Sunderland 2-2 West Ham: Richardson Leveller Saves Point For Black Cats

Sunderland 2-2 West Ham Line-ups/stats
Premier League results/standings

Ten-man Sunderland came back from 2-0 down to earn a point against West Ham United in a fiery encounter in the north-east.

Both sides saw men sent off as Keiran Richardson's equaliser 15 minutes from time gave Sunderland a deserved draw.

Darren Bent came closest to scoring in the early stages of the game.  Lorik Cana unwittingly blocked the shot of team mate Kenwyne Jones, before his own cross found Bent, who directed his header just wide.

However Sunderland 'keeper Craig Gordon was then called into action twice in quick succession, with the Scotland No.1 denying Mark Noble and Carlton Cole within a minute of each other.

In a scrappy game, West Ham begin to dominate, however it was Bent again who came closest to the opening goal in the 20th minute, this time another header went wide from Andy Reid's cross.

The home side were left to rue that miss as West Ham took a deserved lead on the half hour mark. Jack Collison the creator; Guillermo Franco the man who steered the ball into the middle of the goal from close range.

Paulo Da Silva was causing problems all through the first half with his crossing ability, and Radoslav Kovac had to be alive to clear just four minute later as Sunderland looked to get back on level terms.  However, it wasn't long before it was 2-0.

Jack Collison again was the man to create the goal, and Carlton Cole got himself deep inside the penalty box to steer the ball into the left hand corner.

Sunderland simply had to hit back before half-time, and they did from a sweet free kick in the 39th minute. Andy Reid struck the ball from just outside the box straight into the top right hand corner, and Steve Bruce's men were right back in the game.

Their hopes of getting back level, though, were dealt a major blow in the final minute of the half as Kenwyne Jones saw red for violent conduct after a tangle with Ilunga.

Responsibility fell on the shoulders of Darren Bent to try and salvage at least a point for ten-man Sunderland, but he spurned two early chances at the start of the second period, hitting efforts with his right and left foot, both of which never troubled Green.

Despite being a man down, Sunderland were the ones on the front foot. Reid's set-pieces continued to be the most dangerous aspect of their play, and a series of corners in the 65th minute keep the visitors on the toes but to no avail for the Black Cats.

With 15 minutes left, though, the goal the home side craved finally came their way, with Keiran Richardson getting on the score sheet close in to the left corner of the goal.

Alessandro Diamanti so nearly had West Ham back in front with a snap shot from outside the area, volleying an effort just wide of Gordon's left hand post.

Both sides were level on the score sheet, and with four minutes left they were level on the pitch too, as Kovac received a second yellow card and made his way to the dressing room.

Andrew Southwick, Goal.com