Sam’s Downing appeal

Sunderland 1 West Ham 1

Downing was the stand-out performer at the Stadium of Light, scoring his side’s equaliser as they cemented their place in the top six with a share of the spoils against Gus Poyet’s draw specialists.

The midfielder is revelling in a more central role, and Allardyce insists it is harsh to judge the 30-year-old on the most recent of his 35 caps, the below-standard 45-minute display in last month’s victory over Scotland.