WEST BROMWICH ALBION v SUNDERLAND
Barclays Premier League
Saturday 16th August 2014, 3:00pm
The Hawthorns

After the most controversial close season in many years, Albion and new boss Alan Irvine will attempt to put it all behind them when they kick-off the new season against Sunderland at The Hawthorns on Saturday afternoon.

Whether it was the appointment of Irvine, the club’s new pinstripe strip or the club’s perceived inactivity in the transfer market, things have gone far from smoothly in B71 and Baggies’ fans have generally been far from happy. Whilst the expectation prior to 2013/14 was for another top ten finish, you sense this season fans will be happy simply to avoid relegation and perhaps avoid the front-page headlines we made far too many times last season.

The number of young professionals involved in the recent pre-season friendlies confirm, as many supporters continue to insist, that the current squad is still nowhere near strong enough despite the eight new players that have arrived since the end of last season. The captures of Brown Ideye and Cristian Gamboa are the players that have excited fans the most but bar 60 minutes in a behind closed doors game for Ideye, neither has featured in pre-season. With the key figures of Joleon Lescott, Gareth McAuley and James Morrison also missing recently through injury it looks very much like Irvine will be fielding a patched-up team for his first game in charge.

One thing is certain, the Baggies' new boss must get off to a flying start. Already one of Albion’s most unpopular managers, through no fault of his own it must be said, Irvine simply has to get supporters behind him and the only way he’ll achieve that is by guiding his team to success. Whilst his predecessor Pepe Mel managed to get a good proportion of supporters on his side through his engaging personality, only wins will do for Irvine.

Sunderland, like the Baggies, will be looking for a major improvement on last season’s showing. Only a fantastic run of results at the very end of the season prevented Gus Poyet’s side suffering a relegation that looked certain for the majority of the campaign. For the Black Cats, all eyes will be on £10million signing Jack Rodwell, who for a number of years was seen as one of English football’s bright hopes, only for the combination of Manchester City and injuries to halt his progress.

With Albion only winning two first day games in sixteen attempts, the omens for a home win are not good, especially given the squad Alan Irvine looks likely to have at his disposal. Thankfully, the visitors are also going through a rebuild process and at the moment the two teams look fairly evenly matched. First games of the season are notoriously difficult to predict and this one is no different, whilst Albion have the home advantage Sunderland will probably be the slightly more confident of the two sides.

ATWD Prediction: 1-1

MATCH NOTES

The game will be the 151st competitive meeting between Albion and Sunderland. The Black Cats currently have 57 wins to their name compared to the Baggies' 53.

Albion and Sunderland have met twice previously on the opening day of a season - 1954/55 when Vic Buckingham's men lost 4-2 at Roker Park and 1926/27 when the Baggies ran out 3-0 winners at The Hawthorns.

The last time Albion played a game on this date was on the opening day of the 2008/09 season when they lost 1-0 to Arsenal at  the Emirates Stadium. The last Baggies' victory on August 16 came in 2003 when they beat Burnley 4-1 in a Championship fixture at The Hawthorns.

Sunderland's last game on August 16 also came in 2008 when they suffered a 1-0 Premier League defeat at home to Liverpool.

The Baggies have won just two of their last 16 games on the opening day of a season.

Albion have won more games (8), won more points (27), and scored more goals (27), against Sunderland than any other club in Premier League competition.

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

Nine of the last eleven league meetings between the sides have produced a minimum of three goals.

Stéphane Sessègnon has scored in three of the last four meetings of the two clubs - twice for Sunderland and once for the Baggies.

Albion's last six games: FC Porto (H, Fr) 1-3; Port Vale (A, Fr) 2-3; Nottingham Forest (A, Fr) 0-1; Sacramento Republic (A, Fr) 3-1; Sacramento Republic (A, Fr) 1-0; Shrewsbury Town (A, Fr) 2-1.

Sunderland's last six games: Udinese (H, Fr) 2-0; Real Betis (H, Fr) 2-0; Vitoria Setubal (A, Fr) 0-0; CD Nacional (A, Fr) 1-0; Recreativo de Huelva (A, Fr) 0-1; Hartlepool United (A, Fr) 0-3.

TEAM NEWS

Albion

Defender Joleon Lescott and midfielder James Morrison are both ruled out due to knee injuries whilst recent signing Cristian Gamboa also misses out having failed to receive the necessary paperwork in time to allow him to play. Gareth McAuley is not yet fully fit following his calf injury but could still feature in the final 18.

Albion’s record £10million signing Ideye Brown could make his debut for the club along with Australian international Jason Davidson with the duo both playing 60 minutes in a behind closed doors friendly with Nottingham Forest during the week.

Sébastien Pocognoli, Chris Baird, Andre Wisdom and former Sunderland man Craig Gardner will all also figure for the Baggies for the first time following their summer moves.

Sunderland

Winger Emanuele Giaccherini definitely misses the game with a groin problem and he could be joined on the sidelines by former Albion right-back Billy Jones who looks likely to miss the Hawthorns’ clash after picking up a hamstring injury.

Costel Pantilimon, Jack Rodwell, Patrick van Aanholt, Will Buckley and Jordi Gomez could all make their debuts for Sunderland.

MATCH ODDS

Result

Albion Win: 13/10, Sunderland Win: 23/10, Draw: 21/10.

First Goalscorer

Albion: Ideye 5/1, Berahino 11/2, Anichebe 13/2, Sessegnon 7/1, Gardner 9/1, A Nabi 9/1, Dorrans 11/1, Roofe 14/1, Brunt 14/1, Dawson 20/1, Mulumbu 20/1, Baird 25/1, Yacob 25/1, Lescott 25/1, Gamboa 33/1, Davidson 33/1, Olsson 33/1, Pocognoli 33/1.

Sunderland: Fletcher 13/2, Wickham 7/1, Altidore 9/1, Johnson 9/1, Graham 10/1, Gomez 11/1, Mavrias 12/1, Watmore 14/1, Agnew 14/1, Rodwell 16/1, Larsson 20/1, Ndiaye 25/1, Vergini 25/1, van Aanholt 33/1, Bridcutt 33/1, Cattermole 33/1, Jones 33/1.

www.williamhill.com

REFEREE

Neil Swarbrick (Lancashire)

Swarbrick refereed two Albion games last season - the 2-0 win over Crystal Palace at The Hawthorns in November and the 3-3 draw at home to Spurs in April.

The Lancashire official took charge of four Sunderland games during 2013/14 - the 1-0 defeat at home to Fulham in August, the goalless draw away at Aston Villa in November, the 3-1 FA Cup win over Carlisle United at the Stadium of Light in January and the 0-0 draw at home to Crystal Palace in March.

Swarbrick issued 115 yellow cards and one red in the 33 games he officiated last season.

A full run-down of Swarbrick's history refereeing the Baggies can be found here

TICKET INFORMATION

Tickets are currently on general sale to home supporters. Seats for the category B fixture are priced £25 adults, £20 seniors, £15 under-21s/students and £10 under-17s.

WEATHER FORECAST

Dry with light cloud, 17°C.

FIXTURE HISTORY

LAST MEETING AT THE HAWTHORNS

Albion 3-0 Sunderland
Barclays Premier League
Saturday 21 September 2013, 3:00pm

Albion: Myhill; Jones, McAuley, Olsson, Ridgewell; Amalfitano, Mulumbu, Morrison, Sinclair (Yacob 68); Sessegnon (Berahino 89); Anelka (Anichebe 68). Subs not used: Camp (gk), Rosenberg, Lugano, Popov. 

Goalscorers: Sessegnon 20, Ridgewell 76, Amalfitano 90+3

Sunderland: Westwood; Celustka, Diakite, O’Shea, Colback; Johnson, Gardner (Cattermole 69), Ki, Giaccherini (Mavrias HT); Fletcher, Borini (Altidore 59). Subs not used: Mannone (gk), Ba, Cuellar, Dong-won. 

Booked: Colback 28 (foul), Ki 35 (foul)

Attendance: 24,595

Referee: Phil Dowd (Staffordshire)

Stephane Sessegnon hit back at Paolo di Canio with a debut goal for West Brom to push former club Sunderland to another defeat. Sessegnon, who joined the Baggies in an acrimonious deadline day move from Wearside earlier this month, struck after 20 minutes as Sunderland lost 3-0 at The Hawthorns to remain bottom of the Barclays Premier League.Liam Ridgewell secured victory with a second goal 14 minutes from time before another impressive new signing in Morgan Amalfitano added a third in injury time.It proved a dismal afternoon for the Black Cats, who only had 10 men for the closing 15 minutes after Steven Fletcher was forced off injured with all substitutes having been used. The result is sure to pile the pressure on Sunderland manager Di Canio, who made the controversial decision to sell the popular Sessegnon. There was clear irritation among the visiting fans after the final whistle was blown but Di Canio approached them to applaud and gesticulated they should keep their chins up. Yet while his side have just one point, opposite number Steve Clarke could breathe a sigh of relief after finally securing a first win.

Sessegnon, whose debut had been delayed by red tape, did the business for him in an impressive first appearance. His name was read out to loud cheers from both sets of supporters prior to the match and, perhaps inevitably, he needed little time to make his mark. He was in the right place to tuck home the opening goal after the hosts had broken down the right in the 20th minute. Amalfitano crossed for Scott Sinclair and his firm header was parried by Keiren Westwood in Sessegnon's direction. Sessegnon could not pass up the invitation and turned the ball past his former team-mate but he pointedly refused to celebrate as his new colleagues rushed to congratulate him. Sunderland, who had previously looked good in possession but without a cutting edge, almost equalised immediately as Adam Johnson found himself unchallenged in the area but Jonas Olsson recovered to deflect his effort wide. In what became a lively spell, Marseille loanee Amalfitano cut inside from the right and unleashed a powerful shot which might have troubled Westwood but for a deflection diverting it onto the bar. West Brom were awarded a corner which fortunately for referee Phil Dowd came to nothing as replays suggested the deflection had come off a home player. Nicolas Anelka threatened as West Brom broke again down the right but Modibo Diakite got back to clear the veteran striker's ball into the middle. Fabio Borini, making his first Sunderland start since signing on loan from Liverpool, looked lively but without service and he lost out to Baggies goalkeeper Boaz Myhill chasing a through-ball.

The opening to the second half was subdued but the game was again enlivened by Sessegenon, who turned sharply on the left corner of the area only to blast high and wide. At the other end Craig Gardner found room to shoot from distance but could not keep his effort on target. Sunderland substitute Jozy Altidore wanted a penalty for handball in the 65th minute after cleverly shifting his balance to take a Charis Mavrias cross and get a shot in. Olsson flung his body in the way to block and Altidore claimed it had struck his hand but referee Phil Dowd was not interested. Chances started to come thick and fast and Anelka had a good headed chance deflected narrowly wide from a Billy Jones cross. Sunderland countered but luck was again against them as Fletcher not only volleyed narrowly over stretching to reach Johnson's cross, but landed awkwardly on his shoulder. He received lengthy treatment but was unable to continue and, with all three substitutes having been used, Sunderland had to play on with 10 men. They were punished further moments later as Westwood failed to deal effectively with another Amalfitano cross, palming it into the path of the on-rushing Ridgewell, who finished clinically. Amalfitano wrapped up the scoring with a fine strike which rewarded his efforts after being picked out on the right by Victor Anichebe.

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: 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