Early goals from Jack Colback and Fabio Borini quelled any notion Sunderland’s spring revival would stumble at its final hurdles. The Black Cats’ supporters were so confident after three straight wins that the crowd’s reaction to Borini’s seemingly survival-assuring 31st minute goal was more confident exuberance than relief. It was only after the final whistle that the Stadium of Light’s crowd succumbed to elation, with Sunderland’s faithful celebrating the team’s place in next year’s Premier League after its 2-0 win over West Brom.
With the win, Sunderland -- in last place three weeks ago -- moves to 15th in the Premier League, leapfrogging West Brom and Hull with its 10th win of the season. Most importantly, the Black Cats are five points ahead of 18th place Norwich, leaving the Canaries with empty hopes West Brom’s huge edge in goal difference (17) can be overturned on the last day of the season.
Sunderland, starting the same team throughout their five-game unbeaten run, went up in the 13th minute after left back Marcos Alonso fired a ball from near the corner into the six-yard box. Charging in from midfield, Colback was able to cut off Chris Brunt in front of the right side of goal, beating the West Brom left back to redirect home the game’s first goal.
Eighteen minutes later, Sunderland got its early insurance. After Black Cats’ midfielder Sebastian Larsson was allowed to carry the ball to the top of the arc, the Swedish international lobbed the Baggies defense to find Borini. One-timing his volley past an oncoming Ben Foster, Borini finished his sixth of the season, eliminating what doubt remained after Colback’s opener.
In the second half, Sunderland assumed a much more defensive posture, ceding control of the game to its guests. In the 57th minute, that control almost halved the Black Cats lead when halftime substitute Youssuf Mulumbu was able to feed fellow sub Craig Dawson behind Alonso. Putting a cross toward the far post, Dawson just missed his connection with Victor Anichebe, with the ball sailing out for a goal kick.
After 10 more minutes to West Brom control, Sunderland threatened for a third. Shortly after an offside Jozy Altidore drew grasps from the crowd as his shot want past the right post, Santiago Vergini was given an open chance in the right of West Brom’s area after the Black Cats had moved the ball across the width of the field. The right back’s shot went well wide of the far post, but for the first time in the half, the home side showed a desire to spend some of the day’s final minutes in the Baggies’ half.
As the match approached full-time and the danger of two West Brom goals grew more remote, Sunderland again receded into its defensive third. This time, a less energetic West Brom were unable to respond. With both sides having accepted their fates, all that separated the match from Lee Mason’s final whistle were a few wistful charges from the momentarily inspired. After four minutes of stoppage time, the game ended as we knew it would after Borini’s goal.
LINEUPS
Sunderland: Mannone, Vergini, O’Shea, Brown, Alonso, Cattermole (Giaccherini 88'), Johnson (Bridcutt 61'), Larsson, Colback, Borini, Wickham (Altidore 61')
Goals: Colback (13'), Borini (31')
West Bromwich Albion: Foster, Reid (Dawson 46'), McAuley, Lugano, Brunt, Berahino (Vydra 78'),Yacob (Mulumbu 46'), Morrison, Dorrans, Sessegnon, Anichebe
Subs: Myhill, Dawson, Sinclair, Vydra, Mulumbu, Olsson, O’Neil