The Hammer's away-day blues continue and that's about all there is to say. It would be wrong to suggest West Ham deserved something from this - one shot on target simply isn't good enough to argue that point - but in all other aspects the claret and blue looked equal to Sunderland and didn't look in terrible trouble for most of the game.

The deciding goal was Sunderland's only significant contribution and considering much was being made of the Black Cats three-pronged attack, the porous West Ham defence seemed to continue its improvement under new coach Wally Downes.

As it was though, Jordan Henderson's first goal of the season 11 minutes before the break gave the home side a lead they never looked like relinquishing mainly because the forward line that so terrorised ManU's in midweek never came close to emanating that feat. With West Ham it 'twas ever thus.

With Sunderland's appalling record of conceding late in the game you might have thought the Hammers would have provided some late action but the home fans just got to enjoy some keep-ball near the corner flag and not much else. What made this defeat worse for me was the fact that Wolves defeat on Saturday had lifted West Ham off the bottom and anything here would have at least given the impression that things are on the up. As it is it's just more doom and gloom, I'm afraid.

I'm not agreeing with a great deal Avram Grant has to say currently but he is spot on when he says "The difference is small things." Small things like Carlton Cole's awful first touch when he received the ball in a couple of good positions in the first half. Control those, go on to strike the target or even get a shot away and the stats look better and confidence flows. Fumble them and the lost position just becomes another small facet of the game that doesn't register. These small things are big and it's the difference between sitting where Sunderland are and where West Ham are.

So, the mini improvement grinds to a halt - as the old joke has it: Tea break over - back on yer 'eads.