6 Patterson: Quiet for the most part. West Brom’s goal was their first effort on target.

7 Huggins: Assured defensive display. Linked up well with Roberts.

8 Ballard: Perhaps fortunate to only get a yellow card for foul on Maja but otherwise superb. Didn’t give West Brom’s attack a sniff and scored opening goal.

7 O’Nien: Mature defensive display. Dominated the West Brom attack.

7 Hume: West Brom had their moments down the right flank in the first half but Hume got better as game went on.

8 Ekwah: Protected the defence superbly well and kept a close eye on Swift. Swept up and made two excellent interceptions.

8 Roberts: Constant threat down the right. Started the move that led to Bellingham’s first half disallowed goal and teed up Aouchiche when he hit the post. Standing ovation when replaced.

7 Neil: Full of running and energy in the middle. Set the tone for bright start. Superb finish for Sunderland’s second goal.

7 Aouchiche: It was Aouchiche’s early shot that was parried by Palmer when Bellingham’s foal should have stood. Hit the post in the second half shortly before he was replaced. Bright.

7 Clarke: Had West Brom on the back foot every time he got the ball. Went inside and outside and kept West Brom guessing. Denied goal by fine Palmer save after Aouchiche hit post.

7 Bellingham: Didn’t look like a makeshift striker as he led the line well. Scored perfectly good opener that was ruled out.

Substitutes:

9 Pritchard (for Aouchiche, 62): Made a huge impact from the bench with two assists. Brilliant cross for opener goal, picked out Neil for second. Calm and class in possession.

Mayenda (for Roberts, 81): N/A

Subs not used: Bishop, Burstow, Mayenda, Rusyn, Ba, Pritchard, Seelt, Triantis, Dack

West Brom (4-2-3-1): Palmer 8; Furlong 7, Bartley 7 (Ajayi, 75), Kipre 7, Townsend 7 (c); Molumby 6 (Chalobah, 60 6), Mowatt6;  Diangana 6 (Thomas-Asante, 60), Swift 6 (Pipa, 75), Sarmiento 7; Maja 5 (Fellows, 36)

Subs not used: Griffiths, Pieters, Taylor, Higgins,

Man of the Match: Alex Pritchard. Superb delivery for Ballard winner set Sunderland on their way and second assist quickly followed. Undoubtedly now in contention to start against Leeds.