Regis Le Bris singles out Sunderland star for performance vs West Ham
Sunderland emphatically started their season with a 3-0 win over West Ham at the Stadium of Light on a perfect Saturday afternoon.
Eliezer Mayenda bagged the opening goal at the Stadium of Light, with Wilson Isidor notching the third.
Dan Ballard put in a heroic Sunderland performance, emulating his exploits from the Championship play-offs with the Black Cats' second.
Regis Le Bris was buzzing on the sidelines and addressed the media after his first-ever Premier League win.
Le Bris hails Granit Xhaka in Sunderland win over West Ham
Sunderland unveiled yet another tifo at the Stadium of Light, in what is proving to be something of a lucky charm.
In an even first half, Habib Diarra spurned a wonderful opportunity to break the deadlock, while West Ham looked dangerous.
Ballard was unstoppable at the back and slid superbly to block El Hadji Malick Diouf's goalbound effort.
| Dan Ballard's statistics vs West Ham | Total |
| Minutes played | 90 |
| Goals | 1 |
| Clearances | 8 |
| Blocked shots | 4 |
| Total tackles | 1 |
| Aerial duels (won) | 9 (6) |
However, it was in the second period when the Wearsiders cranked it up, with the Hammers shrinking back into their shells.
Despite a quiet first half, Mayenda headed the Black Cats ahead before Ballard headed another for a 2-0 lead.
With Graham Potter's side down and out, Wilson Isidor notched a third with a trademark cool finish past Mads Hermansen.
While other players stole the headlines, it was Xhaka who drew the plaudits from his manager.
"He is important to us, sets the tone, and I think we knew before that he could be a key factor in our squad," he told BBC Sport on 16 August.
"We have many young players, and to make sure that everyone is working together, we need this kind of player."
Le Bris proves pre-season counts for nothing at Stadium of Light
There was some concern during pre-season after the Wearsiders struggled to find any real form.
However, after their resounding victory over West Ham, it is clear that friendlies are just a fitness procedure.
While the Black Cats may have spent over £100million this summer, there was still uncertainty about how well they would perform.
The new signings caught the eye, with Simon Adingra and Omar Alderete's crosses worthy of their finishes.
- Sunderland managed two wins in pre-season
- Started the Premier League campaign with a statement win
- More signings likely this summer
As for the old guard, they were on fine form, with all three goals coming from last season's heroes.
Now, Le Bris can march on and follow up the win with two favourable games against Burnley and Brentford.
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