WEST BROMWICH ALBION v SUNDERLAND
Barclays Premier League
Saturday 17th October 2015, 3:00pm
The Hawthorns

MATCH NOTES

The game will be the 153rd competitive meeting between Albion and Sunderland. The Black Cats currently have 57 wins to their name compared to the Baggies' 53.

There have been 16 Premier League meetings with Albion winning eight and Sunderland three.

The last time Albion played a game on this date came in 2009 when goals from Jerome Thomas (2) and Youssouf Mulumbu gave the Baggies a 3-1 win over Reading in a Championship clash at The Hawthorns

Sunderland's last game on October 17 also came in 2009 when a Darren Bent goal gave the Black Cats a 1-0 Premier League win over Liverpool at the Stadium of Light.

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

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

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

Only Aston Villa (2) and Watford (1) have scored fewer league goals at home than Albion’s four this season.

Sunderland are winless in their last 11 league games (D5, L6) - the worst current run in the division.

The Baggies have conceded nine goals at home this season - only Leicester City (10) have conceded more.

Albion's last six games: Crystal Palace (A) 0-2; Everton (H) 2-3; Norwich City (A, LC) 0-3; Aston Villa (A) 1-0; Southampton (H) 0-0; Stoke City (A) 1-0.

Sunderland's last six games: West Ham United (H) 2-2; Manchester United (A) 0-3; Manchester City (H, LC) 1-4; Bournemouth (A) 0-2; Spurs (H) 0-1; Aston Villa (A) 2-2.

TEAM NEWS

Albion

Jonny Evans (groin), James Morrison (ankle), Saido Berahino (knock) and Salomon Rondon (fatigue) are all doubts ahead of the visit of Sunderland with the quartet each given just a 50-50 chance of being fit.

Sunderland

New Black Cats' boss Sam Allardyce will be without the suspended duo of Jeremain Lens and Sebastian Coates for his first game in charge but Younes Kaboul (knee) and Adam Matthews (ankle), and midfielders Yann M'Vila (hamstring) and Ola Toivonen (groin) are all expected to be available after injury.

MATCH ODDS

Result

Albion Win: 11/10, Sunderland Win: 3/1, Draw: 2/1.

First Goalscorer

Albion: Berahino 9/2, Rondon 9/2, Lambert 11/2, Anichebe 6/1, McClean 7/1, McManaman 9/1, Gnabry 9/1, Gardner 10/1, Morrison 10/1, Brunt 16/1, Dawson 16/1, Fletcher 20/1, McAuley 20/1, Yacob 28/1, Chester 28/1, Olsson 33/1, Evans 33/1.

Sunderland: Defoe 13/2, Fletcher 7/1, Borini 15/2, Graham 9/1, Johnson 11/1, Toivonen 11/1, Watmore 14/1, Gomez 14/1, Rodwell 20/1, Larsson 20/1, M'Vila 25/1, Kaboul 28/1, Cattermole 33/1.

No goalscorer: 8/1.

www.williamhill.com

REFEREE

Martin Atkinson (West Yorkshire)

Atkinson has officiated one Albion game so far this season - the 1-0 win at Aston Villa last month.

He  took charge of two Albion games last season - the 3-2 home defeat against Leicester City on 'Astle Day' in April and the 4-0 FA Cup win over West Ham at The Hawthorns in February.

The West Yorkshire official took charge of five Sunderland games last season - their 0-0 draw at home to Leicester City in May, the 1-1 draw at Stoke City in April, their 2-0 defeat at home to Queens Park Rangers in February, the 0-0 draw at Aston Villa in December and the 1-1 draw against Manchester United at the Stadium of Light in August.

Atkinson has handed out 56 yellow cards but no red in the 11 games he has refereed so far this season.

A full run down of Atkinson's record when taking charge of Albion games can be found here

TICKET INFORMATION

Tickets are on currently on general sale to home supporters priced at £27/£25 adults, £21/£20 over-65s, £16/£15 under-21s/students and £10 juniors.

The lower ticket prices apply to the Birmingham Road End and Smethwick End Stands.

WEATHER FORECAST

Thick cloud, 11°C.

FIXTURE HISTORY

LAST MEETING AT THE HAWTHORNS

Albion 2-2 Sunderland
Barclays Premier League
Saturday 16 August 2014, 3:00pm

Albion: Foster, Wisdom, Dawson, Olsson, Pocognoli, Mulumbu, Gardner (Yacob 84), Dorrans (Sessegnon 84), Berahino, Brunt (c) (Baird 76), Anichebe. Subs not used: Myhill (gk), Ideye, Davidson, O’Neil.

Goalscorers: Berahino 42 & 74

Booked: Dorrans 30 (foul), Olsson 32 (unsporting behaviour)

Sunderland: Mannone, Roberge, van Aanholt, Brown (Altidore 81), O'Shea (c), Cattermole, Larsson, Rodwell (Gomez 67), Johnson (Buckley 73), Wickham, Fletcher. Subs not used: Pantilimon (gk), Bridcutt, Mavrias, Graham.

Goalscorers: Cattermole 5, Larsson 85

Booked: Roberge 42 (foul)

Attendance: 25,468

Referee: Neil Swarbrick (Lancashire)

Sebastian Larsson tucked home a late equaliser as Sunderland snatched a 2-2 draw in their Barclays Premier League opener at West Brom. The hosts had looked like making a winning start under new boss Alan Irvine after Saido Berahino struck twice following Lee Cattermole's superb fifth-minute goal at The Hawthorns. Sunderland may feel justice was done after Berahino's first came from a controversial penalty on 42 minutes, but West Brom, after dominating play, will rue several wasted chances. The match pitted together two sides looking to make a fresh start after narrowly avoiding relegation last season. Irvine, who was paraded on the pitch to good applause prior to kick-off, fielded three of his eight new signings in former Sunderland man Craig Gardner, Andre Wisdom and Sebastien Pocognoli. Record £10m buy Brown Ideye, not yet deemed match-fit, was left on the bench. Sunderland gave a start to their headline summer signing Jack Rodwell and also gave a debut to Patrick van Aanholt.

At first it seemed West Brom had settled the better, enjoying some good early possession, but it was Sunderland who showed the first flash of brilliance through Cattermole. The midfielder collected the ball 25 yards out from Jonas Olsson's headed clearance, steadied himself and unleashed a powerful shot into the top corner which Ben Foster could only get fingertips to. West Brom were not rocked by the setback and soon settled back into a rhythm which could bode well for the season. They pieced together some slick moves and utilised the holding-up ability of Victor Anichebe well, although they were initially restricted to long-range efforts. Captain Chris Brunt went close with a good effort that curled narrowly wide and Pocognoli hit another crisp strike, although Vito Mannone was unconcerned as it drifted wide. Mannone looked more worried when Berahino found space, but lashed into the side-netting. Sunderland could have doubled their lead against the run of play when Larsson floated a free-kick into the box, but Valentin Roberge headed a clear-cut chance wide. The visitors were made to pay for the miss, although they could have a legitimate gripe over the penalty after Anichebe appeared to go down at the slightest hint of a shirt-pull from Roberge. Referee Neil Swarbrick blew instantly, but stoked the tension by taking a few moments to indicate his decision. When given the go-ahead, Berahino made no mistake with a well-taken spot-kick. Sunderland lost their composure in the minutes that followed and Berahino benefited from some sloppy defending on a strong run, but Mannone got himself behind his shot.

The visitors survived a scare early in the second half as Mannone flapped and Craig Dawson thought he had forced the ball over the line, but the flag was raised for a foul on the goalkeeper. Sunderland then started to show some spirit and created chances for Connor Wickham, who volleyed wide, and Steven Fletcher, whose header was ruled out for offside. It proved a short-lived flurry from Sunderland and the Baggies claimed the lead after 74 minutes. Mannone saved well from Graham Dorrans' long-range strike, but the ball stayed in play and Gardner was the quickest to react, quickly whipping in high cross to the far post. Sunderland were still back-tracking and Berahino got ahead of Van Aanholt to tap home his second, to the clear frustration of Mannone, who looked angry with the defence. Yet the visitors were not done and produced a move almost out of keeping with much of their earlier play five minutes from time. Jordi Gomez found Van Aanholt down the left and his cut-back was deftly diverted past Foster by Larsson from six yards out.

Sporting Life

CURRENT CONNECTIONS

Albion midfielder James McClean spent two years as a Sunderland player after joining them from Derry City in August 2011. He moved onto Wigan in August 2013 and spent two seasons with the Latics before he moved to The Hawthorns in June 2015.

New Sunderland boss Sam Allardyce was Albion's player / reserve team coach for two years under Brian Talbot from 1989-1991. Dudley-born Allardyce made just one substitute appearance for the Baggies. 'Big Sam' also spent a spell as a Sunderland player during the early 1980s.

Baggies' defender Jonny Evans spent two separate spells on loan at Sunderland during his time with Manchester United.

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