He was livid , spinning towards Kevin Friend and telling the fourth official exactly why Diafra Sakho shouldn ’ t have been able to crash home the late winner . Dick Advocaat then grumpily crossed his arms in acceptance . Referees are going to get to know this man over the next two months . On his first public outing in England , Advocaat was nothing if not eccentric , incapable of remaining still for longer than a few seconds . His gesticulations were constant , nervous energy overt . Staying slumped in his cushy Upton Park dug out just wasn ’ t an option for the Sunderland coach . Keeping Sunderland up looks like being the pensioner ’ s toughest job in a long managerial career and — despite an understated entrance to the Premier League in which no photographer deemed it necessary to capture an image of him before kick-off — Advocaat felt the need to show those loyal band of travelling supporters in the Sir Trevor Brooking stand that he means business . Dick Advocaat was left disappointed as Sunderland fell to a 1-0 defeat at West Ham in his first game in charge . West Ham striker Diafra Sakho smashes in a late winner to give his side their first win in 13 league games . West Ham 's Carlton Cole ( centre ) tussles with Sunderland 's Patrick van Aanholt ( left ) and John O'Shea ( right ) The Dutchman may only have the job for nine matches but he is insistent on stamping his authority on a rag-tag squad who would not fight for previous incumbent Gus Poyet . The signs are positive for the struggling club and Advocaat must surely have left east London with a sense of satisfaction that his message has been heeded in a matter of days , even if his team failed to hold out . Advocaat is acutely aware that his body language resonates with those wearing the club ’ s colours before him . Even at 67 , the basics still enthuse him . Jordi Gomez , normally little more than a luxury midfielder , was one shining example of the difference between Poyet and now . Sunderland playmaker Jordi Gomez ( right ) tussles for the ball with West Ham midfielder Alex Song ( left ) Advocaat controversially included Sunderland winger Adam Johnson among his substitutes at Upton Park . Johnson , who is currently on bail from sexual assault charges , was met by a chorus of boos from the crowd . Advocaat almost leapt in celebration when Gomez left his central station to shut down Aaron Cresswell during what appeared an innocuous patch of play . For him , that epitomised tangible change amid the serious problems he inherited . First battle won . The second , of course , is finding someone who can actually stick the ball in the net . One goal in seven games , dating back to February 7 , is laughably abysmal . So it was understandable that Advocaat opted for three up front in Connor Wickham , Steven Fletcher and Jermain Defoe . Less cautious than fellow countryman Louis van Gaal but every bit as passionate , he clasped his ears in frustration at Defoe ’ s galling , first-half miss . Advocaat looked as if he was living on the edge , a characteristic typified by introducing Adam Johnson with 17 minutes remaining . The winger , recalled from suspension , was booed and subjected to a volley of disparaging chants , but that matters little to his manager . Results are paramount from now until May 24 . Advocaat will try to earn those wins while hopping about on the touchline . Advocaat faces a difficult challenge to keep Sunderland in the Premier League and has eight games to do it .
Dick Advocaat lost his first game in charge of Sunderland 1-0 to West Ham . Advocaat has been appointed at Sunderland until the end of the season . The Dutchman is tasked with keeping the Black Cats in Sunderland . Despite the defeat , his attacking tactics and selection were positive .