Welcome to the Premiership, Sven-Goran Eriksson.

A warm reception from the Upton Park crowd, Abba hits played at half-time and even a fellow Swede, Stefan Schwarz, on the winning side.

But although Eriksson was able to catch sight of the precocious talent of Joe Cole, who flitted into life in bursts, it was more of an introduction to the singular world of English football than a foretaste of his first squad.

For none of the other English players on display really set the world alight and even Cole faded later on, while Sunderland found the target twice but there was the rare sight of Kevin Phillips not being among the scorers.

Those were instead a Slovakian international - defender Stanislav Varga with a 23rd-minute header - and a Scot - midfielder Don Hutchison with a free-kick that resembled Germany's winner against England at Wembley.

Eriksson will otherwise have seen tackles flying in from all angles, more perspiration than inspiration, and an inconsistent refereeing display.

None of this, however, should detract from a fine performance by a Sunderland side who fully deserve their place among the elite places in the top-flight and now stand second in the table.

Few other teams will manage to keep Paolo di Canio and Frederic Kanoute so quiet, as it was only Cole who managed to inspire the Hammers into life - and even then, only sporadically.

The teenager admitted he was a bag of nerves on his first training session with the senior squad under Kevin Keegan and "looked like a big donkey" but was full of purposeful invention and workrate at Upton Park.

With fellow emerging midfielder Michael Carrick absent through injury, team-mates Trevor Sinclair and Frank Lampard had their moments but all too few of them.

Indeed, it was Sunderland's 22-year-old Gavin McCann who caught the eye in midfield, while Phillips had at most one half-chance all afternoon but impressed with his hold-up play and harrying of the defence.

And Eriksson will now know not only Michael Gray's name but also that he produced a consistent display and can cross a ball with some accuracy.

Otherwise, the research continues with Leicester at Ipswich tomorrow and Manchester United on the agenda next weekend.

Given that the heart of England's 1966 World Cup triumph beat so strongly at West Ham in Bobby Moore, Geoff Hurst and Martin Peters, Upton Park was at least a fitting venue to start an immersion into the Premiership.

Eriksson was introduced to the crowd before the game and was given a warm reception, rising to his feet with what almost appeared to be shyness to acknowledge the applause from all sides of the ground.

Then again, coming to watch West Ham in his first game as England coach, with right-hand man Tord Grip, was always likely to go down rather well with the Upton Park faithful.

Eriksson may not have reached his seat in time to see Sinclair receive his December goal of the month award, but he did see the wing-back's determination to make an early mark on the game with a deflected shot.

A more important influence came, however, from Nigel Winterburn, who is - along with Stuart Pearce - one of West Ham's two 37-year-old former England internationals, as he cleared Don Hutchison's header off the line.

Neither side were imposing themselves on the game, with cameo displays by various players rather than leading roles at this stage.

McCann intercepted just as Lampard took aim and Cole produced a superb covering tackle as Darren Williams threatened to break free onto Phillips' through-ball on the break.

But after Sorensen had saved from Kanoute after a mistake by Varga, it was the Slovakian defender who rose above even team-mate Niall Quinn to head home McCann's free-kick.

Back came West Ham, but it was hardly convincing.

Sinclair burst through the centre but shot wide, while Cole, whose talent was bubbling to the surface every now and then, embarked on a purposefully mazy run but finished just as badly.

West Ham substitute keeper Craig Forrest replaced Shaka Hislop at the interval and was soon required to block a prodded shot by Quinn at the far post as the centre-forward was allowed to meet Gray's deep cross.

Sunderland were simply not allowing the Hammers to play their way back into contention as their defensive line held firm and they matched them for workrate in midfield.

They could not legislate for a superb through-ball by Cole as he set di Canio through, only for the Italian to strike a firm shot against the foot of the post.

And after a free-kick was awarded for a foul on McCann by Lampard, West Ham were caught unawares as Hutchison scored from 25 yards out.

In many ways, it was reminiscent of the goal that Dietmar Hamann scored for Germany against England at Wembley as West Ham were still arranging their wall and keeper Forrest appeared unsighted as Hutchison shot.

West Ham offered little in the way of a stirring response, apart from Pearce's free-kick being tipped round the post by Sorensen, and even Cole's influence started to fade.

So much for Eriksson's vision of the future of English football. At least Sunderland are managed by an Englishman. Step forward and take a well-deserved bow, Peter Reid.

Teams:

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.

Att: 26,014

Ref: M Messias (York).