We approach the home game against West Brom on the back of a convincing home win against Stoke, where we ran out comfortable 4-0 winners and refreshingly, with 4 different goal scorers. Thanks Mr Woodgate. A repeat of that scoreline would be more than welcome but we have in the meantime also experienced a very disappointing if somewhat expected crash down to earth with defeat at Norwich in front of the Sky cameras on Monday night. Anyhow, home to West Brom represents a good chance to get back to winning ways, so what exactly can we expect from the visitors to the Stadium Of Light this week…
West Brom have had an indifferent start to the season, much like ourselves. After giving a good account of themselves in their first game of the season at home to Manchester United they then went to Chelsea and took the lead very early in the game only to end up defeated in roughly the same minute Danny Welbeck scored our third goal when we visited Stamford Bridge last season! Sorry, had to bring that up. West Brom suffered a third straight defeat when they hosted Stoke City, despite dominating that game, they suffered a cruel blow when Stoke midfielder Ryan Shotton scored a controversial late winner, toe poking the ball beyond Ben Foster and ensuring a simple tap in finish after it appeared that Foster had both hands on the ball. The Baggies picked up their first 3 point haul at the scene of our disappointing 2-1 defeat at newly promoted Norwich City. Peter Odemwingie scoring the first and only goal inside the first three minutes but this success was short lived as they were bumped back down to earth with a defeat to another newly promoted side who were, up until this point, goal shy Swansea City, leaving South Wales on the back of a 3-0 defeat. This was then followed up by a disappointing bore draw at home to travel sick Fulham who boast an away record very similar to that of ours. Poor. And that takes us up to this weekend when they will be travelling North to the Stadium Of Light.
Watch out for: Peter Odemwingie
Despite the arrival of new signing Shane Long from Reading, it has be to said that the experienced Nigerian international still remains a goal threat after finishing the top scorer for the Baggies last season, scoring 15 goals in his debut Premier League season. Those with a half decent memory might also recall that Mr Odemwingine scored two goals against the Black Cats fairly recently. The winning goal of a 1-0 defeat at the Hawthorns and an equalising goal against us in the fixture at the Stadium Of Light which ultimately ended up with the Baggies returning to the Midlands with a 3-2 win.
So to finalise, lets hope the lads are focussed on the task at hand when they cross that white line at 3pm Saturday afternoon and remember the home defeat inflicted on us not so long ago by our friends from West Bromwich and make sure that they boing boing back down the Midlands with their tails between their legs after a Sunderland masterclass similar to that of which the side Ricky Sbragia dished out to the Baggies a few years back. Ironically, a 4-0 win. Here’s hoping.
Keep the faith
Matt Crighton
