sad news: sunderland receive a sad new that  Anthony Patterson  get an injury because of…….

sunderland receive a sad new that  Anthony Patterson  get an injury because of……

West Bromwich Albion suffered two straight defeats for the first time this season as they were undone at Sunderland on Saturday lunchtime. Dan Ballard and Dan Neil found the net in the final 20 minutes to take the game away from Albion, on an after when they have potentially lost Josh Maja for another significant spell to injury. Brandon Thomas-Asante did strike late on, but that goal only proved to be a consolation.

The first half was a competitive affair in wet and windy conditions. Albion held their own without offering too much in the final third, despite promising build up play here and there. Maja was played in by Grady Diangana at one point but he was unable to get his shot away before the recovering Sunderland defender was able to make amends.

The first half was a competitive affair in wet and windy conditions. Albion held their own without offering too much in the final third, despite promising build up play here and there. Maja was played in by Grady Diangana at one point but he was unable to get his shot away before the recovering Sunderland defender was able to make amends.

There was a nervy moment at the other end for Alex Palmer, meanwhile. Having been charged down when attempting to clear the ball and consequently relinquishing possession, Palmer spilled the following shot and was grateful when the offside flag ruled out Jobe Bellingham’s follow up – although replays suggested he was clearly onside.

Alex Mowatt curled a shot from the edge of the area just wide of Anthony Patterson’s right-hand post, but Albion held Sunderland at arm’s length by and large at the other end. After the half hour mark, though, they were forced into their third first-half substitution in as many games when Maja was felled by Ballard, who was consequently booked. Maja, after a period of treatment, was helped off the pitch by the club’s medical staff.

Sunderland carried more of a threat in the second half as the game became more open. Attacks began to be created with more regularity from either end, but Albion really struggled to lay much of a glove on their hosts before they found themselves behind with 20 minutes to go. For all of the Black Cats’ threat carried out wide in the form of Patrick Roberts and Jack Clarke, it was the old school centre half’s head that broke the deadlock – and of course it was Ballard.