Match Report: West Bromwich Albion 0-1 Sunderland
Pierre Ekwah scored the only goal of the game as Sunderland produced their best performance of Mike Dodds’ third interim spell with a 1-0 win over play-off chasing West Bromwich Albion.
The Frenchman’s crisp half-volley just before the interval proved crucial, as Carlos Corberan’s side’s 10-game unbeaten run ended.
Brandon Thomas-Asante was sent off for two yellow card offences towards the end of the first half, but the defeat still keeps the Baggies in fifth place and in firm contention to finish in the top six.
Dodds had hinted at sticking with the same side and setup that frustrated Leeds United on Tuesday night, and he did just that, as the match had a similar start to that at Elland Road in midweek.
The home side dominated possession, but the Black Cats were happy to soak up the pressure and hit the Baggies on the counter-attack.
Corberan’s side had the better of the early openings, though, as both Nathaniel Chalobah and Thomas-Asante fired long-range efforts into the gloves of Anthony Patterson.
However, with 43 minutes on the clock, the hosts were down to ten. Two tackles in a matter of minutes from the Albion striker on Jack Clarke and, then Dan Ballard, resulted in Matt Donohue sending Thomas-Asante off.
Only four minutes later, though, the home side’s problems were compounded.
A neat corner-kick delivery from Callum Styles dropped to the feet of Ekwah, who fired home a fine side-footed finish into the top left corner.
Corberan made a double change at the interval, but it struggled to halt the Black Cats looking more threatening and controlling the contest.
Dan Neil went close with a right-footed curling effort that required Alex Palmer to tip the ball over the bar.
Substitute John Swift came the closest for the Baggies, as his shot from just outside of the penalty area dipped narrowly wide of the left post.
The second-half was a brilliantly-controlled display from Dodds’ side, and they should have doubled their advantage when Styles’ effort was whipped around the post, but Ekwah’s first-half strike was enough for an impressive three points.
