Boa happy to assist

Luis Boa Morte was wearing a broad smile after helping West Ham United to see off the challenge of Sunderland.

The Portuguese international produced an all-action display in an unaccustomed right-wing role, working hard for his team and also setting up Junior Stanislas for the Academy graduate's first goal for the club.

Boa Morte's inch-perfect past was slotted past Craig Gordon by the England Under-20 winger to give the Hammers a 1-0 advantage shortly before half-time. Seven minutes after the break, James Tomkins powered a header into the net from Mark Noble's corner to round-off a superb afternoon's work at the Boleyn Ground.

"It was definitely a good result," said Boa Morte, who also had a hand in Mark Noble's opening goal in the 1-1 draw at Blackburn Rovers a fortnight ago. "We worked hard and we got the three points. To be fair, Sunderland played better than we expected them to be but we got on top and it was a deserved win for us.

"I got stuck in. If the gaffer sends me on to the pitch then the effort has to be there both attacking and defending. I just tried my hardest and to come off the pitch with a smile was very important."

Boa Morte was pleased with his assist, having held on to the ball just long enough to wait for Stanislas to burst into the Sunderland penalty area. The goal rounded off a slick four-man move that also involved David Di Michele and Diego Tristan.

"I think football needs to be a thinking game. I could have smashed it across and he could saved it but I read the game and Junior understood my eye contact and he knew where the ball would be landing, but it was like a slow-motion pass!"