West Ham Focus Remains Sharp As Fernandes Urges Concentration After Recent Wins

West Ham and Sunderland meet in the Premier League on Saturday in a match with major stakes at both ends of the table. West Ham chase points to escape the relegation zone, while promoted Sunderland aim to stay close to the Champions League places after a strong return to the top flight.

West Ham recently ended a 10-game league run without a win by beating Tottenham 2-1, with Callum Wilson scoring in stoppage time. That followed a 2-1 victory over Queens Park Rangers in the FA Cup third round. Nuno Espirito Santo's side now sit five points behind 17th-placed Nottingham Forest, who face Brentford in MD23.

The back-to-back wins have lifted the mood around West Ham's training ground, but Mateus Fernandes has stressed that the squad cannot relax before

facing Sunderland. Fernandes feels the Spurs performance showed a different mentality when chasing the game, and the midfielder wants that attitude repeated against the in-form visitors at London Stadium.

"Things have been difficult, but this game was different in that when we conceded we were ready to go again and try to go for the win,"said Fernandes after their win over Spurs. "We maybe had a bit of luck, but sometimes you need that in football, and we just need to keep going now. We know we have Sunderland up next, and we know there will be a good feeling going into that. We felt it after the QPR win, because you enjoy everything moreyou go into training happier, you're happier at home, so yeah, this will be a good week. We know that in football things can change very quickly, so we have to stay focused, and we'll do everything we can to be ready for that game and to try to get the points again. "

Sunderland travel south after a 2-1 home win over Crystal Palace, a result that left Regis Le Bris' team ninth, only three points behind the top four. Since that match at the Stadium of Light, Sunderland have strengthened the squad further by signing 20-year-old winger Jocelin Ta Bi from Israeli club Maccabi Netanya.

"He's a young winger with a specific profile,"said Le Bris. "It's rare in this industry to find this explosiveness and skills to dribble and to have this courage and personality in one vs ones. He has this quality. Now we have to build his profile to get ready for the Premier League. You never know [how long it will take him to be ready]. We can't buy a full squad of experienced players like Granit [Xhaka] or Nordi [Mukiele]. We also have to build with young lads and give them opportunities and support them. I hope they will be strong players for us. "

RLB on Jocelin: 'Hes a young winger with a specific profile. Now, we have to get him ready for the Premier League. '

Sunderland AFC (@SunderlandAFC) January 19, 2026

West Ham vs Sunderland Premier League key players and stats

One of West Ham's main threats is Crysencio Summerville, who has ended a long drought. After going 28 matches in all competitions without scoring since October 2024, Summerville has now found the net in two straight games. The winger last scored in three consecutive appearances in February 2024, when playing for Leeds United in the Championship.

For Sunderland, Granit Xhaka remains central to Le Bris' system. This season Xhaka has produced more line-breaking passes leading to goals than any other Premier League player, with eight. Four of those passes have been direct assists by the Switzerland international, also the highest total in the division so far.

History at London Stadium and Upton Park favours West Ham. They have lost just one of their last 12 Premier League home meetings with Sunderland, winning nine and drawing two. The only defeat in that run came in May 2011, when they were beaten 3-0, while the last three home clashes have all finished 1-0 to West Ham.

An 88th minute goal to seal the win over Sunderland in 14/15 pic.twitter.com/vo6G6r1euX

West Ham United (@WestHam) January 21, 2026

West Ham also tend to handle promoted sides well at home. They have lost only one of their last 21 Premier League home games against newly promoted teams, winning 16 and drawing four. That sole defeat came against Brentford in October 2021, and they are currently unbeaten in 12 such fixtures.

Defensive issues remain a concern under Nuno Espirito Santo. West Ham have failed to keep a clean sheet in all 17 Premier League matches since Nuno took charge. Only three managers have begun with longer such runs at one clubBrian Laws with 18 games at Burnley in 2009-10, and both Paul Lambert and Ruud van Nistelrooy with 21 matches, at Norwich and Leicester respectively.

Sunderland chase a league double over West Ham for just the second time, having last achieved that in 2010-11, when West Ham were relegated. The Black Cats also seek back-to-back Premier League victories for only the second time this season, after defeating Wolves and Chelsea in October, but are winless in six away trips, with three draws and three defeats since that 2-1 success at Stamford Bridge.

OPTA's model highlights how finely balanced the match appears. West Ham are given a 39.3% chance of victory, while Sunderland's chances are rated at 34.1%, with the draw option at 26.6%. The figures reflect West Ham's strong home record and Sunderland's league position and possession-based style.

Outcome	Opta win probability
West Ham win	39.3%
Draw	26.6%
Sunderland win	34.1%

Both teams therefore enter the West Ham vs Sunderland Premier League meeting with clear targets. West Ham search for another result to close the gap on Nottingham Forest and ease pressure near the bottom. Sunderland look to respond to their away slump and maintain a surprise challenge for European qualification.