Team news

Sunderland preview
Sunderland striker Darren Bent is facing a race to be fit for the Barclays Premier League visit of West Ham as he battles to overcome a knee problem.

The forward missed Tuesday's Carling Cup penalty shoot-out defeat to Aston Villa but is rated as better than 50-50 for the Hammers clash after returning to training on Thursday.

Fellow striker Fraizer Campbell is a doubt after suffering a knock against Villa, while Phil Bardsley (shoulder) and George McCartney (hip) are also touch-and-go.

Midfielder Bolo Zenden and centre-back John Mensah are ruled out. Lee Cattermole is a long-term absentee with knee ligament damage.

Steve Bruce wants the Sunderland supporters to ensure the Stadium of Light remains a "fortress" as they attempt to maintain their impressive home form - but insists beach balls are an optional extra.

The Black Cats are aiming for their fifth consecutive home win against the Hammers.

Bruce's side have lost just once in the league at the Stadium of Light - a 3-1 defeat by Chelsea in their first home game - and since then have produced an impressive string of results, culminating in the recent well-deserved 1-0 victory over Liverpool in which Bent's winning goal deflected off a Reds beach ball.

Last weekend's loss at Birmingham baffled Bruce but the Sunderland boss admits he has been delighted with his side's performances on home turf.

He said: "Our home form has been good apart from Chelsea and in my mind we didn't lose to Villa, so effectively Chelsea are the only team that have come here and beaten us going into November.

"That's a far healthier start than it was last year so we must keep that home form going. The crowd can play their part."

Bruce, who took over from Ricky Sbragia in the summer after the Black Cats narrowly escaped relegation, added: "We had to change the home form because last year it was appalling, we didn't win anywhere near enough games and that's why you struggle.

"So it was important that the Stadium of Light became a bit of a fortress, if you like.

"It's a good return so far and I hope the next five or six are going to be exactly the same.

"If they want to bring beach balls, as long as they bring their voices and their rattles (as well) then fantastic!"

West Ham preview
West Ham will be without Scott Parker for the clash.

The midfielder was sent off towards the end of last Sunday's 2-2 draw with Arsenal and serves a one-match ban, so Czech midfielder Radoslav Kovac comes in.

Kieron Dyer has suffered another setback and faces three weeks out with a hamstring problem picked up in training.

Italian striker Alessandro Diamanti is pushing to start following his game-turning performance as a substitute against the Gunners.

West Ham are currently second from bottom in the Premier League table but Gianfranco Zola insists the club's financial woes are not to blame for their problems on the pitch - but he is not surprised to see two other clubs with money trouble keeping them company in the drop zone.

The Hammers are still desperately looking for a buyer, while basement boys Portsmouth have been hit with a transfer embargo over their debts and 18th-placed Hull's cash troubles have also come to light this week.

"I don't know if it is a coincidence," said Upton Park boss Zola.

"As far as I am concerned our financial situation is not affecting our performances. I can't judge for the others.

"Certainly it does not help, but you can do it without. Last year we did it and this year we can do it as well. I don't want to use it as an excuse for any of my players."

The plight of Pompey and the Tigers has taken some of the heat off Zola and West Ham, but the Italian added: "I don't feel pleasure when the spotlight is on other people, or on other people's problems.

"I just focus on myself and even when the spotlight is on us I try to be real - I look at problems without allowing the pressure to get to me." The Hammers are still without a win since the opening day of the campaign, but they showed they may yet be up for the fight this season when they came from 2-0 down at half-time to draw 2-2 with Arsenal last Sunday.

The Stadium of Light brings good memories - the scene of the club's first win in eight attempts at the beginning of Zola's reign last season.

Sunderland vs West Ham

Last modified 22:09 31/10/09

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Ex-Hammer Kieran Richardson rescued an unlikely point for 10-man Sunderland to leave West Ham boss Gianfranco Zola shaking his head in frustration at losing a two-goal lead.

A moment of madness saw striker Kenwyne Jones see red just before the interval to seemingly hand the initiative to Zola’s side.

But the Hammers were pegged back by a tremendous second-half fightback from spirited Sunderland in a game that overflowed with incident, excitement and controversy.

West Ham , who came back to draw from two down against Arsenal in their last league outing, also finished with 10 men after Radoslav Kovac picked up a late red card for two bookings.

An angry Zola said: “We lost control of the game and I can’t tolerate that. I am not anxious about our league position, but I am upset we’ve lost two points when we were in charge.”

Sunderland boss Steve Bruce saluted “a fantastic game”, but was furious with Herita Ilunga’s theatrical reaction to the bad-tempered shove from Jones that earned the Black Cats’ striker an early bath.

Bruce said: “Kenwyne raised his hands and will be dealt with by our disciplinary system.

“But Ilunga needs to look at himself over his reaction and I think the way the West Ham medical staff reacted was a ploy. If any of my kids had reacted like that I would have smacked their backsides.”

The Black Cats responded with a sublime Andy Reid free kick from 22 yards after losing quickfire first-half goals to West Ham strike duo Guillermo Franco and Carlton Cole. But Trinidad & Tobago star Jones stupidly pushed Ilunga in the face seconds before the interval to earn himself a straight red from referee Andre Marriner.

But his foolishness seemed to inspire the depleted home side who came back strongly in the second half.

The Hammers had to thank England goalkeeper Robert Green for brilliant from Darren Bent, Michael Turner and Paulo Da Silva.

Green managed to tip Da Silva’s header on to the bar seconds after Lorik Cana had also struck woodwork with a header from a Reid corner.

Mexican Franco slotted home Jack Collison’s low cross to finish an incisive move in the 30th minute for his first goal for West Ham.

Six minutes later Wales midfielder Collison’s

slide-rule pass allowed Cole to evade Nyron Nosworthy and slot the ball past Craig Gordon.

But Sunderland roared back with Reid brilliantly curling a free-kick into Green’s top left hand corner.

And the battling Black Cats, who had won their previous four home league games, were well worth Richardson’s equaliser.

The ex-West Ham youth player bundled the ball home from close range after Bent’s cross hit Matthew Upson and looped over Green.