Sunderland glimpsed the top of the Premier League yesterday but did not quite manage to plant the flag of Wearside at the summit. Having led West Ham for more than an hour with 10 men they were denied victory by a late goal from Trevor Sinclair.
It is 46 years since a Sunderland team led the league at any time of the season apart from the opening week. When Everton drew level with Leeds at 4-4 yesterday Peter Reid's side began to inhale the rarefied air of first place but the feeling lasted barely a minute.
Sinclair spared West Ham their fourth league defeat in five matches, leaving Sunderland the consolation of going third above Manchester United. Even so Sunderland were entitled to take a greater degree of satisfaction from the result after losing Steve Bould, their most experienced defender, to a red card in the 20th minute.
The former Arsenal centre-back was dismissed after an incident with Paolo Wanchope which left the Costa Rican striker in a heap and holding his face. In the event Bould's departure brought out the best of Sunderland's collective spirit and the ability to work for one another. Within four minutes they had taken the lead and for the next 64 they held it through the tenacity of their midfield, the composure of their reorganised defence and, not least, the excellent goal-keeping of Thomas Sorensen.
Their goal followed a long free-kick from Nicky Summerbee which found Niall Quinn near the left-hand by-line. Quinn centred quickly and Phillips, who spent much of the game in the shadow of Rio Ferdinand, popped up unmarked to head his 13th goal of the season past Shaka Hislop.
After that life became increasingly frustrating for West Ham. Three minutes before Bould's dismissal an intended centre from Marc Keller evaded Sorensen and rebounded from a post, and it took the home side a long time to re-arouse their supporters' optimism.
When they did penetrate Sunderland's cover either Sorensen's saves or wayward finishing denied them an earlier goal. The longer the second half progressed, however, the deeper Reid's team were forced to defend.
With a dozen minutes remaining what appeared to be the game's defining moment suggested that Sunderland would hold their narrow lead. Sinclair crossed from the right but Di Canio's header beat Sorensen only to rebound from the far post.
As Sorensen kept out Cole and Sinclair in rapid succession West Ham's day seemed done. But then Sinclair, having passed and darted forward, found himself the recipient of Di Canio's lob over the defence. Sorensen advanced a fraction too late to stop Sinclair slipping a low shot past him and Sunderland finished still looking up at Leeds and Arsenal.
Harry Redknapp accused Steve Bould of head-butting Paulo Wanchope. Sunderland defender Bould was sent off after 19 minutes following the unsavoury incident, which was missed by referee Mark Halsey but spotted by his assistant Colin Webster.
Costa Rican striker Wanchope went down clutching his face on the edge of the Sunderland box, and Bould was shown the red card.
There was a suggestion that Wanchope spat at Paul Butler, and Bould had over-reacted by dishing out an elbow. But Hammers boss Redknapp denied any knowledge of it.
"I'm told Bould used his head," Redknapp said.
West Ham United: Hislop, Stimac (Ruddock 56), Ferdinand, Margas, Sinclair, Lomas (Moncur 73), Lampard, Cole, Keller, Wanchope (Kitson 63), Di Canio. Subs Not Used: Foe, Forrest. Booked: Ferdinand, Lomas, Sinclair, Ruddock. Goals: Sinclair 89.
Sunderland: Sorensen, Makin, Bould, Butler, Gray (Williams 22), Summerbee, Rae (Roy 68), McCann, Schwarz, Phillips, Quinn (Dichio 73). Subs Not Used: Marriott, Reddy. Sent Off: Bould (19). Booked: McCann, Makin. Goals: Phillips 24.
Referee: M Halsey (Welwyn Garden City).
