Reported Real Madrid target Mateus Fernandes stars as Nuno’s West Ham secure another win [video] | OneFootball

Fernandes starred for West Ham [Getty Images]

West Ham United 3-1 Sunderland

Portuguese midfielder Mateus Fernandes produced a Player of the Match performance as Nuno Espírito Santo’s West Ham United boosted their survival hopes in the Premier League with victory over Sunderland.

The Hammers raced into a 3-0 half-time lead, capped by a stunning long-range strike from Fernandes, to give Nuno the perfect early birthday present ahead of him turning 52 the following day. With the three points over Sunderland, West Ham made it three consecutive wins in all competitions, with back-to-back league results coming after an FA Cup progression against London rivals Queens Park Rangers.

“Very good day, amazing day for the everybody: club, the players, the manager,” Fernandes said after the final whistle. “I think we have started to be consistent. One game good, second game good and we go again for the next game. I think the most important {thing] today is when we score the first goal, we scored again. We are very happy for the win, I think the team deserved [it] and we go again next week.

“It was unbelievable, it was my first goal [from] out of the box so I’m very happy. I’ve learned on the training ground and training sessions. So, I need to do it more in games because I can shoot well and powerfully. So, it was good for me and it was good for the team as well.

“Everyone has been telling me to shoot: Summerville, Pablo, Lucas [Paqueta] … they tell me to shoot. In my position, I try to do the best work for them so they score goals. It was a good point for me today, gave me confidence for the next games and I’ll try to shoot more.”

It was not just the goal which made former Sporting man Fernandes, who has recently been lined with Real Madrid, stand out for West Ham. The 21-year-old ranked 1st for touches, successful passes, passes in the final third, tackles, crosses and shots on the day.

“Yeah, I try to control and the manager asks that, for me to control the middle of the park. It’s the most important area of the pitch, because you control the tempo of the game, you control the attacks, when you defend. This is my position, I enjoy every minute as a midfielder, when you score you are more happy. It’ll be a fantastic week for us.”

Meanwhile, Hammers manager Nuno was full of praise for his side after a big result which moved them to within two points of Nottingham Forest in 17th place, meaning their consecutive wins re-ignited their survival bid after recently going ten matches in the English top flight without a win.

“You can sense when the players are free, things can happen,” Nuno said of Fernandes. “We have to risk sometimes. I’m pleased for Mateus, I think he did a very good game. Him and Thomas in the middle of the park worked really hard to contain Sunderland.

“It was a good performance. First half we started really well, the momentum, energy the boys did, the connections, combinations. We scored, we had good spells of football, dominant in terms of defence. Big improvement second half in management of the game, the tempo of the game, didn’t allow too many situations – they scored but the team didn’t go crazy, we kept the shape, kept organised.

“The support of the fans in the second half, realising we were in trouble, we needed the energy, when we give they gave it back one thousand times more. So overall a very good performance.”

By Sean Gillen