The Argentinan has put the game beyond doubt now and the Sunderland fans are pouring out of the exits.

A long ball forward finds Fortune who is up-front on his own. He gets a shot away from a tight angle and finds the side netting.

The West Brom defence is caught off guard and Richardson chases the ball down but Carson rushes off his line to smother the ball.

The Baggies are not taking their foot off the pedal and are still allowing Sunderland no time on the ball as they try to break through the defensive ranks.

West Brom move forward on the break through Mesenguez and he runs at goal but Bardsley comes across to put in a strong challenge and bring the attack to a halt.

Malbranque searches out Cisse with a through ball but the French striker shows no determination to chase the ball and looks to the referee for help after a slight tug on his shirt from a Baggies defender.

The game feels like men versus boys at the moment and Sunderland just cannot cope with the movement of West Brom, though if they can get a goal back it may test the confidence of the Baggies.

Koren lofts the ball into the box and finds Mesenguez whose first time shot is deflected into the path of Brunt who fails to work Fulop from close range.

Sunderland gain another opportunity from a corner which is taken short but Richardson's delivery is woeful as it sails straight behind for a goal-kick.

West Brom have got their tails up now and the home fans are cheering their every move as they go in search of another goal.

The only saving grace for Sunderland at the moment is that Hull are getting beat by Liverpool but on this performance, Sunderland fans should be very worried about their chances of survival in the relegation scrap.

There is a lack of fight about Sunderland at the moment and desperately needed a goal from Cisse then.

Tainio sends a shot goal-wards and Cisse tries to flick it past Carson from six-yards out but he sends the ball over the bar and should have done much better.

The home fans are making all the noise inside The Hawthornes and there is a sense of hope around the ground.

The Baggies strikers are wreaking havoc in the Sunderland penalty area and the travelling fans are becoming increasingly restless as their forwards show no similar effort.

Brunt threads a pass through to Koren who runs at Fulop but he smothers the ball at the strikers feet - great goalkeeping from Fulop there.

Reid curls a free-kick into the box but Martis leaps above everyone to head clear the danger.

Greening takes the set piece and the visitors breathe a sigh of relief as he sends it straight over the crossbar.

Sunderland are all over the place at the moment and Bardsley concedes a free-kick in a very dangerous position.

A chance for an equaliser for Sunderland but Cisse cannot latch onto a long ball that eventually rolls into the arms of Carson.

Brunt is enjoying a lot of space on the right flank and causes further problems as he cuts inside again but he scoops his shot over the bar.

That Richardson shot is one of the only moments of real quality that this game has seen and Sunderland will be hoping for more of the same.

Sunderland come close to scoring as Carson pulls off a fantastic save to deny a long range Richardson shot that seemed to be heading for the top corner.

Abdoulaye Meite clears the ball only as far as Tainio who pulls the trigger from the edge of the box but a Baggies shirt charges the shot down.

Zuiverloon goes on a mazy run forward and takes on two players before releasing Brunt down the right flank but on his weaker foot he sends his cross straght behind for a goal-kick.

Reid lofts a free-kick into a crowd of bodies and Calum Davenport gets something on it but it is not enough to force a save out of Carson.

Brunt tries his luck again from 25-yards but doesn't work Fulop who watches the ball fly harmlessly wide.

The ball drops to Chris Brunt on the edge of the box and his left footed strike takes a deflection before bouncing into the arms of Fulop.

The visitors seem to have settled into the game a little now and Reid bends a cross into the box for Cisse but Paul Robinson is first to the ball and chests it into the arms of Carson.

Cisse latches onto a long ball and is through on goal but the linesman raises his flag for offside - a very close call from the official.

West Brom have made a strong start to this game and look the most likely to make something happen with the Sunderland bench looking rather nervous.

Gianni Zuiverloon stands a cross up to the far post and Simpson does well to keep it in but his ball into the box is just behind Koren who cannot direct his header goal-wards.

This is a real six pointer at The Hawthornes and both sets of fans will be expecting a nervy encounter.

A deflection takes the ball into the path of Robert Koren but his strike at goal from inside the box is blocked by a Sunderland shirt.

Graham Dorrans searches out Simpson inside the box but his cross is too high for his team-mate and goes behind for a goal kick.

Sunderland enjoy a decent spell of possession before Andy Reid hits a first time snap shot from 25-yards that sails straight down the throat of Scott Carson.

Teemu Tainio sends an inviting cross into the box Djibril Cisse is in a great position but the stretching legs of Jonas Olsson do enough to put him off.

West Brom win the first corner of the game but Danny Collins heads clear the danger at the near post.

Carlos Edwards moves forward with the ball and eventually strikes an ambitious shot from way out and the ball sails high and into the stand behind the goal.

Jay Simpson drifts inside from left flank and lets fly from distance but fails to work Marton Fulop in the Sunderland goal.