Sunderland go close three times in the space of a few seconds.

Lee Cattermole's shot from the edge of the box is blocked, and then Steven Fletcher's follow-up is turned behind for a corner.

From that corner, Baggies keeper Boaz Myhill makes a flying save to tip over a diving header by Billy Jones.

West Brom full-back Craig Dawson goes into the book for a crunching challenge on Jordi Gomez, after he'd failed to control the ball and lost possession.

West Brom's first attack of note comes via Stephane Sessegnon, who breaks past two Sunderland defenders on the right, but his low cross is hooked away by Younes Kaboul.

Image source, Reuters

Some good early signs for the visitors, particularly down the right for Sunderland. Full-back DeAndre Yedlin is combining well with Sebastian Larsson so far and they've caused West Brom some problems in the opening five minutes.

An early excursion forward by Sunderland as Saido Berahino gives the ball away in midfield.

Fabio Borini's cross into West Brom's box is easily cleared for a throw.

Referee Martin Atkinson blows his whistle and West Brom get us under way.

The Baggies in their traditional blue and white stripes, Sunderland in their green change kit.

Image source, PA

Earlier, Liverpool drew 0-0 at Tottenham in Jurgen Klopp's first match in charge of the Reds.

Want to know what's happening elsewhere today? Fear not - our Premier League live text commentary is well under way.

You can also follow all of today's football action on Final Score, which you can watch by clicking on the play button at the top of the page.

The two teams are making their way out onto the field at The Hawthorns, and understandably there are a huddle of photographers around the away dugout.

New Sunderland manager Sam Allardyce emerges in a long, black coat and shakes hands with a few of the home supporters.

John Roder
Match of the Day commentator

"We all knew that it wouldn't be long before Sam Allardyce returned to the Premier League. The short-term survival mission facing the new Sunderland manager is one his three predecessors have managed, only to leave in the following campaign.

"If Allardyce can give Sunderland a first league win it will be a massive boost ahead of the crucial derby against Newcastle next weekend.

"West Bromwich Albion will fancy their chances of a first home league win of the season, particularly against a side who have yet to keep a clean sheet.

"All the attention will be on Big Sam. It may switch to Tony Pulis if the Baggies lose."

Sunderland came ever so close to ending their long wait for a Premier League victory two weeks ago, as they went 2-0 up at home to West Ham with goals from Steven Fletcher and Jeremain Lens.

But then things started to go wrong. Carl Jenkinson pulled a goal back for the Hammers, and Lens was sent off.

Image source, Reuters

A mistake by goalkeeper Costel Pantilimon allowed Dimitri Payet to equalise and the Black Cats had to settle for a 2-2 draw.

Within 24 hours, Dick Advocaat has resigned as Sunderland head coach.

West Bromwich Albion's excellent away record came to an end as they lost 2-0 at Crystal Palace.

Second-half goals from Yannick Bolasie and Yohan Cabaye inflicted a first away defeat of the season on the Baggies.

Image source, Reuters

Those two goals were also the first that Albion had conceded on their travels this term, and the result left them 17th in the table heading into the international break.

Sunderland's problems have been well documented, but West Bromwich Albion have hardly set the Premier League alight in the early weeks of the campaign either.

The Baggies are lie fourth from bottom, are the joint-lowest scorers in the top flight and have yet to win a league game at The Hawthorns this season.

Plenty for Tony Pulis to ponder, although three points against Sunderland could move his side as high as 11th in the table if other results go their way.

Image source, Getty Images

More from new Sunderland manager Sam Allardyce, who has 30 games to lead the Black Cats to Premier League safety.

"That was probably one of the reasons why I took the job," he said. "It gives me a bit of time to get things sorted out as quickly as I possibly can."

Want a good omen for today, Sunderland fans? Allardyce has won his first Premier League match in charge of his last four clubs - Bolton, Blackburn, Newcastle and West Ham.

Sam Allardyce is poised to return to a Premier League dugout for the first time since May.

The former West Ham manager, who turns 61 on Monday, replaced Dick Advocaat as Sunderland boss during the international break and takes charge of his struggling team for the first time at The Hawthorns.

Image source, Getty Images

"It's a big challenge," said Allardyce at his first news conference as Sunderland manager.

"Even at this early stage of the season, it's clear that we're in trouble.

"My job is to hopefully not to get into that panic and fear zone where there's only a few games left and if you don't win football matches you'll get relegated. I want to avoid that if I possibly can."

Image source, .

The BBC Sport Predictor game pits fans of Premier League clubs against each other - and Sunderland supporters (ninth) are outperforming their West Brom counterparts (17th) in our table at the moment.

Help your club move up the league by predicting the result of this match - and the rest of the weekend's fixtures - right here.

Mark Lawrenson
BBC Sport

"Like most other Premier League teams, Sunderland will have had a lot of players away on international duty so Sam Allardyce will not have been able to do too much work with them in his first week in charge.

"I think his methods will have an effect eventually, though, especially because I look at the Black Cats squad and think he has got at least a few of the kind of players that fit the DNA of his teams.

"Allardyce could well start with a defeat but, at the very least, he will be looking for industry and endeavour from his side on Saturday."

Prediction: West Bromwich Albion 2-0 Sunderland

Can you do better than Lawro? Why not try the BBC Sport Predictor?

While we wait for kick-off at The Hawthorns, why not find out how much you spend on following your football club?

The answer can be found in BBC Sport's Price of Football study.

Image source, Opta

Sam Allardyce's first selection as Sunderland boss shows three changes from the 2-2 draw against West Ham two weeks ago.

Two of those changes are enforced, as midfielder Jeremain Lens and defender Sebastian Coates are both suspended.

Ola Toivonen also drops out, with Younes Kaboul, Jordi Gomez and Sebastian Larsson coming in.

Image source, Opta

West Bromwich Albion make one change from their defeat at Crystal Palace last time out.

Stephane Sessegnon is brought into the starting line-up in place of James Morrison, who has an ankle problem, and comes up against his former club.

More on Sam Allardyce's appointment as Sunderland manager to come. First, let's catch up with the team news.

Image source, Reuters