West Brom 3 Sunderland 0 IT appears someone had told the Sunderland players they were safe from relegation before Saturday’s game at the Hawthorns.

There appeared no other reason behind such an inept performance from a side just four points above the relegation zone.

Lacking in ideas, in urgency and in quality they got a thorough going over by a side apparently nailed on for relegation.

Four more performances like this and the only reason these two sides won’t be playing each other next season is because West Brom have somehow miraculously stayed up.

Ricky Sbragia needs to sit down with the Sunderland squad at his earliest opportunity to reminds them what is needed to stay in the Premier League – fight, determination and skill, Sadly all those qualities were lacking at the Hawthorns.

They simply rolled over and let Tony Mowbray’s side walk all over them.

The third goal typified the seeming indifference of the Sunderland players. Chris Brunt – a fish out of water on the right wing – was allowed time and space to run at the defence and pick out the unmarked Argentinian Juan Carlos Menseguez on the edge of the area.

He rolled the ball to his right before firing into the bottom corner – not a challenge to be seen from the Black Cats’ defence.

The away fans appeared almost embarrassed at the final whistle – they deserve an apology from the players.

WEST BROM (4-4-2): Carson; Zuiverloon, Meite (Martis, 46mins), Olsson, Robinson; Greening, Koren, Dorrans (Menseguez, 64), Brunt; Fortune, Simpson (Mulumbu, 46). Subs (not used): Kiely (gk); Teixeira, Valeero, Wood. SUNDERLAND (4-4-2): Fulop; Bardsley, Davenport, Ferdinand, Collins; Edwards (Malbranque, 53mins), Tainio (Healy, 87), Richardson, Reid (Whitehead, 52), Cisse, Jones. Subs (not used): Colgan (gk); McShane, Leadbitter, Murphy.