Source: Telegraph
West Bromwich Albion 1 Sunderland 0: match report
Peter Odemwingie, the freshly-signed Nigerian World Cup striker, marked his West Bromwich Albion debut with a coolly-taken winner in the closing stages as the Premier League newcomers bounced back from their six-goal opening-day hammering at champions Chelsea. [LNB]Having completed a £2.5 million move from Lokomotiv Moscow, Odemwingie arrived in England on Thursday, trained with his new team-mates for the first time the following day and, with international clearance arriving on schedule, was plunged straight into action by Albion manager Roberto Di Matteo. [LNB]And what a start he would have made had he displayed a little more composure in the eighth minute. Odemwingie, 29, was probably still absorbing the Hawthorns ambience when Chris Brunt's perfect through balll arrived at his feet. Although he had the pace to accelerate to the edge of the Sunderland penalty area, the shot was scuffed and rolled harmlessly wide. [LNB]Never mind, the Albion faithful were liking their first impressions. Strong and quick, the yellow-booted Odemwingie, deployed as a lone striker, was finding room between Titus Bramble and Paulo Da Silva. No faulting the work-rate, either, as he hurtled into the corner to dispossess Sunderland full-back Kieran Richardson. [LNB]It was part of a bright opening for Albion. James Morrison shot wide and then Brunt got a head to Morrison's cross when team-mate Jerome Thomas, stationed a few yards beyond him, would have found a more effective trajectory. Brunt was closer with an acrobatic volley from Marek Cech's deflected cross. [LNB]Sunderland's away-day timidity, they won only twice on their League travels last season, was again evident though they came close to catching Albion cold moments before the interval. Steed Malbranque picked out the unattended Darren Bent 12 yards out but the Sunderland marksman was unable to get the ball under control. [LNB]Bent managed a better connection four minutes into the second half, heading Jordan Henderson's free-kick powerfully but a couple of feet wide. It was the signal for distinct Sunderland improvement though a goal at either end seemed unlikely. [LNB]Richardson's fierce drive was deflected for a corner, from which Nedum Onuoha directed a header at Scott Carson. Yet just when the visitors were gathering steam, Albion struck in the 81st minute. [LNB]Morrison's pass found Odemwingie and this time there was to be no mistake. Taking one touch, he fired low and true beyond Sunderland goalkeeper Simon Mignolet.[LNB]
