Sunderland draw for 10th time after Stuart Downing equalises for West Ham

http://www.theguardian.com/football/2014/dec/13/sunderland-west-ham-premier-league-match-report

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Andy Carroll’s declaration that West Ham United are title contenders was made to look slightly optimistic by the divisional draw specialists. Sunderland have won only two of their 16 Premier League games this season but 10 have ended all square and Sam Allardyce’s players were the latest set of visitors to leave Wearside in a frustrated mood.

Although Gus Poyet’s side could quite easily have ended up winning a surprisingly open game, featuring an extraordinary miss on poor Jozy Altidore’s part, West Ham were the slightly better, infinitely more fluent, side.

If Stewart Downing, apparently re-born in his new “in the hole” role was their outstanding individual, Carroll gave John O’Shea and Wes Brown an exacting work out and, despite failing to score, the former Newcastle United centre-forward was certainly not deterred by receiving a little early discouragement from Lee Cattermole. By accidentally on purpose leaving a foot in on the No9, Cattermole not only ensured his studs caught Carroll just beneath the ankle but earned a loud cheer.

The striker, who has a history of troublesome injuries in that area, grimaced in pain but continued to ask the defence awkward questions. Indeed, when James Tomkins brushed Adam Johnson in the back and the winger tumbled over in the area, the goal came very much against the early run of play.

It seemed the softest of penalties but Jordi Gómez had no complaints about Phil Dowd’s view being obscured and happily sent Adrián the wrong way with a textbook low kick into the bottom corner. “Johnson dived,” Allardyce said. “It was a poor decision.”

Poyet demurred. “That’s a little harsh of Sam,” he said. “I didn’t think it was a penalty but it wasn’t a dive, the defender was bigger and stronger.”

Allardyce – once a Sunderland centre-half – went into incandescent mode, ranting at all the available officials after Gomez’s conversion, but appeared a little happier when Downing equalised. During his Middlesbrough days, Downing enjoyed an extremely successful loan spell here but when Sunderland neglected to close him down he disappointed his former public by unleashing a low, angled, left-foot shot from the edge of the area.

Courtesy of a deflection off Gómez it flew past Costel Pantilimon, punishing Sunderland for a lack of cohesion. Despite this disjointed persona they would still have regained their lead had Altidore not misplaced his shooting boots.

When Sebastian Larsson, quietly impressive throughout, delivered a brilliant right-wing cross, the USA striker was well placed to divert it into the back of the net from around two yards. Despite Larsson’s dispatch falling straight in front of his feet he somehow missed the ball, his agonising failure to extend a boot meaning it bounced harmlessly off his knee.

A collective groan echoed around the stadium and a grateful Carl Jenkinson cleared. Altidore looked close to tears after apparently freezing at the vital moment. Poyet was nonplussed. “I don’t know what happened,” he said afterwards. “Jozy was devastated, I’ve never seen him like this. It was the difference between winning and losing.”

If Downing, who surely deserves a fresh chance with England after glittering at the apex of Allardyce’s diamond, did not deserve to lose, his side’s sluggish start to the second half suggested their current lofty League position may be slightly false.

Although Carroll, who would later volley fractionally wide, chipped a shot on to the roof of the net Sunderland might have won a penalty for handball against Winston Reid before Connor Wickham shot narrowly over the bar.

“The Reid handball was unintentional,” said Allardyce. “Two wrongs don’t make a right.”

Nonetheless, West Ham’s manager seemed happier with a point than Poyet. Fed up with constantly drawing, the Uruguayan looked downcast. “We’re defending well and we’re trying but we should be playing better,” he said. “We need more quality but I knew that six months ago.”