Sunderland celebrated their return to the Premier League after an eight-year absence with a resounding 3-0 victory over West Ham United at the Stadium of Light. The Black Cats delivered a sensational second-half performance, leaving West Ham stunned.

The first half saw a tight contest, but Sunderland found their rhythm after the break. Eliezer Mayenda ignited the home crowd with a powerful header in the 61st minute from an Omar Alderete cross. Dan Ballard, a hero from Sunderland's Championship play-off campaign, extended the lead in the 73rd minute with another header from a Simon Adingra delivery. Wilson Isidor, coming off the bench, sealed the victory with a cool finish in stoppage time.

Dan Ballard's performance was particularly noteworthy. In addition to scoring a goal, he made a crucial block to deny El Hadji Malick Diouf in the first half. Overall, Ballard had an impressive statistical game, including four shots, two of which were on target, eight clearances, and winning the most fouls. He was given a rating of 9.4 for his performance.

Sunderland's manager, Regis Le Bris, expressed his delight with the team's performance, emphasizing the importance of maintaining the club's identity and togetherness. He highlighted the team's strength and work ethic, which were key to their success. Le Bris made only minor adjustments at halftime, focusing on West Ham's goalkeeper restarts and strengthening duels.

West Ham's manager, Graham Potter, acknowledged his team's disappointment with both the performance and the result. He felt they started well in the first half but couldn't maintain control in the second.

Seven of Sunderland's eleven summer signings started the match, and the team displayed a solid defensive structure and a clear counter-attacking strategy. Granit Xhaka's contribution in midfield was also praised. New signings such as Habib Diarra showed promise. Sunderland's summer spending appeared to be a wise investment, as the new players integrated seamlessly into the team.

The Stadium of Light was filled with enthusiastic fans celebrating their team's return to the top flight. This marked Sunderland's first Premier League win since May 2017 and their first league win by 3 or more goals since February 2017.

Looking ahead, Sunderland will face fellow promoted side Burnley in their next match, while West Ham will host Chelsea. Sunderland hopes to continue their momentum, while West Ham will seek to rebound from this defeat.