Sunderland defender Danny Batth is booked, after he clumsily hauls down John Swift.

Swift picked his pocket and was about to stride on goal. James Linington took his time but produced a yellow.

To add insult to injury, the free-kick from Swift is easily contained.

West Brom are sinking deeper into their own half, as without the ball Sunderland have pushed up.

When they do get the ball into good areas, like they do when Jed Wallace attacks the left and slings in a meaty delivery, it's easy pickings for Lynden Gooch, who nods back to his keeper.

They need more options hitting the box.

West Brom break Sunderland down the middle, with Okay Yokuslu helping a ball over the top toward Brandon Thomas-Asante, who makes the run behind.

Anthony Patterson is quick out of his goal though to hook it away to safety.

Maybe they could try a more direct approach, as it brought them an opportunity there.

Bit of a tussle in midfield sees Conor Townsend go up for a header and over the top of Lynden Gooch, landing on his shoulder.

The full-back gets up and carries on but it looked a painful one.

John Swift arcs a free-kick over the wall with some serious whip, but it's over the top of Sunderland keeper Anthony Patterson's crossbar.

Tough to get it over and down from about 20 yards out.

Patient build-up by West Brom down the left sees Conor Townsend exchange passes and then drive toward goal.

He's clipped on the edge of the box... free-kick.

Far from admiring their handiwork, Sunderland are out hunting with aggression and intent on the back of the goal.

West Brom are being chased down everytime they have it. It's relentless.

First goal in four games they've conceded... is this a second?!

No. ALEX PALMER WITH A STUNNING STOP.

Ellis Simms flicks a beautiful pass into space in the Baggies box and Alex Pritchard's close-range strike is somehow blocked by the keeper.

Unbelievable save, but West Brom were all over the shop there. Statuesque.

Conor Townsend bundles into Amad Diallo as the Sunderland man drives into the box...

PENALTY.

Image source, Rex Features

Superb from West Brom.

Jed Wallace shuffles his feet down the left after receiving a pass from Darnell Furlong, and bends a sizzling delivery into that space between goalkeeper and defender.

Brandon Thomas-Asante juts out a leg to try to steer it on goal but it just evades him and Anthony Patterson in the Sunderland net can gather.

It was a wicked delivery. And I don't mean early 90s children's TV presenter speak.

Pinball around the West Brom box, as Aji Alese strides forward down the left, feeds Elliot Embleton who this time can find Ellis Simms to nudge in behind.

The Everton loanee striker cuts back but Alex Pritchard can't connect. West Brom get it as far away as Alese whose shot is blocked, and Lynden Gooch also finds his effort rap the shins of a visitors defender.

Solid from the Baggies despite the Sunderland possession and territory.

Sunderland had a game last week against Millwall and they just look a little bit quicker to the punch when it comes to second-balls.

Alex Pritchard locks on to a ball in midfield and tries to send a throughball in for Ellis Simms but it's poor and through to the goalkeeper.

At the other end, Jed Wallace is picked out on the right but sweeps his cross wildly over the bar. Shanked like a bad golf swing.

There's plenty of snow piled up against the advertising hoardings with the pitch nicely cleared.

However, the ball boys and girls around the edge I've seen tottering a bit on the edges - looks a bit skiddy.

West Brom also have a coat tribute on a dugout seat, and black armbands, for their club doctor Julian Widdowson who sadly died.

First chance for West Brom to apply some squeeze as the array of attacking players for Carlos Corberan's side work their way into position around the box.

It is a feast of options for Corberan, Jed Wallace, John Swift, Jayson Molumby all getting touches, and Okay Yokuslu just anchoring things from deep.

Really purposeful start from Sunderland, who march forward and pinch the ball from the Baggies who are a bit slow out of the blocks.

Plenty of snappy passes around the deck, sharp, looking to break the lines.

Aji Alese hangs a cross into the box, swept in from the left but Alex Palmer is commanding and dominant to pluck it away from the lurking Ellis Simms.

Image source, Rex Features

First sighter from Sunderland's Alex Pritchard, after a challenge in midfield from Corry Evans breaks to him.

He swings a swerver just wide.

Sunderland get us going after James Linington tests out the pea in his whistle.

Up and running.

Plenty of base layers and gloves being donned tonight, but Brandon Thomas-Asante isn't mucking about with any of that.

Short sleeves. No gloves. Proper.

Nice embrace between bosses Carlos Corberan and Sunderland's Tony Mowbray too.

Some trivia for you early doors.

West Bromwich Albion haven't won up on Wearside in four attempts, the last time they did Zoltan Gera and Romelu Lukaku were among the scorers in a 4-2 victory.

Sunderland have won three of their last 25 league games played on Mondays.

They have failed to win at home on a Monday in their last nine attempts, since a 2-0 win coincidentally over West Brom back in 2006.

Image source, Getty Images

West Brom fans stuck up in the north stand upper tier might afford a bit of polite applause for Sunderland boss Tony Mowbray, given the impact he made in former times at the Hawthorns.

Under 'Mogga', the Baggies were winners of the Championship in 2007-08 and almost went up the season before that as he guided them to a play-off final loss to Derby.

Current boss Carlos Corberan holds his Teesside-born predecessor in the highest regard.

"He's a coach I respect a lot," Corberan told BBC Radio WM. "Every time I've coached against him it's always been a competitive game.

"He helped this club West Bromwich Albion to be as big a club as it is, because he won a trophy here."