The Hammers looked in control of the game and cruising, leading 2-0, when Sunderland striker Kenwyne Jones was sent off for shoving Herita Ilunga in the face.
"There have been other moments when we are feeling down but this is not the case,” summarised Zola. “We are upset about what happened but it won't happen again.
"It's not a matter of being ten or eleven men. You have to be a little more under control and we lost it a little bit. That is why we are here with one point and not three points. We lost control of the game and I cannot tolerate that."