SUNDERLAND v WEST BROMWICH ALBION
Barclays Premier League
Saturday 21st February 2015, 3:00pm
Stadium of Light

Following last Saturday's superb FA Cup display against West Ham United, attention this weekend returns to the Premier League when Albion travel to Wearside looking to build on the club's recent good form. The Baggies take on a Sunderland side who have come under-fire from their own support recently following a number of poor results, the mood around the Stadium of Light being bad enough to persuade Black Cats' boss Gus Poyet to pen an 'open letter' to fans pleading for unity.

In complete contrast to Poyet's and Sunderland's problems, Tony Pulis' men go into the game on the back of the club's best all-round performance for quite some time. Whilst the national media predictably focused on West Ham's shortcomings, anyone that saw the match would have been impressed with the complete dominance shown by the Baggies. With Joleon Lescott and Gareth McAuley marshalling a solid back four, James Morrison and Craig Gardner pulling the strings in midfield, and the ever-dangerous duo of Saido Berahino and Brown Ideye up front, Albion were totally deserving of their four goal victory, and infact, the Hammers could have had no complaints if Pulis' side had added another goal or two to the total.

The key figure in the victory over West Ham, and indeed the win against Swansea City in the club's previous game, was undoubtedly the re-born Ideye. The first six months of his Albion career left everyone scratching their heads wondering how on earth we had ended up paying a reported £10million for the player. He had shown absolutely nothing to suggest he was going to be anything but a failure at The Hawthorns, and a costly one at that. However, one goal against Burnley has seemingly turned his Baggies' career around with his performances in the last two games being nothing short of fantastic. With pace, power and skill, the Nigerian striker has led the front line superbly, and in the process taking heaps of pressure off his striker partner Saido Berahino, who himself has looked better with the rejuvenated Ideye alongside him.

In midfield the recalled Craig Gardner had possibly his best game for the club and Pulis must now decide whether to bring recent signing and newly appointed club captain Darren Fletcher back into the fold. It would be harsh on Gardner if he finds himself sidelined once more, especially given he would be relishing the chance to face his former club. The smart money has to be on Fletcher returning though, and to be fair the former United man was excellent in the club's win over Swansea, giving a true leader's display, perhaps reminiscent of the way another Scotsman - Derek McInnes, used to lead the side back in the days of Gary Megson. Continually motivating the players around him and barking out instructions throughout, Fletcher looks like he could become the leader we have been craving for far too long.

Whilst Gardner will be hoping to face his previous side, another player hoping to figure against his former club is Black Cats' right-back Billy Jones. A popular figure amongst the Albion support, it was disappointing to see him leave the club during last summer although at the time questions were raised about his fitness record, and true to form the former Crewe right-back has suffered an injury-hit season.

As for the game itself, if the Baggies can grab an early goal it will be difficult for Sunderland to get back into the game given our form under Pulis. Sunderland will be hoping the influential duo of Jermain Defoe and Lee Cattermole are fit for the game with both currently rated as doubtful. The absence of Defoe in particular would be good news for Albion with the former England striker having a good scoring record against the Baggies over the years. However, even if the pair do play, Albion, with their newly found confidence do have enough to at least take a point from the game.

ATWD Prediction: Sunderland 1-2 Albion

MATCH NOTES

The game will be the 152nd competitive meeting between Albion and Sunderland. The Black Cats currently have 57 wins to their name compared to the Baggies' 53.

The last time Albion played a game on this date came in 2010, the Baggies suffering a 2-1 defeat against Bristol City at Ashton Gate. The club's last win on February 21 came in 2004 when goals from Darren Moore and Thomas Gaardsoe gave a Gary Megson-led side a 2-1 win over Sheffield United at Bramall Lane.

Sunderland's last game on this date came in 2009 when the Black Cats played out a 0-0 draw with Arsenal in a Premier League clash at the Emirates Stadium.

Albion have won more games (8), won more points (28), and scored more goals (29), against Sunderland than any other club in Premier League competition.

Ten of the last twelve league meetings between the sides have produced a minimum of three goals.

Stephane Sessegnon has scored in three of his last four starts in this fixture - twice for Sunderland and once for Albion.

Sunderland have won just two of their last 14 Premier League games at the Stadium of Light (W2 D6 L6).

Albion's last six games: West Ham United (H, FAC) 4-0; Swansea City (H) 2-0; Burnley (A) 2-2; Tottenham Hotspur (H) 0-3; Birmingham City (A, FAC) 2-1; Everton (A) 0-0.

Sunderland's last six games: Bradford City (A, FAC) 0-2; Queens Park Rangers (H) 0-2; Swansea City (A) 1-1; Fulham (A, FAC) 3-1; Burnley (H) 2-0; Fulham (H, FAC) 0-0.

TEAM NEWS

Albion

Baggies' boss Tony Pulis has an almost fully fit squad to choose from for the trip to Wearside with only Victor Anichebe ruled out (groin).

Darren Fletcher returns after being cup-tied against West Ham whilst Jonas Olsson is available again following a lengthy lay off due to his Achilles injury. Youssouf Mulumbu could also figure after returning from African Cup of Nations duty although after suffering a hamstring injury at the tournament he may not yet be risked.

Sunderland

Black Cats' boss Gus Poyet has a number of injury worries ahead of the Stadium of Light clash.

Jermaine Defoe (calf), Emanuele Giaccherini (illness), Will Buckley and Lee Cattermole (both knee), Jack Rodwell (groin) and Anthony Reveillere (hamstring) are all doubts although Poyet is hopeful that a number of them will be fit enough to feature.

MATCH ODDS

Result

Albion Win: 9/5, Sunderland Win: 7/4, Draw: 19/10.

First Goalscorer

Albion: Berahino 6/1, Ideye 13/2, McManaman 9/1, Sessegnon 9/1, Gardner 12/1, Morrison 16/1, Brunt 20/1, Dawson 25/1, McAuley 25/1, Fletcher 28/1, Lescott 28/1, Yacob 33/1.

Sunderland: Defoe 5/1, Fletcher 6/1, Wickham 13/2, Graham 7/1, Johnson 8/1, Alvarez 9/1, Giaccherini 10/1, Gomez 11/1, Rodwell 12/1, Buckley 12/1, Larsson 14/1, Cattermole 25/1, Van Aanholt 25/1, Vergini 28/1, Jones 33/1, Coates 33/1.

No goalscorer: 13/2.

www.williamhill.com

REFEREE

Mike Jones (Cheshire)

Jones has taken charge of just one Albion game so far this season - the 2-1 defeat against West Ham United at The Hawthorns in December.

The Cheshire official last took charge of a Sunderland game back in February of last year - their 2-0 defeat at home to Hull City.

Jones has handed out 77 yellow cards and six red in the 22 games he has refereed so far this season.

TICKET INFORMATION

Albion were allocated an initial 1,500 tickets for the game priced at £29 adults, £19 seniors/over 65s and £10 under-16s. Tickets will be available at the Stadium of Light up until kick-off at cash-only turnstile number 70.

WEATHER FORECAST

Sunny spells and light showers, 6°C.

FIXTURE HISTORY

LAST MEETING AT THE STADIUM OF LIGHT

Sunderland 2-0 Albion
Barclays Premier League
Wednesday 7 May 2014, 7:45pm

Sunderland: Mannone; Vergini, O’Shea, Brown, Alonso; Johnson (Bridcutt 61), Larsson, Cattermole (Giaccherini 88), Colback, Borini; Wickham (Altidore 61). Subs not used: Ustari (gk), Bardsley, Ba, Scocco.

Goalscorers: Colback 13, Borini 31

Albion: Foster; Reid (Dawson HT), McAuley, Lugano, Brunt (c); Berahino (Vydra 78), Yacob (Mulumbu HT), Morrison, Dorrans; Sessegnon; Anichebe. Subs not used: Myhill (gk), Sinclair, Olsson, O’Neil.

Attendance: 45,181

Referee: Lee Mason (Lancashire)

Gus Poyet got his miracle as Sunderland ensured their continued presence in the Barclays Premier League with a comfortable 2-0 victory over West Brom. Just weeks after admitting they needed divine intervention when they slipped seven points off the survival pace, the 46-year-old Uruguayan saw his team secure a fourth successive top-flight win for the first time since December 2000 to end their fears. The win means 18th-placed Norwich have only a purely mathematical chance of avoiding relegation as the season draws to a close on Sunday.

Jack Colback's third goal of the season got the home side off to the perfect start when he turned Marcos Alonso's near-post cross past goalkeeper Ben Foster. But Sunderland were cruising 18 minutes later when Fabio Borini volleyed home his ninth of the campaign to give the home side breathing space. Neither goalscorer may remain at the Stadium of Light next season with Colback out of contract and being linked with derby rivals Newcastle, and Borini wanted back at Liverpool after a hugely successful loan spell. But if their goals prove to be their last meaningful contributions - Poyet has hinted talks with Colback could yet be reopened - they could not have been any more timely. The Stadium of Light was rocking as the bulk of a crowd of 45,181 celebrated the great escape as if it were the trophy the club came so close to securing in the Capital One Cup final at Wembley in March. Sunderland could even afford a glaring miss from substitute Jozy Altidore, who steered a 65th-minute shot wide with the goal at his mercy as a chance to kill off a resurgent West Brom came and went. But for all the visitors made a game of it in the second half after a tepid first 45 minutes, they rarely looked like denying their hosts three more points to go with the 10 they had garnered from their last four games against Manchester City, Chelsea, Cardiff and Manchester United.

Poyet's men had manoeuvred themselves into a position of strength, albeit a precarious one, by virtue of an unlikely sequence of results, and they ran out knowing a point would be enough to leave the Canaries needing to beat Arsenal handsomely on Sunday and hope the Black Cats lost heavily at home to Swansea to eradicate a goal difference deficit of 13. However, having dealt in unexpected twists for much of the season, the head coach was not prepared to leave anything to chance and sent his players out under orders to seal their own fate. They could hardly have responded to Poyet's pleas any more emphatically as they took the game by the scruff of the neck and raced into a potentially decisive lead with barely half an hour gone. Colback needed just 13 minutes to set the ball rolling, turning up on cue to stab Marcos Alonso's low cross past Ben Foster after Sebastian Larsson had slipped away from Claudio Yacob in midfield and picked out the full-back wide on the left. Confidence coursed through red and white veins as Sunderland, once again led admirably by midfield enforcer Lee Cattermole, dominated. A surging break out of defence and slide-rule pass from the former Middlesbrough and Wigan man allowed Adam Johnson to deliver a dangerous 23rd-minute cross which Steven Reid had to hack away. But as Reid and fellow full-back found themselves repeatedly under pressure, the Black Cats were relentless and extended their lead with 31 minutes gone. Larsson was once again the instigator with a delicate lofted pass to pick out Borini, who volleyed first-time past the advancing Foster to make it 2-0. The Baggies offered little as an attacking force in return, and it was not until injury time the home goalkeeper Vito Mannone was called upon to make a meaningful save when he pushed away Saido Berahino's drive.

West Brom boss Pepe Mel attempted to shore up his team at the break, replacing Reid with Craig Dawson and Yacob with Youssouf Mulumbu, and they immediately had a more compact and coherent look to them. They came close to dragging themselves back into the game when striker Victor Anichebe only just failed to connect with Dawson's driven cross as he slid in. Poyet replaced Johnson and lone striker Connor Wickham with Liam Bridcutt and Jozy Altidore with 61 minutes as he looked to consolidate, but with the visitors pressing, it was Black Cats old boy Stephane Sessegnon who dragged a shot wide two minutes later. Altidore somehow missed the target when it seemed easier to convert Colback's 65th-minute cross and full-back Santiago Vergini smashed a shot across the face of goal four minutes later, but the points - and safety - were already secure.

Sporting Life

CURRENT CONNECTIONS

Stéphane Sessègnon became Albion's record signing when he moved to The Hawthorns in a £6million deal in September 2013. He joined from Sunderland where he had spent two and a half years.

Baggies' midfielder Craig Gardner started his career at Aston Villa, making his first team debut in 2005. The Solihull-born player joined Birmingham City in January 2010 but following the club's relegation from the Premier League 18 months later he left for Sunderland in a reported £6 million deal. He moved to The Hawthorns on a 'Bosman' free in May 2014.

Sunderland defender Billy Jones joined the Black Cats from Albion in the summer of 2014 after his contract at The Hawthorns had expired. He had joined the Baggies in June 2011 from Preston North End.

PAST CONNECTIONS

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

ALL-TIME LEAGUE & CUP RECORD VS SUNDERLAND