Albion 1 Sunderland 0 - Report and pictures

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Saido Berahino's third goal of the season - after Costel Pantilimon's error - gave unconvincing Albion a first home win of the season against Sunderland.more

With the Baggies struggling to break down the resolute visitors, they were handed a gift when visiting keeper Pantilimon dropped Chris Brunt's cross at the feet of Berahino three yards out early in the second half.

Before then the Black Cats had come closest to breaking the deadlock when Albion keeper Boaz Myhill tipped over Billy Jones' close range header.

Tempers boiled over at the finish after Baggies winger James McClean - booed throughout by the opposing fans - celebrated victory in front of the away end, much to the annoyance of Sunderland's players.

He was confronted by Danny Graham and a minor melee ensued before McClean was pulled away by team-mate Craig Gardner.

The heated exchanges were in contrast to much of what had gone before, during another testing afternoon for supporters at the Hawthorns.

Tony Pulis' men had not registered a shot on target before Berahino's opener, with defensive-minded Sunderland the better side for much of the first half.

Nevertheless, after three straight defeats, this was a much needed win for the hosts as they propelled themselves further clear of the bottom three and up to 12th in the table.

Pulis had concerns over four players in the build-up but was only without one, with James Morrison missing out with an ankle injury.

Jonny Evans and Berahino both recovered from knocks to make the starting line-up, while Jonas Olsson was on the bench.

Morrison's absence meant a surprise recall for Stephane Sessegnon, who made his first start since April 4.

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The Benin winger began brightly, beating two defenders after cutting in from the flank before sending in a low cross which the visiting defence were able to clear.

But it was Sunderland who undoubtedly started better, twice coming close to breaking the deadlock just past the 10 minute mark.

Gareth McAuley and Evans both made key blocks to deny Lee Cattermole and then Steven Fletcher, the latter after the striker had been played in on goal.

From the corner, Albion went to sleep and were saved by Myhill, who tipped over Jones' close range header after pinball in the box.

With the visitors dominating possession, the hosts were finding it tough to get any kind of foothold in the game but almost got a break when a mistake by Lee Cattermole triggered a counter-attack which finished with Sessegnon shooting wide.

Otherwise, it was tedious stuff, with a Dawson shot, from 25 yards, which cleared the bar by almost as much summing up the paucity of entertainment.

Sessegnon remained by far Albion's best outlet, beating two men and then whipping in a cross which McClean headed back across for Salomon Rondon. Though the Venezuelan couldn't get any purchase on his header, the effort probably did count as the hosts' first attempt on target.

With Sunderland content to sit back and Albion desperately short on ideas, the game would likely have finished goal-less were it not for Pantilimon's colossal error.

The keeper came to collect Brunt's cross over the head of Berahino but only proceeded to drop it at the feet of the striker, who after wriggling clear couldn't miss from a yard out.

Pantilimon and the rest of the Sunderland team protested the ball had hit Berahino's hands on the way down and the keeper was booked for his part, with referee Martin Atkinson waving away their claims.

With Albion galvanised by the goal, Rondon spurned a chance to double the lead when he put a Brunt cross wide of the target.

Allardyce introduced Jermain Defoe and Graham in a bid to give his team boss some spark but while the visitors now had added attacking impetus, a Yann M'Vila shot from distance which Boaz Myhill failed to hold was the only nervy moment for the hosts.

Graham headed wide as Sunderland hunted for a leveller which never came, before McClean added to the post-match transcript and no doubt stole some of the headlines.

Albion (4-2-3-1): Myhill, Dawson, Evans, McAuley, Brunt, Yacob, Fletcher ©, McClean, Sessegnon, Berahino (Gardner 79), Rondon (Lambert 70) Subs not used: Olsson, Chester, Anichebe, McManaman, Lindegaard (gk).

Sunderland (4-1-4-1): Pantilimon, Yedlin, Kaboul, O'Shea, Jones, M'Vila, Larsson (Johnson 61), Gomez (Defoe 70), Cattermole, Borini, Fletcher (Graham 75) Subs not used: van Aanholt, Bridcutt, Brown, Mannone (gk).