A fantastic first-half performance helped West Ham blow away Sunderland and move to with two points of 17th-placed Nottingham Forest and safety.

The Hammers opened the scoring in the 14th minute when Jarrod Bowen's cross was met by Crysencio Summerville's thumping header.

Ollie Scarles was then tripped by Trai Hume in the penalty area 14 minutes later and Bowen dispatched the resulting penalty into the bottom left corner.

West Ham rounded off their fine opening 45 minutes with a Mateus Fernandes thunderbolt when the midfielder found the top corner from long range on the stroke of half-time.

It meant West Ham led 3-0 at home at half-time in a Premier League match for the first time since July 2020 against Watford.

In the second period, Sunderland narrowed the deficit through Brian Brobbey who headed in Nordi Mukiele's cross.

The visitors hit the woodwork late on when Luke O'Nien's mishit cross was tipped on to the bar by Alphonse Areola.

West Ham also hit the woodwork in second-half stoppage time when Fernandes crunched another spectacular strike from long range against the underside of the crossbar.

The match was briefly stopped in the closing stages to review an incident between injured Sunderland midfielder Granit Xhaka, who was sitting on his team's bench, and a West Ham fan, but the video assistant referee said play could continue with no action taken.

The result means West Ham have won three games in a row in all competitions for the first time since November 2023.

It backs up their victory at Tottenham last weekend and increased pressure on relegation rivals Nottingham Forest and Leeds United.

Forest take on Brentford away from home on Sunday while Leeds travel to Everton on Monday.

On 6 January, West Ham lost 2-1 at home to Nottingham Forest and found themselves seven points off safety and on a 10-match winless run.

Nuno Espirito Santo's side have since won both their Premier League games to reignite their survival hopes.

The home side hardly put a foot wrong in the first half, contributing to an electric atmosphere inside London Stadium.

Once again the Hammers were inspired by captain Bowen who contributed a goal and an assist in 14 first-half minutes.

In doing so the 29-year-old Englishman became the outright Premier League goal involvements leader for West Ham (102 - 62 goals and 40 assists), overtaking Michail Antonio (101).

Striker Callum Wilson, who has been linked with a January move, was given a warm reception by the home fans when he came on in the second half.

Lucas Paqueta, who is also rumoured to be on the move, was not in the Hammers' squad. James Ward-Prowse was an unused substitute as he was part of Nuno's squad for the first time.

After a fantastic start to the season, Sunderland are now on a mini-slump having won just one of their past seven Premier League matches.

Regis Le Bris' side, whose home run has understandably been celebrated this season, are also winless in seven consecutive league away games.

They had the match's first true chance when Noah Sadiki's second-minute shot was tipped over the bar by Areola.

But the Black Cats then failed to produce another shot on target until their goal in the 66th minute.

Sunderland have a winnable home match against 19th-placed Burnley next on 2 February, but then face top-four sides Arsenal and Liverpool over the following two weeks.

West Ham face a tricky away match at rivals Chelsea on Saturday, 31 January (17:30 GMT), before a home match against Burnley seven days later. Sunderland are at home to Burnley on Monday, 2 February (20:00 GMT).