyond the far post four minutes later.

But Sunderland rediscovered their rhythm and, after Welbeck’s shot had been blocked by James Tomkins, Richardson tested Green with a powerful long-range strike.

Green had to be at his best to parry Gyan’s driven shot after he surged clear of Matthew Upson.

West Ham’s last chance for a draw came 11 minutes from time when Obinna’s shot through a crowded penalty area clipped the outside of a post.

Welbeck should have made sure of the points when Steed Malbranque’s shot came back off Green, but the midfielder’s side-footed effort was blocked by Tomkins.