Premier League - West Brom humble Sunderland

Eurosport - Sat, 16 May 14:33:00 2009

Sunderland sank to a 3-0 defeat against rock-bottom West Bromwich Albion to put themselves firmly back into the relegation dogfight.

FOOTBALL West Brom's Chris Brunt finishes past Sunderland's Marton Fulop in their 3-0 Premier League win at the Hawthorns - 0

A first-half strike from Jonas Olsson and goals in the second period from Chris Brunt and substitute Juan Carlos Menseguez condemned the Black Cats to a demoralising defeat which undoes much of the good work achieved in their win against fellow strugglers Hull City last week.

West Brom edged an insipid first-half which was typical of both sides' struggles this season.

Unsurprisingly, given the poor play on show, the first chance of note came thanks to a deflection when Brunt's low drive from the edge of the Sunderland box almost deceived Marton Fulop after it took a nick on the way through to the stand-in Sunderland keeper on 25 minutes.

A rare moment of quality came from Kieran Richardson ten minutes later, as the Sunderland midfielder picked the ball up in space in the middle of the pitch before unleashing a powerful, swerving shot from 25 yards out which forced Scott Carson into an agile diving save to his right.

Then came the opener as a Jonathan Greening corner from the right fell nicely for Olsson at the far post, allowing the Swede to drive the ball left-footed into the Sunderland net.

Given their perilous situation, you would have expected Ricky Sbragia's side to come raring out of the blocks in the second-half. But what came after the break was somehow even worse from Sunderland, as Tony Mowbray's doomed Baggies outplayed them with apparent ease.

Sunderland had time to waste a number of promising free-kicks in the opening exchanges of the second-half before Brunt doubled West Brom's lead on the hour mark. Marc-Antoine Fortune did well to slow the ball down wide on the right before squaring the ball perfectly for Brunt to slide the ball home from close-range.

Djibril Cisse almost brought his side back into it a couple of minutes later, but he knew very little about it as he inadvertently diverted a Teemu Tainio drive narrowly over the crossbar.

Sunderland's miserable afternoon was rounded off two minutes before time when West Brom sub Menseguez controlled nicely inside the box and shot low past Fulop to emphasise the extent of the visitors' problems.

Ben Phillips / Eurosport

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  1. cameron your supporters have deserted the team in­ droves this season,clearly hiring Shearer was a cynical­ attempt to sell season tickets that will backfire­ massively if the team gets relegated,I still think­ it'll be Boro,Hull and WBA that go though.But­ surely Shearer can't be the long term manager?

    From jack torrance, on Fri 24 Apr 6:32PM

  2. Well the Torrancemeister is back,great holiday and time­ to gloat.As previously predicted that measly little 3­ point gap that the Mags were talking about overturning­ for the last goodness knows how long is still there and­ has grown a bit as it will tomorrow to 8­ points.St.Shearer has managed 1 point out of 9 not­ quite the revolution forecasted eh.That team needed a­ seasoned manager not a gimmick

    From jack torrance, on Fri 24 Apr 6:26PM

  3. Andrew,
    Your optimism astounds me!
    Even if we go down,­ we'll still pull in more fans than safc.

    From cameron w, on Fri 24 Apr 6:19PM

  4. aww its great to see cameron and tony are still mackems­ in disguise like WOR mike ashley (what a legend for­ destroying the scum).... i take it you two fellas have­ already paid for ya season tickets to the SOL next­ season ??? cos lets be honest, its gonna be far better­ than home games against swansea, blackpool and­ coventry!!! hey just think in a few season time you can­ have a real derby against quality opposition in­ gatehead!!!!

    From Andrew, on Fri 24 Apr 6:07PM

  5. TUSKA 08 FTM
    and yes, you said it, 'a must win­ game' - and that is why NUFC will beat Pompey!!

    From cameron w, on Fri 24 Apr 11:13AM

  6. I've revised my prediction:
    West Brom to win 3-1;­ and safc right in the clarts!

    From cameron w, on Fri 24 Apr 11:12AM

  7. TUSKA 08 FTM
    erm, what were you doing there?
    Come back­ after the next 3 rounds of games girls; methinks you­ won't be so cocky then!

    From cameron w, on Fri 24 Apr 11:11AM

  8. tony k and camaroon go away and look at the bunch of­ over paid fizzzy pop leuage players next season now­ f... off you pair of bummers, you two married, probebly­ to your sisters

    From Ian, on Fri 24 Apr 9:54AM

  9. Tony K & Cameron W. Shouldnt you be more concerned­ about Porthmouth. Than Sunderland n WBA. If they get­ anything from SJP you are doomed A MUST MUST win game­ for you's.
    P.s Noticed you on Ipswich page Cameron­ Check next season opposition out eh ?

    From TUSKA 08 FTM, on Fri 24 Apr 7:14AM

  10. A highly thought out comment and argument by Tony K, as­ always.

    From adam.oxberry, on Thu 23 Apr 11:26PM

  11. This week before any of you clowns put on the blue and­ white stripes remember all the great players that came­ before that played with passion and proud to wear a­ Baggies shirt, the likes of Astle, Brown,Hope,Clarke­ Kaye,Williams talbot,Jackson,Hartford cantello, Regis,­ Cunningham,Robson,Taylor, Potter,­ Osbourne,Jonstone,need i go on so Mowbray instead of­ taking them on the training ground show them some old­ tapes maybe that will inspire them to see the ones that­ have gone before them, and maybe the ghost of Jeff­ Astle "GOD BLESS HIM" will give them the urge­ to score, "UP THE BAGGIES"

    From tildesleym, on Thu 23 Apr 9:54PM

  12. sunderland will be lucky to get a draw here; west brom­ and their fans will be well up for this . . . . .­ their last hurrah!!! A nightmare fixture!

    From cameron w, on Thu 23 Apr 6:39PM

  13. Well those are facts worth knowing!

    From Mike, on Thu 23 Apr 3:29PM
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