Sunderland 2 West Ham 2

THE ROLES were reversed for West Ham this week as they were guilty of letting a two-goal lead slip to come away with a draw from Sunderland.

Just last week the Hammers had overturned a 2-0 deficit against Arsenal at Upton Park to earn a valuable point.

But Gianfranco Zola's men were forced to settle for a point that leaves them joint-bottom of the Premier League on seven points after Portsmouth thumped Wigan at Fratton Park, following a dramatic game at the Stadium of Light that witnessed four goals and two sending offs.

Jack Collison set up Guillermo Franco for his first goal for the club in the first half, and the midfielder laid on Carlton Cole for his sixth of the season as the visitors took control of the game.

But the Black Cats hit back immediately with a stunning Andy Reid free-kick.

The hosts were reduced to ten men at the end of the first half when Kenwyne Jones was shown a straight red card for pushing Herita Ilunga.

All looked rosy for West Ham at the interval, but Sunderland came out fighting and would have levelled but for a brilliant Robert Green save from Michael Turner's powerful header.

Darren Bent then spurned a great chance, firing over the bar after getting the better James Tomkins.

The pressure finally told with 10 minutes to play when Bent's centre found Kieran Richardson, who side-footed home.

The final minutes of the game were played ten versus ten after Radoslav Kovac was sent off for a second bookable offence.