Sunderland 2-2 West Ham: Black Cats Steal a Point Thanks to Darren Randolph Horror Show

Two blunders from West Ham goalkeeper Darren Randolph gifted a point to Sunderland in a thrilling 2-2 draw at the Stadium of Light this Saturday.

Hammers forward Andre Ayew opened the scoring for the visitors in just the fourth minute, but their lead was short lived as Wahbi Khazri equalised for the Black Cats direct from a corner.

Sunderland failed to switch on in the second-half, conceding from a corner within the first minute as James Collins doubled West Ham’s tally.

Another blunder from Darren Randolph saw Sunderland equalise in second-half stoppage time, but in truth David Moyes needed his side to record all three-points to stand any chance of avoiding relegation.

Moyes made four alterations from the side that lost 3-0 to Manchester United last weekend, bringing in Javier Manquillo, John O’Shea, Darron Gibson and Wahbi Khazri for Bryan Oviedo, Lamine Kone, Sebastian Larsson and Jack Rodwell.

Slaven Bilic, meanwhile, made two changes to the West Ham side that beat Sunderland last weekend, replacing the injured Michail Antonio and suspended Mark Noble with Andy Carroll and Edimilson Fernandes.

It was a lightening start at the Stadium of Light with the hosts attacking from the off, but it was West Ham who had the first real chance after a brilliant counter-attacking run by Andre Ayew, who was scythed down by Lee Cattermole on the edge of the box.

?Manuel Lanzini’s drilled free-kick was well saved by Pickford in the Sunderland goal, but it didn’t take long for the Hammers to capitalise on some calamitous defending shortly after to make it 1-0.

Andy Carroll latched onto Sam Bryam’s floated cross before knocking it down for Andre Ayew, who while completely unmarked tapped the ball home from five yards out.

The home side slowly grew back into the game and it took 20 minutes of being behind for them to draw level at 1-1. Wahbi Khazri won a corner for his side with brilliant work down the left, and he went one better by scoring direct from the resulting corner, with a little help from Victor Anichebe who smartly distracted Darren Randolph

Ayew had a chance to double his tally for the afternoon in the 36th minute, only for his strike from five yards to balloon over the cross bar after good link-up play with Andy Carroll.

Half time: Sunderland 1-1 West Ham

Both sides came out in the second-half unchanged, but it was the visitors that looked most likely to threaten from the off.

?Robert Snodgrass intelligently used the blustering wind to whip his corner into the path of Welsh defender James Collins, who flicked the ball into the far corner to make it 2-1 to Slaven Bilic’s side just one minute after the restart.

Didier Ndong had an unbelievable chance to get his side back level after being laid off by Khazri 20 minutes from the end, but his first-time strike went well over the bar when it must have been easier to hit the target.

There was a worrying sight for Sunderland in the 80th minute as right-back Billy Jones had to receive treatment for six minutes before being stretchered off following a heavy collision with West Ham left-back Masuaku.

An absolute howler from West Ham goalkeeper Darren Randolph gifted Sunderland a route back into the game in second-half stoppage time. 

The Irishman flapped at the ball twice and his eventual clearance fell right to substitute Fabio Borini, who smashed the ball into an open net to equalise.

Jones’ injury meant there was 10 minutes of second-half stoppage time and it was Sunderland who looked the most likely to steal all three points.

They were handed a boost when Sam Byram got sent off for West Ham, but they lacked the clinical touch to steal all three points in what was an exhilarating affair on Wearside.

Full time: Sunderland 2-2 West Ham