WEST BROMWICH ALBION v SUNDERLAND
Barclays Premier League
Saturday 21st September 2013, 3:00pm
The Hawthorns

MATCH NOTES

Albion have won more points (24), and won more games (7), against Sunderland than any other club in Premier League competition.

The Baggies have not won a Premier League home game since beating Swansea City on March 9.

Sunderland and Albion are the only two clubs to have not recorded a Premier League victory so far this season.

Stéphane Sessègnon has scored in the last two meetings of the clubs - for Sunderland.

The last time Albion played a game on this date was in 2011 when they lost 2-1 to Everton after extra-time in the Carling Cup at Goodison Park. The last Baggies' victory on September 21 came in 1999 when they beat Wycombe Wanderers 4-3 after extra-time at Adams Park in the Worthington Cup.

Albion have won the last four Premier League meetings between the clubs at The Hawthorns.

Eight of the last nine league meetings between the sides have produced a minimum of three goals.

Albion's last six games: Fulham (A) 1-1; Swansea City (H) 0-2; Newport County (H, LC) 3-0; Everton (A) 0-0; Southampton (H) 0-1; Bologna (H, Fr) 2-0.

Sunderland's last six games: Arsenal (H) 1-3; Crystal Palace (A) 1-3; MK Dons (H, LC) 4-2; Southampton (A) 1-1; Fulham (H) 0-1; FC Midtjylland (A, Fr) 1-0.

TEAM NEWS

Albion

Recent signing Stephane Sessegnon could be handed his Albion debut against his former club after finally receiving a work permit. Baggies' boss Steve Clarke must also decide whether to drop Nicolas Anelka with the French striker failing to impress so far this season.

Shane Long is a major doubt due to the knee injury he suffered on international duty with the Republic of Ireland whilst Matej Vydra is also unlikely to make the game as he recovers from the hamstring injury suffered against Newport three weeks ago.

Ben Foster remains sidelined with his foot injury and Zoltan Gera, Steven Reid and George Thorne all miss out due to a lack of match fitness following long-term injuries.

Squad from: Myhill, Daniels, Olsson, Popov, Ridgewell, Lugano, McAuley, Dawson, Jones, Yacob, Morrison, Brunt, Dorrans, Sinclair, Amalfitano, Mulumbu, Long, Anichebe, Sessegnon, Rosenberg, Berahino, Anelka.

Sunderland

Defender John O'Shea returns after suspension along with midfielder Lee Cattermole following his recovery from an ankle injury.

New signing Emanuele Giaccherini could also figure after a slight hamstring problem but Wes Brown, misses out due to a calf strain.

Squad from: Westwood, Mannone, Celustka, Cuellar, O'Shea, Diakite, Roberge, Colback, Cattermole, Cabral, Gardner, Giaccherini, Johnson, Larsson, Ba, Karlsson, Vaughan, Mavrias, Altidore, Fletcher, Wickham, Ji.

QUOTES

Baggies' boss Steve Clarke:

“Every year is different. You have to get a feel for your players and the way your team prefers to play. And I think with the late changes we’ve had mean it’s been a little bit more difficult. Even going into the first three games - because the transfer window was still open - the players and everyone around the club were still waiting on players coming in because they knew some would come in but didn’t know who. You then have to find an idea and a feel for the players.

“We’re still searching for the right way to play because we haven’t won a game yet. Hopefully that will come sooner rather than later. The flair has been missing from the team. We haven’t played with any great fluidity or flair going forwards. I’m not really sure why because we’ve still got a lot of the players we had last year. We haven’t been creative enough - that shows in the goals for column. One goal from a set-play is not enough. But it’s something we’re working on. The more good players and creative players we have available then surely, the longer the season goes, it will get better.

“I think Sunderland have changed a lot as a team. We’ve changed a lot as a team. It’s a new challenge, a new season, and both teams are desperate for points, so it should be quite a fiery encounter. It would give everybody a big lift if we could win. When you’re four games into the season and you haven’t won a game you start to get a bit anxious. It’s my job to try and keep that anxiety away from the players. The players have to go out and play with freedom and play as if they’re enjoying their football. If you don’t enjoy your football you don’t play to your maximum. So the players have to go out and enjoy it and hopefully the win will come this weekend.

“The crowd here are good, they understand the team and they understand the Premier League season is a long season. There are a lot of points still to play for. It’s not the time to be getting too anxious. Obviously, the quicker the win comes the better.”

www.wba.co.uk

Black Cats' manager Paolo Di Canio:

“This will be another important test for us. It’s another game with different difficulties to the Arsenal game.

“We must never forget that we have to give everything we have from the kick-off against any side, but especially in this game. We need to give our heart and passion, otherwise it will be difficult. We can get something from the game if we give it our best focus and help each other on the field.

“I expect a very good game. I expect us to play well, but more important in this kind of game is heart and desire.

“The Fulham game was a clear picture; we deserved to win but ended up with no points. We scored early against Southampton and almost grabbed three points, but came back with one. We deserved a minimum of a point at Crystal Palace, but it didn’t happen. The first half against Arsenal was not good, to be honest. Arsenal are a very good side and we did well [in the second half]; we almost completed the comeback.

“I think we deserve a minimum of three or four more points, but it didn’t happen and that means we have to work even harder to get something that we deserve.”

www.safc.com

MATCH ODDS

Result

Albion Win: 21/20, Sunderland Win: 3/1, Draw: 21/10.

First Goalscorer

Albion: Anelka 5/1, Anichebe 11/2, Sessegnon 6/1, Long 7/1, Berahino 15/2, Rosenberg 15/2, Sinclair 10/1, Morrison 12/1, Brunt 12/1, Dorrans 14/1, Mulumbu 16/1, Amalfitano 16/1, McAuley 20/1.

Sunderland: Fletcher 7/1, Altidore 15/2, Borini 9/1, Wickham 10/1, Gardner 11/1, Johnson 12/1, Giaccherini 14/1, Mavrias 16/1, Karlsson 16/1, Sung-Yueng 20/1, Larsson 20/1.

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REFEREE

Phil Dowd (Staffordshire)

Dowd refereed three Albion games last season - The 3-0 win against Liverpool at The Hawthorns on the opening day of the campaign, the goalless draw at home to West Ham in December and the 1-0 defeat away at Manchester City in May.

The Staffordshire official took charge of four Sunderland games during 2012/13 - The 1-0 defeat at home to Middlesbrough in the Capital One Cup in October, the 2-1 defeat at Norwich City in December, the 3-0 defeat against Liverpool at Anfield in January and the 1-0 win at home against Everton in April.

Dowd has issued 10 yellow cards in the three Premier League games he has officiated so far this season.

TICKET INFORMATION

Tickets will remain on general sale to home supporters only until kick-off.

WEATHER FORECAST

Mostly cloudy with a 10% chance of showers, 18°C.

FIXTURE HISTORY

LAST LEAGUE MEETING AT THE HAWTHORNS

Albion 2-1 Sunderland
Barclays Premier League
Saturday 23 February 2013, 3:00pm

Albion: Foster; Reid, McAuley, Olsson, Ridgewell; Morrison (Fortune 84), Yacob, Mulumbu, Brunt; Lukaku (Odemwingie 87), Long (Dorrans 66). Subs not used: Myhill (gk), Jones, Tamas, Rosenberg.

Goalscorers: Lukaku 35 (pen), 75

Booked: Lukaku 75 (removing shirt), Morrison 78 (foul)

Sunderland: Mignolet; Gardner, O'Shea, Bramble, Colback; Sessegnon, N’Diaye, Larsson (Vaughan 75), Johnson (McClean 75); Fletcher, Graham. Subs not used: Westwood (gk), Bardsley, Kilgallon, Mangane, Cuellar.

Goalscorer: Sessegnon 78

Booked: Bramble 40 (foul)

Attendance: 25,924

Referee: Roger East (Wiltshire)

Romelu Lukaku's two goals lifted West Brom to the 40-point mark for the campaign as they overcame Sunderland 2-1 to register their first home win for two months. The on-loan Chelsea striker reached 12 goals for the season - all of which have come in the Barclays Premier League - firstly from the penalty spot and then when charging down a clearance from Sunderland goalkeeper Simon Mignolet. The Black Cats set up a tense finish through Stephane Sessegnon's reply but Albion held on to keep up their challenge for a European place.

Lukaku showed again why Chelsea paid Anderlecht £18million for his services two years ago and the 19-year-old is showing the potential to develop into a top-class forward. He received a standing ovation when substituted four minutes from time and replaced by Peter Odemwingie. The home side were worthy of their success after a scrappy start, with midfield duo Youssouf Mulumbu and James Morrison also making telling contributions.

West Brom included Odemwingie in their matchday 18 for the first time since his proposed move to QPR fell through amid acrimony last month. The Nigeria international was predictably booed by the home fans when his name was announced over the public tannoy before kick-off and when he made his late entrance onto the pitch. Sunderland settled into the game well and home goalkeeper Ben Foster made the first save. The former England international held onto a near-post header from Black Cats skipper John O'Shea from an inswinging Adam Johnson corner. The woodwork came to West Brom's rescue after 25 minutes when Steven Fletcher cut in from the left and saw his low shot beat the dive of Foster and hit the far post. Danny Graham, who was making his first start for Sunderland following his £5million move from Swansea, had a close-range chance almost instantly but Foster blocked his low half-volley.

West Brom responded and Mulumbu headed wide from close range after attacking a probing Liam Ridgewell centre. Lukaku had the ball in the net after 28 minutes after receiving the ball from Morrison but the whistle had already gone for a foul on the Scotland international by Sebastian Larsson. However Lukaku was not to be denied and after 34 minutes put West Brom ahead from the penalty spot for his 11th goal of the season. Craig Gardner was adjudged to have handled a cross from former Birmingham team-mate Ridgewell and up stepped Lukaku to send Mignolet the wrong way from the spot.

Sunderland defender Titus Bramble became the first player to be yellow-carded, after 40 minutes, for chopping down Shane Long in full flight. The visitors had claims of their own for a penalty when a Johnson centre hit the arm of Gareth McAuley although there were few protests from the Sunderland players when it was rejected. Long headed over at the end of the first half after connecting with a Morrison cross.

Sunderland started the second half on the offensive and Sessegnon had a shot cleared off the line by Mulumbu following a deep corner from Larsson. But Lukaku continued to trouble the Sunderland defence and a rising shot stung the palms of Mignolet after good play by Chris Brunt. Bramble produced a last-ditch tackle to block Morrison's close-range attempt as West Brom searched for the second goal - and with 16 minutes left Lukaku doubled their lead. His perseverance forced Bramble into a mis-timed back pass and he then charged down Mignolet's clearance which flew into the net. Sunderland hit back and in the 80th minute Sessegnon curled a shot past Foster and over the head of Ridgewell on the line to reduce the arrears. Mignolet kept out a Brunt volley while Odemwingie flashed a shot inches wide after he replaced Lukaku.

Sporting Life

CURRENT CONNECTIONS

Stéphane Sessègnon joined Albion earlier this month after spending two and a half years at Sunderland.

PAST CONNECTIONS

Amongst the players to have turned out at various levels for both clubs are: Sam Allardyce, Mark Angel, Brett Angell, Peter Barnes, Jack Boyd, Darren Carter, Frank Cresswell, Shaun Cunnington, Danny Dichio, Andy Dibble, Tony Ford, Carsten Fredgaard, Marton Fulop, Sid Glidden, Don Goodman, Bernt Haas, Danny Hegan, Jim Holton, Kevin Kilbane, Archie McKenzie, Sandy McNab, Paul McShane, Andy Marriott, Jimmy Millar, Joe Murphy, John Nevin, Jimmy Nicholl, Kevin Phillips, Kieran Richardson, Barry Siddall, Colin Suggett, Stanislav Varga, Ike Webb and Colin West.

ALL-TIME LEAGUE & CUP RECORD VS SUNDERLAND