Soulless bowl it wasn’t. West Ham’s resurgent performance against high flying Premier League surprise story Sunderland invoked a standing ovation from their home fans at half time as the players left the pitch.

Unthinkable just a months ago. The stadium – often criticised for it’s lack of atmosphere, today played host to both noisy away supporters and a home crowd that ‘bought in’ to the game big-time after the Hammers took – and held a three goal first half lead.

Clearly a case of the supporters responding to the players’ endeavours, this was the loudest the home support has sounded for a year or more and it bodes well for the remaining hurdles in this relegation steeplechase.

Queens Park Rangers showed the way three weeks ago when their 9000 fans cheered and sang their hearts out from the first minute to the last in their FA Cup tie – maybe that has served as something as a boot up the backside of a West Ham fanbase hitherto more focussed on fighting the board than relegation.

London Stadium had its moments this afternoon – and nobody was leaving early

If ever there was a case for the...