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The Great Escape Is On

On the 6 January, just 18 days ago, boo’s cascaded around the London stadium following West Ham’s 2-1 loss to relegation rivals Nottingham Forest.

Today, a rendition of ‘I’m forever blowing bubbles’ rang out around the stadium, before a deathening cheer engulfed the players on the pitch when referee Thomas Bramall blew the whistle in the 94th minute.

The scoreboard was blunt and beautiful: West Ham 3-1 Sunderland.

What it didn’t need to say, what everyone inside the stadium already knew, was that the great escape is alive again.

Three goals and three points ✅ pic.twitter.com/fQWas7OUya
— West Ham United (@WestHam) January 24, 2026

Belief, Momentum, Escape

Since that damaging defeat to Nottingham Forest, West Ham have flipped the narrative. A gritty 2–1 FA Cup win over QPR steadied the mood, before belief turned into momentum with a gargantuan 2-1 win over London rivals Tottenham Hotspur. Winning today against newly promoted Sunderland completed the sequence.

Three results have transformed anxiety into genuine belief.

These results have dragged West Ham from seven points adrift, to two points away from safety against the very side that left them wounded at the London Stadium less than three weeks ago.

The Hammers started today’s match in a scintillating fashion. Jarrod Bowen turned provider for Crysencio Summerville, who slid home the opener in the 14th minute, before the captain made it two from the penalty spot on 28 minutes.

Any lingering doubt was obliterated on the stroke of half-time. Matheus Fernandes, still new to this stage, unequivocally announced himself when his wonderstrike flew past Robin Roefs on the cusp of half-time.

Onward ⚒ pic.twitter.com/ugiFxIGWbH
— West Ham United (@WestHam) January 24, 2026

Bowen’s assist and goal take him to a club record of 103 Premier League goal involvements—two ahead of Michael Anotino.

The Hamers were not infallible throughout the match. Sunderland briefly punctured the mood when Brian Brobbey powered home an acrobatic header on 66 minutes, but it changed little.

For the Black Cats, it was too little too late.

For 23-year-old West Ham fan Charlee Sawkins, this win makes him feel “confident” in West Ham’s ability to survive the perilous drop.

“The response to previous games has been positive,” he said. “It’s encouraging to see the teams have not lost their confidence.”

And that was shown on the pitch today. West Ham oozed with confidence and conviction, and that belief has spread to fans.

“I think we saw potential from the Forest game,” Charlee told me. “Maybe it’s because I’m an optimist, but that game didn’t show our foremost ability, and that’s been shown in the last two weeks.”

The road ahead offers no favours. Chelsea, Burnley and Manchester United await, a sequence that will test whether this revival has depth or merely momentum. If West Ham are to complete the escape, they will need to keep their foot firmly pressed on the accelerator.