SUNDERLAND manager Peter Reid held up his hands after scraping a win and admitted: "It wasn't pretty but the result was more important than the performance."

Now the Wearside boss must be hoping that the badly-needed three points will give his side a boost as they prepare for the visit of much sterner opposition in the shape of Chelsea - 3-0 conquerers of Manchester United at Old Trafford - to the Stadium of Light on Sunday.

It was Sunderland's second successive home victory, but certainly nothing like the accomplished performance which led to the well-deserved demolition of Championship contenders Leeds United last month.

This was a complete contrast - a dour, lacklustre first-half encounter between two mediocre Premiership teams which picked up after the break and, from Sunderland's point of view, was salvaged by the contribution of arguably their two best players, goalkeeper Thomas Sorensen and leading scorer Kevin Phillips. In the first half neither goal was threatened because the players rarely produced the ability to pass the ball to their colleagues.

But the half-time tea must have reached the right places as West Ham suddenly launched an all-out assault which might well have flattened their opponents but for the prowess of Sorensen.

The Danish giant, recently awarded the North-East Player of the Year award, can now have few peers in the Premiership after sterling performances for club and country.

Certainly not many keepers would have managed to stop the 47th minute pile-driver from England midfielder Joe Cole - but there was even more breathtaking stuff to follow.

The 47,437 fans had barely ceased to marvel at the save when West Ham cut through the home defence again - and this time Sorensen responded with a brilliant save from striker Jermaine Defoe before managing to turn a vicious 20-yard follow-up from Tynesider Michael Carrick up against the crossbar.

The double dose of heroics seemed to shake Sunderland out of their slumbers and, at long last, they started to string more than a couple of passes together, particularly want-away midfielder Gavin McCann, who looked far more purposeful.

Earlier, the Sunderland fans had little to command their attention other than the efforts of former favourite Don Hutchison, who was booed every time he touched the ball.

It did not seem to knock the Scottish international out of his stride, however, and he was as good, if not better than, anyone else on the park when it came to directing a simple pass.

Indeed West Ham still looked more likely to score, with young Defoe a particular danger, and it wasn't until the last 15 minutes that Sunderland finally gave their fans something to cheer.

French international striker Lilian Laslandes, who came on as substitute for Niall Quinn, steered a header goalwards for David James to save at the foot of the post. But the England keeper was fortunate in the 80th minute when Phillips, quick as a flash, forced in a shot which Tomas Repka managed to clear off the line. But Phillips wasn't finished, as West Ham were to discover to their cost.

The inconsistent Julio Arca won back possession from Trevor Sinclair on the left in the 85th minute and while James wondered exactly what to do Phillips was first to the centre, firing home his eighth goal of the season.

It was a typical Phillips goal - something from virtually nothing and the type of finish which could yet earn him a place in England's World Cup squad. But while it earned Sunderland three points, it could not cover over the cracks in a team which has rarely produced its best form this season.

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