Didier Ndong, a key performer in Sunderland's fine start, loses possession near West Brom's corner, ruining a chance to heap pressure on the visiting defence. No matter because moments later Duncan Watmore gallops down the left flank and earns his team a corner. 

End-to-end stuff in a bright opening. Who said this would be a turgid match? First Nacer Chadli stings Jordan Pickford's palms and then Sunderland counter-attack with Jermain Defoe causing problems in the final third. Importantly, unfortunately, no-one scores.

Jan Kirchhoff with a long ball for Jermain Defoe to chase, but the former England striker is caught offside. He raises his arms, telling Kirchhoff that he wanted the ball out wide. 

Craig Dawson is slow to get up from the floor - replays showing John O'Shea's elbow made contact with Dawson's face as Ben Foster gathered Wahbi Khazri's free-kick. He's soon fit to play, however, and apologies are accepted. Nice. 

Image source, Reuters

Nyom loses possession and Sunderland pounce, immediately on the front foot, Didier Ndong earning a free-kick. There's little end product but these are promising times for Sunderland supporters. 

Duncan Watmore has been lively in these opening seven minutes, setting the tempo for his team. 

My word. If ever there was a player you'd want 12 yards from goal and free from any defender it'd be Jermain Defoe but the striker, having beaten the offside trap, sweeps his shot wide. Only he can explain how he missed that. 

Sunderland's upbeat start however has raised decibels inside the stadium. 

Image source, Reuters

A desperate lunge from Jan Kirchhoff on former Black Cat James McClean as he sprints forward on the left. Jonny Evans with a looped effort into the box for his defenders - a wedge for those watching the Ryder Cup this weekend - but Sunderland deal with that set-piece coolly. 

Stuart Attwell is the man dressed in turquoise and black. He toots his whistle and Jermain Defoe gets the match under way. 

Darren Fletcher leads out his West Brom team, while the returning John O'Shea is the man who takes his team out to battle.

No words exchanged between Manchester United old boys Fletcher and O'Shea as they waited in the tunnel. Both looking ahead, both looking determined. 

Warm applause from the Sunderland fans for their beleaguered team. Can they secure a first league win of the season? Let's find out. 

Before this match kicks off, I must take part in a public service announcement. [Clears throat.] Here goes. 

School Report has teamed up with BBC Local Radio, and also BBC Sport, who are keen to hear your supporter stories and perhaps feature them on their programmes. 

It's a chance for schools and young people aged11-16 to share their passion, knowledge and stories about their local club.

Find out more about it here.

Image source, PA

Tony Pulis has avoided defeat in his last six Premier League matches against Sunderland (W1 D5), keeping five clean sheets.

However, Pulis' teams have failed to score in six of their last eight top-flight meetings with Sunderland (two scored in total).

The last two instances of Sunderland at home to WBA have finished 0-0; only twice before has an exact PL fixture ended 0-0 in three consecutive occasions (Aston Villa at home to Coventry & Middlesbrough at home to Leeds).

Guy Mowbray
Match of the Day commentator

"There haven't been many mentions of Sunderland amidst this week's sorry England tale. There should have been.

"We'll never know, but if Sam Allardyce had stayed they might not have been in their latest sorry state. As for what else might not have happened...

"Staying with fantastical thoughts, it's possible that David Moyes' managerial career might not have happened in the same way had Tony Pulis' Gillingham not won at Preston in January 1998, prompting Gary Peters to resign and make way for a 34-year-old Moyes to take over at Deepdale.

"Some 'what ifs' that bring the film Sliding Doors to mind. It makes a change from Sunderland's usual - Groundhog Day."

Manager David Moyes on Sunderland's league position: "It matters all the time, to be honest. I'm taking notice of it, but I'm trying not to look at it, if that makes any sense at all."

West Brom head coach Tony Pulis on Moyes: "I've a lot of respect for David and he's joined a club that has to fight and scrap and work hard to get the points that's needed to maintain Premier League status.

"I don't think he had that at Everton at all. He built and put in place a club that was looking more at (the) top six than bottom six so this is a new experience for him, but he's a top man, a top football manager and I'm sure he'll get through it."

Football Focus

Former England full-back Danny Mills: "After Sam Allardyce left in the summer, Moyes had almost a month to get in and have a look at the players he had and then jump into the transfer market later than everyone else. Unfortunately it will now be a very, very, long, hard season for them."

Former Middlesbrough goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer: “Sunderland have had a number of seasons in the same predicament. When you are down there at the bottom the luck does go against you. The little things lead to a goal."

It's a golden autumnal afternoon in the north east. The players are warming up and fans are making their way to their seats. A girl in the stands is covering her head with a fur-trimmed hat which suggests it's crisp in the Stadium of Light. 

England goalkeeper Ben Foster makes his 150th start for West Brom in a familiar starting line up as Tony Pulis keeps faith with the team which started in the 1-1 draw at Stoke last weekend.  

Image source, .

John O’Shea and Paddy McNair return to Sunderland’s XI as David Moyes makes five changes to the team which lost to Crystal Palace. 

Many of his changes have been enforced in the absence of the injured Adnan Januzaj, Lee Cattermole and Steven Pienaar.  

Image source, .

So. it's probably best to start with the bad news  - the score in this fixture in each of the last two seasons has been 0-0. We have to be prepared for the possibility of no goals. Zero. Nothing. Zilch. 

In better news, football is an unpredictable game and you're never quite sure what you're going to get, much like a box of chocolates I suppose. 

Image source, Rex Features