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The win ensures West Ham surpass their points tally of 40 from last season

Dick Advocaat's tenure as Sunderland manager began with defeat after Diafra Sakho struck a late winner for West Ham at Upton Park.

The Dutchman, who replaced sacked Gus Poyet on Tuesday, was left to rue a glaring miss by Jermain Defoe when Sakho lashed in with two minutes left.

The Black Cats - for whom Adam Johnson played 17 minutes after the club lifted his suspension following his arrest - are a point clear of the bottom three.

West Ham move above Stoke into ninth.

Advocaat 'happy' with effort

It was just a second win in 12 Premier League matches for Sam Allardyce's side, who were fourth at Christmas.

But Sunderland's wretched run continues. They have recorded just one league victory this year and scored just once in their last seven matches.

Defeats for relegation rivals Burnley, Leicester and Aston Villa earlier on Saturday means this defeat is not as penal as it might have been, but Advocaat, 67, will likely reflect on a missed opportunity and one missed chance in particular.

Defoe was one of three forwards selected by Sunderland's fifth manager in six years and should have given his side the lead against a side equally low on confidence.

However, the former England international lacked composure when presented with a glaring chance, lashing over after being released by Steven Fletcher.

Match stats Guus Hiddink is the only Dutch manager to win his first Premier League game (D1, L5). Mark Noble provided his 23rd Premier League assist. Only Paolo Di Canio (31) and Trevor Sinclair (25) have more for West Ham. Sakho's winner was West Ham's latest league goal this season (87:42). Sunderland have failed to score in 15 games this term. Only Aston Villa (17) have drawn more blanks.

Had he converted, who knows how West Ham might have reacted given they - like Sunderland - had earned just three points from their last six matches.

Instead, Allardyce's men were allowed to work themselves into the contest.

Before the break, Kevin Nolan, Sakho and Alex Song exercised goalkeeper Costel Pantilimon, who leaked four in 45 minutes against Aston Villa last weekend.

Scrappy but deserved win - Allardyce

And after the interval, West Ham took command and perhaps should have been awarded a penalty just after the hour.

Substitute Santiago Vergini had his arms wrapped around Nolan as a ball was flighted in to the penalty area only for the Hammers' captain to be judged offside, even though the delivery flicked off the head of Sunderland's John O'Shea.

Johnson was introduced after 73 minutes, Sunderland having lifted his suspension following his arrest on suspicion of sexual activity with a 15-year-old girl.

But West Ham remained the side most likely to score and the goal did finally come with two minutes to play.

Mark Noble's cute flick found Sakho in a pocket of space in the area and the Senegal striker scudded a finish across the helpless Pantilimon.

West Ham manager Sam Allardyce: "The way we have let leads slip here easily, the 1-0 was a fantastic victory for us, because it was a difficult game.

"I felt that when a chance does come along we will score and we got a clean sheet - a rarity for us - so we got both ends right today."

Sunderland manager Dick Advocaat: "I am happy with the effort, we had a discussion about that - how to show our fans what we can do.

"It is hard to play against West Ham with long balls, but we didn't give away of lot chances. They are a good side but I did not expect them to score in the 88th minute."

Adam Johnson was involved after Sunderland lifted his suspension following his arrest

Dick Advocaat, at 67, is the oldest manager in the Premier League

Sunderland have won just once in the league in 2015

Sakho became the 14th West Ham player to score at least 10 goals in a Premier League season

Sunderland lost Wes Brown to injury inside the opening 12 minutes