Survival in sight for hardy Hammers

East London's euphoria at a third victory in four games, carrying the local favourites out of the Premiership's relegation places for the first time since early November, needs to be hedged with one caveat – it was only Sunderland. Mick McCarthy's new team, like West Ham's recent victims West Bromwich Albion, are on their way to the Nationwide League, and yesterday looked every bit as poor as their record of having taken one point from 12 games.

The only question to be resolved at the wrong end of the table is whether they are accompanied by Glenn Roeder's side or Bolton Wanderers, who would go back above the London side by beating or drawing with Tottenham tomorrow. West Ham's visit to the Reebok in a month's time could decide the matter.

But they fully deserved yesterday's success, albeit against such feeble opposition. The defence, rightly maligned earlier in the season, have not conceded a goal for five hours and there is a better balance about the whole team. Joe Cole was outstanding in front of Sven Goran Eriksson, who neverthleless seems unlikely to want him in Liechtenstein this week, and Jermain Defoe confirmed his rich promise in conjunction with first the old workhorse Les Ferdinand and then the coltish Frédéric Kanouté.

"It's a happy dressing room," said Roeder. "The confidence and belief are really flowing and we need to keep that going."

McCarthy was characteristically blunt about his team's eighth successive defeat. Asked what positives could be taken from the afternoon, he said: "Nothing. We're in a terrible position. Why? Because we've been the worst team. Planning for next season is getting nearer. Now I'm asking for pride for the fans and pride for the club, not to end up with the worst record ever."

They are still five points short, having not even gained the bonus often provided by a new appointment, losing two critical games to Bolton and now West Ham, McCarthy's first two in charge.

McCarthy had one of his former Republic of Ireland charges back in Kevin Kilbane and introduced another, Thomas Butler, in place of the unavailable Jason McAteer and Gavin McCann. It made little difference, the visitors taking an hour to fire their only shot on target.

The home side, suddenly flush with players as well as confidence, could even afford to leave Kanouté in the dug-out for the first half and ignore Paolo Di Canio altogether, a fate he may have to grow accustomed to over the next few weeks.

The differing qualities of Defoe, quick and lithe, and Ferdinand, experienced and powerful, have produced a useful partnership and they combined to bring about the first goal. Ferdinand jumped highest to knock down a long free-kick and the little poacher alongside him turned his marker and hooked a clever shot wide of Thomas Sorensen.

Before that the home side had wasted a series of free-kicks in promising positions just outside the penalty area. Defoe hit one wildly, Cole's was easily blocked and Michael Carrick was guilty of poor delivery from the left.

Sunderland, however, were so weak that David James, confirmed before the game as Eriksson's choice to start against Liechtenstein assuming David Seaman is unfit, did not have a save to make before the interval. When a scoring chance finally materialised, Tore Andre Flo's header from a cross by Kevin Phillips looped gently on to the roof of the net.

Ian Pearce had been lured out of position for that attempt, but overall the West Ham defence was solid, reaping the benefit of a settled formation. Roeder gives much of the credit to his two full-backs, the teenager Glen Johnson – fully meriting a call-up to the England Under-21 squad – and Rufus Brevett.

With Ferdinand having taken a knock, Kanouté's opportunity came at half-time and he looked sharp following a three-match suspension. Ten minutes after the restart he was sent through by Cole's astute pass but clipped the shot wide when challenged by the defender Talal El Karkouri.

McCarthy's impatience at his team's impotence led to a change with barely an hour played, Kevin Kyle replacing an ineffective Flo. But the flow continued towards the visitors' goal. Defoe's jinking run took him wide of Sorensen, but to an impossible angle. Cole set that chance up and Carrick then made the second goal with an equally smart pass, right into Kanouté's path for a finish that brought the French striker's first goal since September.

The lively Defoe might have had a hat-trick by the end, coming close twice more in the space of a minute. Breaking away with Kanouté, he wriggled into a scoring position only to hit a retreating defender with the goalkeeper beaten. From the subsequent corner, Sorensen only just kept out a firm header at the far post.

In between their celebratory choruses, the locals looked on anxiously at Sunderland's late attacks, but need hardly have worried. They should conserve their nervous energy; plenty more will be required before this race is run.

West Ham United 2 Sunderland 0
Defoe 24, Kanouté 65

Half-time: 1-0 Attendance: 35,033