THE vocal visitors accorded the latest would-be saviour a rapturous reception — admittedly a well-rehearsed act in recent years — and awaited the anticipated Big Sam bounce.
While they were forced to endure further deflation as Saido Berahino’s disputed winner left Sunderland still awaiting their first league victory this season, there was at least a hint that better times stretch ahead.
A draw would have satisfied both Sam Allardyce and his disciples but that never looked likely after Berahino’s third goal of the season. There was an unpleasant conclusion to a wretched contest of few opportunities when, after the final whistle, West Brom’s former Sunderland player, the Republic of Ireland international James McClean, approached the visiting fans and made a celebratory fist-pump gesture.
This enraged the crowd and provoked substitute Danny Graham to confront McClean, leading to a melee of players from both sides. The Albion head coach, Tony Pulis, said he would need to look at the incident. He added: “If he [McClean] is out of order I’ll speak to him. I’m not being disrespectful, but he’s not the sharpest tool in the box.”
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The winner arrived after 54 minutes when Costel Pantilimon attempted to catch Chris Brunt’s curling cross. Under the challenge of Berahino, who backed into him, the Sunderland goalkeeper dropped the ball, leaving the grateful striker to stab the ball into an empty net. Pantilimon and his teammates vehemently argued with referee Martin Atkinson that the goal should be disallowed.
Allardyce said: “I can’t blame them for that because the referee’s made such a big error. It was pretty difficult to take. It wasn’t our fault that we lost the game. I thought it was his fault on the decision he made.
“When our 6ft 7in goalie’s got the ball in his hands, with his feet off the ground, it doesn’t matter how big he is when the centre forward’s jumping into him who’s only 5ft 10in. It knocks him off balance. A free kick should be given, but it wasn’t.”
Beforehand Allardyce, at his seventh club, having won the first game during all four of his previous jobs, had been typically succinct in his analysis of Sunderland. They needed to stop conceding, he said, and work hard. Here, his new team could not be faulted on either front. “I’ve stopped one of the biggest problems I’ve had to face coming into the club, and that’s the players conceding 18 goals in eight games. Today they never looked like conceding a goal, which is a great platform for us to build on.”
Whether they have sufficient quality going forward to complement that defensive resilience is quite another matter.
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The visiting supporters welcomed the Black Cats’ fifth “permanent” manager, if that is not a misnomer, since Steve Bruce departed in November 2011. He responded with a wave, a clenched fist and a thumbs up.
He made three changes, but all were enforced. With midfielder Jeremain Lens and defender Sebastian Coates suspended and Ola Toivonen injured, Allardyce brought in Younes Kaboul, Jordi Gomez and Sebastian Larsson.
He has joined a club with a dismal record — Sunderland had reaped 15 points from 17 league games under Dick Advocaat — but would have been encouraged that Albion had still been seeking their first home victory of the season. Early on, Pulis’s men looked vulnerable as a Lee Cattermole volley was blocked, and a diving header from Albion old boy Billy Jones was tipped over by goalkeeper Boaz Myhill.
The former Black Cats striker Stephane Sessegnon, making only his second start of the season, responded with an curling effort around Pantilimon’s far post. “I fancied Steph [to do well] because he was playing against his old club,” said Pulis. He’s come in and done brilliant.”
Albion were energised by Berahino’s goal and Salomon Rondon was off target with another fine cross from Brunt.
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Allardyce reacted angrily after Atkinson ignored penalty claims after Sessegnon’s challenge on Jones, but it was the correct decision by the official.
The new Sunderland manager is now looking ahead to next Sunday’s clash with Newcastle: “Today they never looked like conceding a goal which is a great platform for us to build on.”
Star man: Stephane Sessegnon (West Brom)
West Brom: Myhill 6, Dawson 6, McAuley 7, Evans 6, Brunt 7, Yacob 6, Fletcher 6, McClean 7, Berahino 6 (Gardner 79min, 5), Sessegnon 8, Rondon 6 (Lambert 71min, 5)
Sunderland: Pantilimon 6, Yedlin 7, O’Shea 6, Kaboul 6, Jones 7, Cattermole 6, M’Vila 7, Larsson 5 (Johnson 60min, 6), Gomez (Defoe 71min, 5), Borini 6, Fletcher 6 (Graham 75min, 5)