Peter Reid is not one for long-range predictions. "I don't ever think about Europe," he said flatly. Reid is living for the moment, revelling in one of Sunderland's highest points in their post-war history.

The Sunderland manager is just getting on with the job and, in the process, enjoying confounding assumptions. It is hardly his fault that others such as Chelsea and Leeds have fumbled along with Arsenal, the presumed prime challengers to Manchester United.

Sunderland are second but nowhere near as high in the purists' popularity tables - which may or may not colour Sven-Goran Eriksson's thinking - but that is all right with Reid.

Harry Redknapp's observation that Sunderland are "a bigger, stronger-looking side than us," tells only part of the story of the Premiership's form team, as does Cole's view that "they seem more organised."

Reid's work ethic runs through his players veins; their remorseless closing-down, the volume of tackles and their counter-attacking ability all tell of superb fitness.

It may not be pretty, but it certainly is effective, which also says much about the weakness of the Premiership. Although, like many, Redknapp is clearly not taken with Sunderland.

"If Sunderland get in the Champions' League, Peter Reid should be manager of the season. They're tough to beat, work very hard and make it difficult for you.

"But I can still see Leeds in there. And there's Arsenal and Liverpool. As for the title, that's a one-horse race."

Reid's team will examine that near-universal theory when they entertain United on January 30th, by which point Sunderland will surely still be the leaders' closest pursuers having beaten Bradford City next Sunday.

Sunderland never looked back after the towering Slovakian Stanislav Varga headed in one of Gavin McCann's many teasing dead-ball kicks. At any hint of danger Sunderland swarmed around Di Canio, Cole and Kanoute.

West Ham were then caught unprepared when Don Hutchison scored with a free-kick that Redknapp admitted he had seen the Scotland midfielder perform "three or four times before".

The refereeing inconsistencies of Matt Messias continued to anger West Ham fans, but by this time Sunderland's supporters were truly in wonderland.

WEST HAM: Hislop (Forrest 45), Stuart Pearce, Winterburn, Song, Tihinen (Camara 74), Lomas, Cole, Sinclair, Lampard, Di Canio, Kanoute. Subs Not Used: Moncur, Potts, Bassila. Booked: Lomas, Winterburn, Stuart Pearce, Song.

SUNDERLAND: Sorensen, Williams, Gray, Thome, Varga, Hutchison, Schwarz, Rae, McCann, Quinn (Kilbane 81), Phillips. Subs Not Used: Ingham, McCartney, Oster, Craddock. Booked: Quinn, Phillips. Goals: Varga 22, Hutchison 68.

Referee: M Messias (York).