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West Bromwich Albion v Sunderland - Premier League
Darren Fletcher scores the opening goal for West Brom against Sunderland. Photograph: Ian Horrocks/Sunderland AFC via Getty Images
Darren Fletcher scores the opening goal for West Brom against Sunderland. Photograph: Ian Horrocks/Sunderland AFC via Getty Images

West Bromwich Albion’s Fletcher and Brunt send Sunderland bottom

This article is more than 7 years old

With the absolute minimum of fuss, West Bromwich Albion despatched Sunderland to further their claim to be the best of the rest in the Premier League and leave David Moyes a step closer to relegation.

The Sunderland manager was in the unusual position of being the optimist in the room. He claimed his side had played well in the second half and pointed at the performance of the academy debutant, George Honeyman, as an encouraging sign.

No one was fooled, however: this game was over before half-time. Two volleyed goals from Darren Fletcher and Chris Brunt meant the home side could play within themselves for the second 45 minutes. As much as their manager would let them, anyway.

“I thought first half we were really good,” Tony Pulis said. “When we got the switch of play early we were dangerous and we scored two wonderful goals. We’re very, very pleased. Sunderland got up against us in the second half but it was a great result for us.

“Everybody’s come together a bit more and there’s a better feeling about the place. We look dangerous in possession and Ben [Foster] is pleased with the clean sheet.”

At the heart of everything the Baggies did was Matt Phillips. Playing on the right of the Albion attack and facing up against Patrick van Aanholt, the winger was not only quick and strong but composed and smart. Admittedly, Phillips managed to get in the way of Albion’s first clear chance as he inadvertently blocked Salomón Rondón’s close-range header after 28 minutes.

Sixty seconds later he made amends. His low shot forced Vito Mannone into a stretching save and a corner. Phillips ran over to take it and drifted the ball into the box. He found a West Brom head, then another and a third, before the ball came to Fletcher on the penalty spot. The captain took it on the chest, span and hit a right-foot volley into the top corner. It was a goal reminiscent of Bryan Robson, another Manchester United and West Brom midfielder.

That ruined Sunderland’s gameplan. Moyes had started with a back three to provide extra defensive cover after a bad run of results. He had also come to play football but now possession was dangerous; any mistake could release a West Brom counterattack and finish the game.

Seven minutes after the opening goal that moment arrived when James Morrison nipped in to win the ball and spring it to Phillips. He spun, nutmegged John O’Shea and drove once again at goal. His cutback found Nacer Chadli, who smashed a shot against the bar from only six yards.

Oohs went up from the crowd but they were followed by aahs when, from the edge of the box. Brunt volleyed the ball fiercely back into the net.

“It was a tough afternoon,” Moyes said. “It was always going to be that way after conceding two poor goals. We played better in the second half; we tried to get forward, we passed the ball better. In Honeyman we had one of the best players on the pitch.

“I’m not really in the position to make many changes right now. I went to three at the back after mistakes in recent games, we tried to cover it up, but ultimately the second goal came from that.

“We’re not that far away. Maybe if we had three points more we might be where people expect us to be.”

Pulis was able to introduce his new £10m signing from Hull, Jake Livermore, in the second half. He also confirmed the departure of Saido Berahino to his old team Stoke City. “I wish Saido all the best,” he said.

“He’s joined a very good club. What he’s got to do now is clear his head of all the nonsense that’s been swishing around it the last 18 months. If Stoke can get him to do that, they’ve got a very good player.”

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