Phil Bardsley's left-foot cross found Cisse at the back post and he was again unable to direct his effort on goal.

BBC: Sunderland 0-1 West Ham

However, the match was decided by Bardsley's foul on Kranjcar, the Croatian bamboozling the Sunderland full-back before tumbling over his leg and Defoe dispatched the penalty with aplomb.

BBC: Portsmouth 1-0 Sunderland

Alert Steed Malbranque ran round the back of slumbering marker Carlos Cuellar but, though Bardsley's deep cross cleared the Spaniard, the Black Cats midfielder steered his back-post header wide.

BBC: Sport - Football - Aston Villa 0-1 Sunderland

Bardsley shot just wide and Dean Whitehead's header was comfortably collected by Green.

BBC: Sunderland 0-1 West Ham

Crouch was denied a second when his acrobatic volley was well saved, before Bardsley cleared his header off the line from Gerrard's corner.

BBC: Crouch's goal was only his second in the league this season

And they were thankful to goalkeeper Karen Bardsley to deny Sarah Gregorius after a mix-up in Team GB's defense offered the Football Fearns a glorious late chance to equalize.

CNN: STORY HIGHLIGHTS