West Ham Stun Sunderland With Fernandes Masterclass

The London Stadium was alive with hope and thunderous applause on January 24, 2026, as West Ham United delivered a resounding 3-1 victory over Sunderland in the Premier League. For a club that had been mired in relegation fears just two weeks prior, this third consecutive win in all competitions has injected a much-needed dose of optimism into East London. The Hammers, under the stewardship of Nuno Espirito Santo, put on a display brimming with energy, tactical intelligence, and individual brilliance, particularly from their young midfield maestro, Mateus Fernandes.

After a turbulent start to the year, including a demoralizing defeat to Nottingham Forest, West Ham fans might have resigned themselves to the drop. But recent results, including a dramatic away win at Tottenham Hotspur, have transformed the mood around the club. The clash with Sunderland was billed as a crucial test, and West Ham answered with style and determination.

The action began with a bang. West Ham, lining up in a classic 4-4-2 formation with Pablo Felipe and Taty Castellanos spearheading the attack, pressed Sunderland from the outset. The visitors, missing their influential midfielder Granit Xhaka due to an ankle injury sustained against Crystal Palace, struggled to assert control. Sunderland manager Régis Le Bris admitted after the match that his side "did not compete well enough," and it showed as West Ham’s wingers wreaked havoc on the flanks.

It was Crysencio Summerville who opened the scoring in the 14th minute. The Dutch winger, in a rich vein of form with his third goal in as many games, headed home a pinpoint cross from Jarrod Bowen. Summerville’s leap and timing evoked memories of Andy Carroll, and the London Stadium erupted as the Hammers seized the early initiative. Sunderland, who had started brightly, were suddenly on the back foot.

Bowen, who has now surpassed Michail Antonio’s club record of 101 Premier League goal involvements, was irrepressible on the right. In the 27th minute, he doubled West Ham’s lead from the penalty spot after Ollie Scarles was tripped in the box by Trai Hume. Bowen’s calm finish sent Robin Roefs the wrong way and put the Hammers firmly in control.

The first half was a nightmare for Sunderland, who were overrun in midfield and lacked creativity without Xhaka. Despite enjoying 53% possession, the Black Cats managed only two shots on target and a paltry 13 touches in West Ham’s penalty area compared to the hosts’ 25. Their passing metrics slumped, and the absence of their Swiss talisman was painfully evident.

Just before the interval, Mateus Fernandes delivered a moment of magic that left West Ham fans in dreamland. Picking up a loose clearance, the Portuguese youth international unleashed a curling shot from 25 yards that nestled just inside Roefs’ near post. The goal, worth just 0.02 expected goals (xG), was lauded as a “goal from the Gods” by many observers. Fernandes’ performance was about much more than his stunning strike: he completed 42 passes at an 89% success rate, made five tackles, delivered ten passes into the final third, recovered the ball four times, and won all seven of his ground duels. As one report put it, “with Fernandes in this form, West Ham won’t miss Lucas Paquetá.”

Indeed, Paquetá’s absence—due to a sore back and ongoing transfer negotiations with Flamengo—did little to blunt West Ham’s edge. Nuno Espirito Santo named an unchanged side from the win at Spurs, and the team’s cohesion was evident throughout. The coach was quick to praise his players’ mentality, stating, “The way we started was really accurate. It helps the confidence. Second half was an improvement in terms of managing the game. Sunderland scored but the boys stayed calm.”

Sunderland’s misery was compounded by a heated exchange between Xhaka, sitting behind the away bench, and some West Ham supporters during the second half. The Swiss midfielder’s combative spirit was missed on the pitch and only added to the visitors’ woes off it. Sunderland made three changes at the break, including the withdrawal of captain Trai Hume, but struggled to find a foothold against West Ham’s relentless press.

The Black Cats did manage a consolation goal in the 66th minute when substitute Habib Diarra’s surging run set up Nordi Mukiele, whose cross was met by Brian Brobbey’s powerful header. Briefly, hope flickered for Sunderland, but West Ham’s defense held firm, and the home fans, who had been on edge, found themselves enjoying a rare sense of comfort as the final whistle approached.

West Ham’s victory was their third home win in the league this season and moved them to within two points of 17th-placed Nottingham Forest, who were set to play Brentford the following day. The Hammers, however, remain in the relegation zone and face a daunting run-in, with only three of their remaining seven home games against teams in the bottom half of the table. Nuno, ever the pragmatist, cautioned against complacency: “It changes everything. Everything is easier, better. Let’s try to keep this energy and momentum. We cannot stop believing.”

Sunderland, meanwhile, missed a golden opportunity to reach the 36-point mark—a tally that’s historically been enough for Premier League survival. Their next fixtures, hosting Burnley and then traveling to league leaders Arsenal, will test their resilience, especially if Xhaka’s absence continues to be felt.

Off the pitch, West Ham are working to “rebalance” their squad before the transfer window closes. A deal has been agreed for midfielder Guido Rodríguez to join Valencia, and James Ward-Prowse was included in the matchday squad for the first time under Nuno. The club is also close to signing Fulham winger Adama Traoré, adding further depth to their attacking options.

As the dust settles on a memorable afternoon at the London Stadium, West Ham fans can dare to dream once again. The mountain remains steep, but with performances like this—full of verve, skill, and belief—the Hammers have given themselves a fighting chance. The Premier League survival race is far from over, but for now, hope springs eternal in East London.