West Ham United recorded an impressive 3-1 win over Sunderland on Saturday, making it two wins from two to move within two points of Premier League safety.
The Hammers effectively ended the contest at half-time after goals from Crescencio Somerville, Jarrod Bowen and Mateus Fernandes gave them a three-goal lead.
West Ham looked to be in serious trouble after slipping seven points behind 17th-placed Nottingham Forest earlier this month, but last week's stoppage-time winner at Tottenham gave a boost of confidence.
That momentum carried over into Saturday's clash at the London Stadium, where the hosts produced an impressive first half against a weak Sunderland side.
Somerville opened the scoring in the 14th minute, heading in a header from Bowen's lovely cross. Bowen doubled the lead from the penalty spot, calmly slotting into the bottom corner after Troy Hume brought down Oliver Scarles in the box.
The hosts made it 3–0 just before the break when Fernandes collected a loose ball outside the area and fired a powerful long-range strike that left goalkeeper Robin Rofes no chance.
Although Brian Brobby pulled one back with a header midway through the second half, the “Black Cats” rarely threatened a full-scale comeback.
The match ended with a minor flashpoint as the injured Xhaka was reportedly involved in a verbal altercation with a Hammers fan near the visitors' bench.
The result leaves West Ham just two points from safety, while Sunderland, in their first season in the Premier League, sit ninth in the table.
