Ilan (centre) followed up his goal at Everton with another at home
Brazilian striker Ilan's second goal in as many games moved West Ham four points clear of the relegation zone.
After a tense first half, the Hammers lifted the mood, breaching the Sunderland defence on 51 minutes.
Manuel da Costa's long free-kick was flicked on by Carlton Cole, straight into the path of Ilan, who poked home.
Lee Cattermole and Darren Bent went close for Sunderland but West Ham held their nerve in a fractious finale to pick up a vital Premier League win.
Considering the home side's precarious position in the table, there was a strange lack of urgency to the opening stages.
Zola delighted with 'deserved' win
The first goal threat at either end came when Steed Malbranque's long pass put through Bent, who spotted Hammers goalkeeper Robert Green off his line, but his lob went onto the roof of the net.
West Ham's Valon Behrami forced the first real save of the game when his effort from outside the box had Craig Gordon at full stretch, but this was a rare moment of activity for either goalkeeper.
The absence of pressure on Sunderland allowed them to put on a good passing display, and Malbranque always looked capable of creating something, but the home side showed a greater willingness to go for goal.
Radoslav Kovac shot over from outside the box and shortly before the interval, the east Londoners wasted the best chance of the match so far.
Junior Stanislas dispossessed former West Ham trainee Kieran Richardson outside the box and fed the ball in to Cole, but when he offloaded it to Ilan, the Brazilian lost his footing at the vital moment and scuffed his shot.
Despite being West Ham's top scorer, Cole's first-half contribution was more about his physical presence, rather than goal threat, and he certainly gave Sunderland keeper Gordon some problems.
Under pressure from Cole, the Scottish international was panicked into conceding a free-kick for handling outside the box, which cost him a booking, and minutes later he rugby-tackled the England striker in the penalty area, but the offside flag was already up against Cole.
And the England man's physical presence proved vital early in the second half as he set up West Ham's opening goal.
Da Costa's free-kick from the right, just inside his own half, found the head of Cole on the edge of the box and he flicked on for Ilan, who eluded his marker Paulo da Silva to prod the ball into the bottom corner.
Bruce disappointed with 'park football' defending
Cattermole shot inches wide and Kenwyne Jones's introduction gave Sunderland more threat, and Bent really should have done better when Jones put him through on goal, only to lose his footing at the vital moment.
Tempers on both sides frayed as time ran out, and Cole wasted a great chance to make sure of the points on 90 minute when he shot just wide.
Guillermo Franco thought he had added a second in injury-time but his effort was ruled out for hand-ball, but as it turned out Ilan's goal was enough to secure the victory.
West Ham boss Gianfranco Zola:
"The players put a lot of passion in. We got the three points we needed and deserved.
"Defensively the players really performed well. Everyone helped - the midfielders and the strikers. When that happens, then you have a possibility of doing well.
"We've improved our position but there is still a long way but we need to maintain our focus.
"The circumstances can change completely, but we made a lot of sacrifice to make things change. The three points will give us a boost in confidence."
Sunderland boss Steve Bruce:
"We never seemed to be in any danger, I couldn't see them scoring and I can't remember the keepers doing much.
"It was poor goal we gave away, considering we spoke about it at half time - that was their main threat.
"Our home form is exceptional, away it's something we have to look at it and be better. Today summed it up - we should be taking something from it, too many times we've been in the game and haven't done enough."
90:00+4:49 Boudewijn Zenden takes a shot. Blocked by Valon Behrami. Outswinging corner taken by Boudewijn Zenden, clearance by Guillermo
Franco.
90:00+4:11 Guillermo Franco handles the ball and concedes a free kick. Craig Gordon takes the free kick.
90:00+0:52 Boudewijn Zenden fouled by Guillermo Franco, the ref awards a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Craig Gordon.
89:52 Substitution (West Ham) makes a substitution, with Fabio Daprela coming on for Araujo Ilan.
89:52 Carlton Cole has an effort from just inside the box that misses to the left of the target.
87:19 Substitution (Sunderland) makes a substitution, with Benjani Mwaruwari coming on for Paulo Da Silva.
87:19 The ball is swung over by Fraizer Campbell.
86:15 Boudewijn Zenden takes a shot. Comfortable save by Robert Green.
84:27 Michael Turner gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Jonathan Spector. Mark Noble takes the direct free kick,
Matthew Upson takes a shot. Craig Gordon makes a save.
83:23 Free kick taken by Mark Noble.
83:23 Booking Fraizer Campbell goes into the book for unsporting behaviour.
83:06 Fraizer Campbell challenges Araujo Ilan unfairly and gives away a free kick.
81:18 Valon Behrami challenges Jordan Henderson unfairly and gives away a free kick. Free kick taken by Craig Gordon.
79:48 Julien Faubert concedes a free kick for a foul on Boudewijn Zenden. Boudewijn Zenden crosses the ball from the free kick left-footed
from left wing, clearance made by Carlton Cole.
79:25 Craig Gordon restarts play with the free kick.
77:52 Foul by Jordan Henderson on Jonathan Spector, free kick awarded. Mark Noble has an effort direct from the free kick, save
by Craig Gordon.
75:42 Free kick awarded for a foul by Valon Behrami on Kieran Richardson. Jordan Henderson has a direct shot on goal from the free
kick, Robert Green makes a fantastic save.
75:34 Kieran Richardson sends in a cross, Mark Noble manages to make a clearance.
73:27 Substitution Junior Stanislas goes off and Guillermo Franco comes on.
71:28 Boudewijn Zenden delivers the ball from the free kick left-footed from right wing, Robert Green makes a save.
71:28 Substitution Boudewijn Zenden joins the action as a substitute, replacing Steed Malbranque.
71:28 Free kick awarded for a foul by Mark Noble on Fraizer Campbell.
70:03 Outswinging corner taken from the right by-line by Mark Noble, Anton Ferdinand manages to make a clearance.
69:38 Unfair challenge on Carlton Cole by Michael Turner results in a free kick. Mark Noble restarts play with the free kick.
68:00 The ball is delivered by Steed Malbranque, Julien Faubert gets a block in.
67:38 A cross is delivered by Steed Malbranque, Darren Bent takes a shot. Blocked by Matthew Upson.
66:46 Jonathan Spector fouled by Steed Malbranque, the ref awards a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Robert Green.
65:56 The referee blows for offside against Carlton Cole. Free kick taken by Paulo Da Silva.
63:59 Carlton Cole delivers the ball, Paulo Da Silva makes a clearance. Outswinging corner taken by Mark Noble from the right by-line.
61:44 Substitution David Meyler leaves the field to be replaced by Kenwyne Jones.
61:44 Jordan Henderson takes a outswinging corner to the near post.
59:03 Valon Behrami fouled by Jordan Henderson, the ref awards a free kick. Matthew Upson takes the free kick.
57:53 Shot from just outside the penalty area by Lee Cattermole misses to the left of the target.
55:15 The ball is sent over by Jordan Henderson, Matthew Upson gets a block in. Corner taken by Jordan Henderson played to the near
post, clearance by Matthew Upson.
53:55 Free kick awarded for a foul by Junior Stanislas on Steed Malbranque. Free kick taken by Kieran Richardson.
53:08 Michael Turner concedes a free kick for a foul on Radoslav Kovac. Free kick taken by Robert Green.
52:46 Corner taken by Steed Malbranque from the left by-line to the near post, clearance made by Carlton Cole.
50:22 Carlton Cole provided the assist for the goal.
50:22 GOAL - Araujo Ilan:West Ham 1 - 0 Sunderland Araujo Ilan finds the net with a goal from inside the six-yard box to the bottom left corner of the goal. West Ham 1-0 Sunderland.
49:38 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Araujo Ilan by David Meyler. Manuel da Costa restarts play with the free kick.
46:55 Michael Turner challenges Carlton Cole unfairly and gives away a free kick. Manuel da Costa produces a shot on goal direct
from the free kick.
45:01 The second half kicks off.
Half Time
45:00+2:03 The half-time whistle blows.
45:00+1:34 Kieran Richardson concedes a free kick for a foul on Araujo Ilan. Radoslav Kovac restarts play with the free kick.
45:00+1:22 The ball is sent over by Steed Malbranque, Matthew Upson manages to make a clearance.
45:00+0:16 The ball is swung over by Jordan Henderson.
43:53 The referee gives a free kick against Carlton Cole for handball. Direct free kick taken by Craig Gordon.
42:17 Valon Behrami fouled by David Meyler, the ref awards a free kick. Free kick taken by Matthew Upson.
41:39 Carlton Cole is caught offside. Craig Gordon takes the free kick.
40:59 Foul by Kieran Richardson on Junior Stanislas, free kick awarded. Manuel da Costa takes the direct free kick.
40:22 Steed Malbranque takes a shot. Blocked by Julien Faubert. Jordan Henderson takes a outswinging corner from the right by-line
played to the near post, clearance by Jonathan Spector.
39:47 Carlton Cole challenges Craig Gordon unfairly and gives away a free kick. Free kick taken by Craig Gordon.
39:20 Darren Bent challenges Manuel da Costa unfairly and gives away a free kick. Manuel da Costa takes the direct free kick.
38:10 Anton Ferdinand challenges Valon Behrami unfairly and gives away a free kick. Free kick crossed by Mark Noble, save by Craig
Gordon.
36:55 Unfair challenge on Michael Turner by Valon Behrami results in a free kick. Craig Gordon restarts play with the free kick.
36:33 Araujo Ilan takes a shot. Paulo Da Silva gets a block in.
34:13 Free kick crossed by Junior Stanislas, Lee Cattermole manages to make a clearance.
34:13 Booking Booking for Craig Gordon.
34:04 Craig Gordon is penalised for handball and concedes a free kick.
32:54 Jordan Henderson crosses the ball from the free kick right-footed from right channel, clearance made by Matthew Upson.
32:54 Booking Jonathan Spector is shown a yellow card for unsporting behaviour.
32:47 Jonathan Spector challenges Jordan Henderson unfairly and gives away a free kick.
29:23 Free kick awarded for a foul by Radoslav Kovac on David Meyler. Direct free kick taken by Craig Gordon.
28:57 The ball is delivered by Julien Faubert, clearance by Paulo Da Silva.
28:08 Carlton Cole produces a left-footed shot from the edge of the area and misses to the left of the goal.
27:01 Darren Bent takes a shot. Save by Robert Green.
25:33 The free kick is swung in right-footed by Mark Noble, Lee Cattermole manages to make a clearance.
25:33 Booking Lee Cattermole booked.
25:25 Free kick awarded for a foul by Lee Cattermole on Valon Behrami.
25:09 The official flags Araujo Ilan offside. Free kick taken by Craig Gordon.
24:55 Carlton Cole takes a shot. Paulo Da Silva gets a block in.
24:20 Kieran Richardson crosses the ball, Matthew Upson makes a clearance.
22:44 Valon Behrami crosses the ball, Kieran Richardson makes a clearance.
22:05 The assistant referee signals for offside against Fraizer Campbell. Free kick taken by Robert Green.
21:07 Free kick awarded for a foul by Mark Noble on Fraizer Campbell. Paulo Da Silva delivers the ball from the free kick right-footed
from left channel, comfortable save by Robert Green.
20:07 Corner taken by Kieran Richardson from the right by-line, Paulo Da Silva takes a shot. Robert Green makes a save.
19:20 Shot by Radoslav Kovac from outside the area goes high over the crossbar.
17:11 Foul by Jonathan Spector on Lee Cattermole, free kick awarded. Free kick taken by Michael Turner.
16:07 Unfair challenge on Junior Stanislas by Kieran Richardson results in a free kick. The free kick is delivered right-footed
by Mark Noble from right wing, clearance made by Kieran Richardson.
Correction - 15:36 Valon Behrami has a drilled shot. Craig Gordon makes a save.
15:36 Shot by Radoslav Kovac from 20 yards. Save by Craig Gordon.
14:57 Close range effort by Darren Bent misses to the left of the goal.
13:52 Steed Malbranque gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Julien Faubert. Matthew Upson delivers the ball from the
free kick right-footed from right wing.
12:56 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Valon Behrami by David Meyler. Direct free kick taken by Robert Green.
11:49 Darren Bent gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Matthew Upson. Robert Green restarts play with the free kick.
9:29 Inswinging corner taken right-footed by Steed Malbranque.
6:23 Anton Ferdinand produces a cross.
4:44 David Meyler challenges Mark Noble unfairly and gives away a free kick. Mark Noble takes the direct free kick.
3:01 Kieran Richardson sends in a cross, clearance made by Manuel da Costa.
0:00 The referee gets the match started.
Live text and data provided by The Press Association.
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