Hammers mauled by Black Cats

Sunderland 3 West Ham 0

It's always dangerous listening to games ion the radio at home as we inevitably lose. It's a case of meet the new midfield, same as the old midfield. Potter opts for Rodriguez, a player the club is trying to offload, Ward-Prowse and Paqueta in front of the five-man defence when surely Soucek or Alvarez would be better for a game against a feisty newly-promoted side. Hermansen gets the nod in goal ahead of Areola.

Early on Bowen does well to fire a shot against keeper Roefs' legs and the speedy Diarra has an effort well-saved by Hermansen. The full-backs don't really get forward much apart from Fullkrug setting up a fine goalbound effort from Diouf, which is saved by a block from Ballard.

You expect West Ham to step it up after the break but it's Sunderland who take the lead. It's a fairly simple cross that sees Mayenda get in front of Aguerd to loop his header into the corner. That gives the home crowd a big boost. It's two when the towering Ballard meets another cross by out-jumping Paqueta. We've spent £110 million on our three central defenders and shouldn't be conceding headers like these.

Potter acts too late, bringing on Wilson and Soucek before finally abandoning the five-man defence by taking off Todibo for Andy Irvine in the final ten minutes. The Portobello Pirlo does put in a decent free kick that flicks of a Sunderland defender and has to be tipped over by Roefs.

With the Hammers forced to press Sunderland get a third in added time from a West Ham corner. Isidor breaks at speed, Diouf doesn't get in a challenge and it's three. Got to feel sorry for Big Joe was is at the match reading his copy of Granta among the Makems. To make it worse Kudus has made two goals for Spurs. Still, as my pal Matt suggests, it could be a masterclass from Potter designed to convince Sullivan to spend big on a new midfield.

Are we in for a relegation struggle? West Ham shouldn't be getting walloped by a newly-promoted side full of new players. A big big improvement is required against Chelsea.