West Bromwich Albion vs Sunderland. Premier League.
The HawthornsAttendance24,225.
Saturday 17 October 2015 19:29, UK
Premier League strugglers Sunderland began life under new manager Sam Allardyce with a 1-0 defeat at West Brom, beaten by a controversial Saido Berahino goal.
The forward tucked the ball into an empty net in the 54th-minute but Sunderland were adamant he had handled the ball and fouled goalkeeper Costel Pantilimon beforehand.
And there were ugly scenes at the final whistle when West Brom's former Black Cats midfielder McClean celebrated the victory in front of the travelling fans, and was confronted by Danny Graham and Lee Cattermole, sparking a melee which involved several players.
One goal was always likely to be enough to settle a tight, tense affair which had the feel of a late-season relegation six-pointer.
And Allardyce and his team were left cursing their luck with decisions, after their loud appeals for a second-half penalty were turned down.
Sunderland began brightly and had much the better of the first 20 minutes, knocking the ball around with surprising panache considering they were still hunting a first Premier League win of the season.
And Cattermole and Steven Fletcher had efforts blocked by Gareth McAuley and Jonny Evans respectively, after a neat passing move.
From the resulting corner, Billy Jones sent a diving header arrowing towards goal after the ball had bounced off Fabio Borini but Boaz Myhill produced a brilliant reflex save.
However, West Brom gradually began to take charge, although the lack of a cutting edge which has been an issue this season was again there for all to see.
The recalled Stephane Sessegnon was their most enterprising player, making several promising runs down the right and also firing wide of the post from the edge of the box.
But shots on target were thin on the ground and the home fans were in a disgruntled mood at the interval, while Allardyce could be satisfied with his first half in charge.
The Baggies had a penalty appeal turned down after the break, when a Salomon Rondon header smacked into Younes Kaboul's arm.
But referee Martin Atkinson looked far more favourably on them shortly afterwards when Chris Brunt whipped over a fine cross from the left, Pantilimon failed to gather, and Berahino tucked the ball into the net as it trickled towards the goal after bouncing off his boot and John O'Shea's leg.
Pantilimon was booked for leading the Sunderland protests, convinced the ball had hit both of Berahino's hands as it dropped, but visiting fans will be asking how the tall keeper failed to claim the cross under pressure from the much shorter Baggies forward.
The goal gave West Brom a jolt of confidence and Rondon had a shot deflected just wide after another fine cross from Brunt.
But Sunderland began to boss proceedings in the final 20 minutes and Myhill nervously spilled a long range Yann M'Vila effort.
Sessegnon then seemed to scythe down Jones in the box but he appeared to just about catch some of the ball and Atkinson was probably correct not to point to the spot.
Sunderland huffed and puffed in the closing stages but an equaliser never really looked imminent, their best late effort a Graham header which went well wide after a cross from fellow sub Adam Johnson.
West Brom held on comfortably to secure a first home league win of the season and McClean celebrated in front of the visiting fans, before he had to be pulled away by Craig Gardner after being confronted by several Sunderland players.
The Black Cats remain second from bottom of the table with just three points and Allardyce appears to have a huge job on his hands, while West Brom are up to a relatively comfortable 12th place.
Player ratings:
West Brom: Myhill (7), Dawson (5), McAuley (7), Evans (6), Brunt (7), Yacob (5), D Fletcher (5), McClean (6), Sessegnon (7), Berahino (6), Rondon (6)
Subs: Gardner (6), Lambert (5)
Sunderland: Pantilimon (4), Jones (6), Kaboul (6), O'Shea (5), Yedlin (6), Cattermole (5), Larsson (5), Gomez (5), M'Vila (5), Borini (6), S Fletcher (5)
Subs: Johnson (5), Defoe (5), Graham (5)
Star Man: Stephane Sessegnon
