THE FACT both managers fancy their chances of automatic promotion after serving up such unappetising fare, speaks volumes for the class vacuum which exists in the lottery that is the First Division.

If ever there was a game of chance, it is this season's race for a place in the Premiership.

Based on current standings, were Sunderland to win their three games in hand on second-placed West Brom, they would climb four places to third and be only three points behind the Baggies, who are level with leaders Norwich.

The Canaries' 2-1 defeat at mid-table Cardiff on Saturday - only three weeks after Sunderland were crushed 4-0 at Ninian Park - was a further indictment on a division dripping with mediocrity.

Sunderland have yet to lead the pack this term, but after beating an abysmal West Ham side who started the day in third spot, one of the top two places is patently within the Black Cats' reach.

Ahead of tomorrow's home game against another seemingly middling outfit in Stoke, Sunderland moved up two rungs of the ladder to seventh and the fringe of the play-off places.

A year and a day after he was unveiled as successor to Howard Wilkinson, manager Mick McCarthy had reason to be satisfied.

But the down-to-earth Yorkshireman knows that graft rather than craft will make the difference in the final analysis this season.

He admitted: "For two of the top teams in the division, it wasn't pretty - it was two teams desperate for the points.

"I don't think there's one great team in the division. We've had teams here who are similar to us, but West Ham are one of the better sides because they were third before this game.

"It's a big win for us and it's nice to beat one of the teams above us.

"Once we settled down in the second half, I thought we were slightly the better side and earned the win.

"We owed them one anyway. We were considerably the better side for 55 minutes there this season and got done 3-2. I haven't felt as sick about a result as I did that day.

"I went out for dinner and there were 18 West Ham fans at a table singing I'm Forever Blowing Bubbles to me for about 20 minutes - so I'm blowing them this time!''

Hammers boss Alan Pardew can feel the promotion pressure building. "On the agenda, this was always going to be one of our hardest games, but we can't help feeling disappointed that we haven't given a better account of ourselves,'' he said.

"There are some big games left and the pressure is starting to kick in. Norwich have lost at Cardiff, Sunderland are in a good position but have a lot of games to play, and there's a lot more to be seen in this division.

"I think the top two positions are still up for grabs and both these teams are absolutely in contention.

"I'm sure Mick probably feels his side have won without playing well. But you couldn't play well in that stop-start environment - the referee saw every incident as a free-kick and it was frustrating.''

But Pardew was unhappy that Northants official Richard Beeby didn't punish Sunderland right-back Stephen Wright for a wild early challenge on Matthew Etherington which sent the Hammers midfielder to hospital.

Already without striker David Connolly, who pulled out with a shin injury, Pardew said:

"It was a blow losing Matthew. He hasn't fractured anything and we're hoping he'll be back sooner rather than later. I thought it was a high challenge - he took some of the ball, but it was high.

"Matthew is always targeted because he is a real threat. I was surprised the player wasn't booked.''

It was Jeff Whitley who suffered in the immediate aftermath, only three days after his sending-off for a two-footed lunge on Preston's Richard Cresswell.

After Wright had left Etherington in a heap, the ball ran free and Whitley dived into a tackle on Jon Harley to be shown a yellow card.

But Whitley's nightmare week - his dismissal against Preston rules him out of next month's FA Cup semi-final at Old Trafford - ended with a dream first goal for the Black Cats to seal this vital victory.

The midfielder, who had missed a good chance close to half-time when he fired across the face of goal, was rewarded for his dogged determination 15 minutes from time.

Sean Thornton's shot was parried by goalkeeper Stephen Bywater and Whitley raced in to block an attempted goalmouth clearance by Hammers skipper Christian Dailly and force home.

In a game devoid of chances, Sunderland were grateful for the opportunism of striker Kevin Kyle on the hour, when the big Scot swept home his 12th goal of the season after the ball had broken loose from skipper George McCartney's free-kick.

More of that, not to mention the honest endeavour and aggression that characterise the likes of Kyle and Whitley, might yet be enough to see Sunderland to promotion.