West Bromwich Albion vs Sunderland

12th April

West Bromwich Albion host Sunderland on Saturday afternoon for what will be the club's penultimate home league match of the Sky Bet Championship campaign (ko 3pm).

The Baggies recorded an eighth win in ten league games at The Hawthorns on Wednesday night, defeating bottom side Rotherham United 2-0 - extending their unbeaten run to 10 matches in the process.

Visitors Sunderland earned a credible 0-0 draw at Leeds United on Tuesday, but have only won 1 of their last 11 matches.

The Black Cats bagged all three points when the two teams met back in December in the North East, beating the Baggies by two goals to one.

A general view of The Hawthorns looking over at the West Stand and the corner of the Brummie Road End from the middle of the East Stand — The Baggies are back in B71 for the second time in four days

Follow the fixture live

Supporters can listen to live audio commentary of Albion's battle with the Black Cats.

Gez Mulholland and former Baggie Andy Johnson will provide live commentary from The Hawthorns, with coverage starting at 2.50pm.

Audio passes are available to purchase here.

Details for video streaming on WBA TV will be available here from Friday afternoon onwards.

Supporters are kindly asked to direct any questions or complaints about WBA TV or WBA Radio to wbatvsupport@streamamg.com.

The club are unable to answer queries about WBA TV or WBA Radio sent to fans@wbafc.co.uk or myalbion@wbafc.co.uk.

Regular updates will also be posted across the club's social media channels throughout the day.

The opponents

Sunderland look set for a mid-table finish in the Sky Bet Championship having struggled to find the same level of consistency which helped them secure a play-off spot during the previous campaign.

The Black Cats head for The Hawthorns sat 13th in the standings and off the back of consecutive goalless draws at home to Bristol City and, most recently, title chasers Leeds United.

The Wearsiders were in top-six contention around Christmas, however, they've only won four second-tier games in 2024, losing nine - a run of results which has seen them slip into the middle of the pack.

Saturday's guests have won five, drawn six and lost ten of their 21 encounters away from the Stadium of Light in the Championship this season, picking up 21 points.

Mike Dodds is their interim boss, and has been since the middle of February after stepping in to fill the void left by the departing Michael Beale.

It's the second time in 2023/24, and the third overall, that Dodds has been handed the responsibility. The former Birmingham City academy coach was in charge when the Black Cats beat the Baggies 2-1 in December.

Sunderland players celebrate together after scoring a goal against Birmingham City — Sunderland will be determined to end the season strongly and finish inside the top half

One to remember

Albion recorded a 3-0 victory at home to Sunderland in the Premier League in September 2013.

Stephane Sessegnon opened the scoring in the first 45 against his former club, before efforts from Liam Ridgewell and Morgan Amalfitano inside the last 14 minutes sealed all three points.

Supporters can watch the highlights below.

The last five

Sunderland 2-1 Albion

December 9 2023, Sky Bet Championship

Albion 1-2 Sunderland

April 23 2023, Sky Bet Championship

Sunderland 1-2 Albion

December 12 2022, Sky Bet Championship

Albion 2-0 Sunderland

January 21 2017, Premier League

Sunderland 1-1 Albion

October 1 2016, Premier League

Brandon Thomas-Asante picking the ball out of the back of the net at the Stadium of Light after scoring against Sunderland while wearing the lime green away kit — Brandon Thomas-Asante headed in a late consolation for the Albion up at Sunderland in December's reverse fixture

Did you know?

Albion's matches against Sunderland are usually very tight encounters.

The Black Cats have won the last two courtesy of 2-1 scorelines, but the Baggies have only lost one of their last nine at home to Saturday's guests (W7, D1).

In the last ten fixtures between Albion and Sunderland, each team has tasted victory three times, with four draws also being played out.

This weekend's showdown will be the 160th tussle. Albion have won 56 games, while Sunderland have won 59. The other 44 have all ended level.

Tom Fellows in action against Sunderland at the Stadium of Light in December 2023 wearing the lime green away kit — The Baggies and the Black Cats will go to battle once again this weekend

Ticket details

Tickets are now on sale to supporters with a booking history for Albion’s Sky Bet Championship match against Sunderland.

Seats are priced £28 adults, £23 seniors, £17 for supporters aged 20-25, £12 for supporters aged 17-19 and just £5 under-17s.

An adult disabled supporter ticket is priced £18 and includes free access for a personal assistant.

Tickets can be purchased online, in-person from the East Stand Ticket Office or by calling 0121 227 2227.

When buying online, supporters will need to be logged into their My Albion account linked to their ticketing ID. Click here for instructions.

Please note, Baggies fans purchasing online and opting to use the 'WBA Tickets On The Go' app will not pay any additional fees, while supporters who opt to purchase match tickets in-person or choose to collect from the club’s ticket office will be charged a £1.75 transaction fee.

A ticket graphic displaying information for Albion's game against Sunderland

Fan Zone

The Fan Zone will be open to both West Bromwich Albion and Sunderland supporters with a valid match ticket from midday on Saturday.

There's a wide variety of entertainment on offer, including live music and several spot prizes to be won!

There's live football on the big screen - Leeds United's Sky Bet Championship clash with Blackburn Rovers.

There will be a number of food and drink options available too, so be sure to head on down and soak up the pre-match atmosphere!

A general view of Albion supporters cheering their side on at a game

13th April

Albion’s long unbeaten run came to an end when they suffered a 0-1 defeat to Sunderland on Saturday afternoon.

The Baggies, who played the whole second half with ten men following Brandon Thomas-Asante’s dismissal, were one-down at the break via Pierre Ekwah’s goal.

Carlos Corberán’s side give it a good go after the interval despite falling short of an equaliser, and now turn their attention to Leicester away next Saturday.

An image of Mikey Johnston dribbling against Sunderland

The boss made four changes from the midweek victory against Rotherham, bringing in Conor Townsend, Nathaniel Chalobah, Alex Mowatt and Grady Diangana.

The hosts had the better of the early opportunities, but Mowatt couldn’t find the target and Anthony Patterson saved efforts by Chalobah, Diangana and Darnell Furlong.

As the interval closed in, though, the tide turned. Just before the end of the half, Thomas-Asante was booked twice in quick succession to see the Baggies given their first red card since Corberán took charge 18-months ago.

And then during stoppage time Sunderland dealt another blow - Ekwah smashing home and earning them an advantage come the break.

An image of Darnell Furlong on the ball against Sunderland

Adam Reach and Semi Ajayi were introduced at half-time, and Jed Wallace and John Swift came on around the hour mark, with the latter quickly firing inches wide in their search for a leveller.

Fellow substitute Matt Phillips threatened twice, too, volleying one attempt off-target, and not quite connecting properly with a header.

Yet their momentum was halted - the game becoming scrappy towards the end - leaving Sunderland to see out the victory and claim all three Sky Bet Championship points.

Albion: Palmer; Furlong, Bartley (Ajayi 46), Kipre, Townsend (Phillips 67); Fellows, Chalobah (Reach 46), Mowatt, Johnston (Swift 62); Diangana (Wallace 62), Thomas-Asante.

Substitutes: Griffiths, Yokuslu, M’Vila, Weimann.

Attendance: 25,366 (1,971)

Saturday 13th April 2024 - 15:00