ONE MISJUDGMENT. ONE TURNING POINT. WEST HAM TAKE FULL ADVANTAGE
The hosts set the tone early and made their dominance count, with first-half goals from Crysencio Summerville and Jarrod Bowen putting Sunderland on the back foot. Mateus Fernandes added a third to effectively seal the contest before the break. Sunderland did show some fight after the restart, and Brian Brobbey pulled one back with a well-taken header in the second half, but it was ultimately little more than a consolation as Nuno Espírito Santo’s side comfortably claimed all three points.
Below is a closer look at how Sunderland’s players performed on a difficult day in east London.
GK – Robin Roefs
Roefs endured a busy afternoon but can feel unfortunate to have conceded three times. None of the goals were the result of glaring goalkeeping errors, and he even managed to get a hand to West Ham’s third effort, though it wasn’t enough to prevent it crossing the line. He also read Jarrod Bowen’s penalty correctly, diving the right way, but the strike was placed with too much power and precision to keep out. Overall, a mixed outing, but far from Sunderland’s biggest problem.
RB – Nordi Mukiele
Mukiele struggled badly in the opening exchanges. He was beaten in the air by Summerville for West Ham’s opener and looked uncomfortable defensively throughout the first half as the hosts repeatedly targeted his side. To his credit, he improved after the interval, offering more going forward and eventually registering an assist with a well-timed overlapping run that ended in Brobbey’s headed goal. However, his frustration was evident, and he cut an increasingly exasperated figure before being withdrawn late on.
CB – Dan Ballard
One of the few Sunderland players to emerge with real credit. Ballard battled tirelessly against a lively West Ham attack, making several important blocks, clearances, and last-ditch interventions. While the scoreline reflects poorly on the defence as a whole, Ballard’s individual effort and commitment stood out on an otherwise disappointing afternoon.
CB – Omar Alderete
A rare off-day for Alderete, who struggled to impose himself both with and without the ball. His distribution was sloppy at times, allowing West Ham to regain possession cheaply, and he failed to dominate his duels in the way Sunderland have come to expect. Positionally, he looked uncertain, particularly during the phases where West Ham applied sustained pressure.
Worst-Rated Sunderland Player: 
Omar Alderete
Alderete was arguably Sunderland’s weakest performer on the day. As a central defender, his inability to control his area and win key physical battles had a knock-on effect on the entire back line. He appeared hesitant in possession, often opting for rushed or misplaced passes that invited further pressure. Defensively, he was caught flat-footed on multiple occasions and lacked the authority needed to marshal the defence during West Ham’s dominant spells.
On a day when leadership at the back was desperately required, Alderete fell short of his usual standards, making this one of his most difficult outings in a Sunderland shirt this season.
