Kevin Phillips blasted himself into the Premiership record books as he snatched his 30th goal of the season to keep alive Sunderland's faint European hopes.

The England striker powered home a 14th-minute header from Nicky Summerbee's cross to become only the third man to reach the 30-mark in the Premiership after Alan Shearer and Andy Cole.

It was a fitting way for the Sunderland marksman to end his side's home campaign as the fans turned up determined to party.

The Wearsiders dominated before the break with Phillips and Niall Quinn taking the game by the scruff of the neck, but they had to withstand something of a resurgence from West Ham after half-time as Frederic Kanoute put on a delightful cameo performance.

Sunderland made just one change to the side which grabbed a late equaliser at Aston Villa last weekend with John Oster getting the nod ahead of Kevin Kilbane, named among the substitutes.

West Ham boss Harry Redknapp was able to bring back England defender Rio Ferdinand, who missed the 2-1 defeat at Arsenal in midweek with an ankle injury, Marc Keller making way.

Sunderland were determined to end their home campaign with a bang, and the fireworks which greeted the teams as they ran out were just a taste of what was to follow.

West Ham knew all about the threat posed by Phillips and strike partner Quinn, but if Ferdinand, Igor Stimac and, for the early part of the game at least, Marc-Vivien Foe had done their homework, they showed few signs of having learned it.

Quinn, in particular, made life virtually impossible for the Hammers' defence, and the Irishman was unfortunate to see a fifth-minute header come back off the crossbar with teenage goalkeeper Stephen Bywater well beaten.

But the script had been written for Phillips to sign off in style at the Stadium of Light, and his chance duly arrived on 14 minutes.

Nicky Summerbee, back after a spell on the sidelines, produced the type of cross that had previously made him an automatic choice, and Phillips rose unopposed to power a close-range header past Bywater to send the crowd into raptures.

Quinn passed up a good chance to make it two within two minutes after running on to Phillips' flick and midfielder Paul Thirlwell had a second ruled out for handball after Quinn had headed down Michael Gray's cross.

West Ham's attacks were few and far between, but Frenchman Kanoute was enjoying a measure of success as he dragged Jody Craddock out wide to the right.

Kanoute had already set up skipper Paolo Di Canio with a good shooting opportunity when he tricked his way past Gray on 38 minutes, but although Craddock miskicked as he tried to cut out the cross, Paulo Wanchope smashed his shot wide with just Thomas Sorensen to beat.

Quinn departed injured just before the break, much to the relief of the visitors' defence, but his replacement Danny Dichio almost set up John Oster within 20 seconds of the restart.

Dichio flicked on for Phillips and then got his head to his cross, but when the ball fell to Oster, he side-footed well wide.

To their credit, the Hammers represented a far greater threat after the break as Kanoute and Di Canio got the bit between their teeth, and it was the Frenchman's brilliant 51st-minute run which gave Wanchope a chance, but he shot straight at Sorensen.

Wanchope could not beat the keeper again two minutes later after Di Canio slipped him in, and the Italian was left fuming on the hour when referee Neale Barry waved away his claims for a penalty after he went down under Chris Makin's untidy challenge.

Phillips went within inches of his 31st goal on 66 minutes as he and Gray broke swiftly from Di Canio's misplaced corner, the striker sending a vicious 25-yard shot just over.

Summerbee should have sealed the victory six minutes from time when he found space deep inside the box, but he hit his shot against Bywater's legs.

Teams:

Sunderland: Sorensen, Makin, P. Butler, Craddock, Gray, Summerbee, Thirlwell, Roy (T. Butler 84), Oster (Holloway 89), Quinn (Dichio 43), Phillips.

Subs Not Used: Marriott, Kilbane.

Booked: Oster, Phillips, Thirlwell.

Goals: Phillips 14.

West Ham: Bywater, Potts, Stimac, Ferdinand, Sinclair, Moncur, Foe, Carrick, Kanoute, Wanchope, Di Canio.

Subs Not Used: Feuer, Margas, A. Newton, Forbis, Riza.

Att: 41,684

Ref: N Barry (Scunthorpe).