Nigeria striker, Emmanuel Emenike, was in action on Saturday as West Ham claimed a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Sunderland at Upton Park.
Emenike, 28, who notched a brace last weekend in the 5-1 spanking of Blackburn Rovers in the FA Cup, got the nod to start in attack for the first time in the Barclays Premier League.
But the former Spartak Moscow attacker was unable to replicate the goalscoring feat at Ewood Park in East London.
The Hammers had to search for some sort of inspiration elsewhere sending English striker, Andy Caroll, for the ineffective Emenike early in the second half.
Compatriot, Victor Moses, who also found the back of the net at Rovers, had to watch proceedings from the bench all through the game.
Winger Michail Antonio scored the game’s only goal in the 30th minute, cutting in from the right touchline and muscling past three Sunderland defenders to curl the ball past keeper Vito Mannone.
The victory means West Ham are in their best ever run in the league.
Slaven Bilic’s men have now picked up 43 points after 27 games, which is the most they’ve ever had at this stage of a Premier League campaign.
The Hammers also moved ahead of Manchester United to fifth on the log.
