Pre Season: Wins For Sunderland And West Ham
Friday, 10th Jul 2015 06:52 by Planet Swans (follow us on Twitter @Swansnews)

Former Swans striker Danny Graham was on target for Sunderland as they started their pre-season campaign with a win whilst there was progression for West Ham in the Europa League as they moved within six games of the group stage...

The pre-season fixtures are now certainly in full flow and whilst for West Ham that means Europa League games for the rest it's all about the match practice so onwards with the latest review

Darlington 1883 2 Sunderland 4

Sunderland had to come back from two goals down to record a win in their pre-season game at Heritage Park.

Goals from Danny Graham, Emanuele Giaccherini (2) and Connor Wickham were enough to turn the game around and give the Black Cats a victory.

Defender Billy Jones: “Obviously you want to start pre-season with a win

“I made my debut here last year so we knew it was going to be a tough game and knew was going to be competitive.

“We showed a bit of character though to come from 2-0 down and that it exactly what pre-season is for, because you’re going to make an error now and then and you need to get them out of your system before the start of the season.”

Lusitanos 0 West Ham 1 (West Ham win 4-0 on aggregate)

West Ham came through their first qualifying round tie with ease as expected as Slaven Bilic's side won 1-0 in Andorra despite playing for 75 minutes with just 10 men.

Diafra Sakho saw red in the first half after a clash with a home defender but a goal shortly afterwards from Elliot Lee finished the tie as a contest.

The Hammers progressed to the next stage of the competition where they will face Maltese side Birkirkara on 16 and 23 July

Defender Elliot Lee: "I didn't care where my first goal came!

"I've worked my socks off and I've been at this Club since I was eight years old, so to score on my full debut is a fantastic feeling and I'm really happy with it.

"I ran off Jarvo and I love being in that position on the left hand side of the box. I opened my body up and thankfully I got it right this time - it's gone in the bottom corner and I've gone off celebrating with all the lads. There's no better feeling than that.