Luke O'Nien on John Swift, penalty to Albion. At first look I'm not sure if there's enough in that personally, but John Busby points to the spot.

Ouch - Jack Clarke tries a crossfield pass and only succeeds in striking his Sunderland team-mate Pierre Ekwah flush in the stomach.

Ged Scott
BBC Sport at The Hawthorns

Image source, Rex Features

There's one good reason why this game is being played at such a hot pace.

It's bloomin' cold in here. Unseasonally cold, given that we're three weeks into the new cricket season.

I knew it was a two-layer day when I left the car. Didn't realise it might be a three or four-layer job.

As my grandma always used to say though, "cast ne'er a clout, 'til May be out"!

Now Amad Diallo goes close! Just outside the box on his left foot, Diallo sends it a yard wide of Alex Palmer's post.

Sunderland growing in confidence as half-time approaches.

Tony Brown
West Brom's all-time record goalscorer on BBC Radio WM

That was well on target but Alex Palmer did really well there, getting across and palming the ball away.

It was Karlan Grant-esque from Jack Clarke, cutting in from the left and forcing a good save.

Alex Palmer makes an excellent save away to his left to keep out a curling effort from Jack Clarke.

The Sunderland winger, similar to Karlan Grant at the other end, cuts infield but this time Clarke's attempt was heading for the far corner.

Good stop.

Another yellow card for an Albion midfielder, Okay Yokuslu this time going into the book for halting another Joe Gelhardt run in the centre of the field.

West Bromwich Albion's Karlan Grant cuts in from the left touchline but his shot from the angle flies closer to the corner flag than the goal.

Tony Brown
West Brom's all-time record goalscorer on BBC Radio WM

The way things are you would think a goal is going to come from a set-piece.

Albion have passed the ball around pretty well but the final ball has been missing, the pass that's really going to hurt you.

Past the half-hour mark at The Hawthorns and it's been pretty even.

Both sides have had their moments. Albion bossed the early minutes, but Sunderland have looked more composed as the half has gone on.

Tony Brown
West Brom's all-time record goalscorer on BBC Radio WM

The game's gone a little bit quiet. But the midfield battle is intriguing, with Sunderland's Dan Neil and Pierre Ekwah against Albion's Okay Yokuslu and Jayson Molumby. For me, the middle of the park is where this game is going to be won.

As another Sunderland attack finally breaks down and the ball goes dead, Albion midfielder Jayson Molumby is shown a yellow card for a late tackle on Joe Gelhardt in the centre circle that had occurred probably two minutes earlier.

Image source, Getty Images

Sunderland's Amad Diallo shows some neat footwork on the right to put himself in on goal, but his set-up touch is not the best and home goalkeeper Alex Palmer is quickly off his line to smother.

Image source, Getty Images

Sunderland have managed to calm the game - and the home crowd - down a little bit now.

They have a long spell on the ball inside West Bromwich Albion territory, albeit not in the most dangerous of areas, and the hosts are back in numbers to prevent any defence-splitting passes being found.

Sunderland spring a quick counter attack and earn their first corner of the match, which finds its way to Joe Gelhardt at the back post.

Gelhardt's volley is a powerful one and headed over his own bar by Jayson Molumby. A crucial intervention.

Huge roars from the home crowd as Albion captain Conor Townsend wins a corner for his side on the hosts' left.

The corner comes to nothing, but they're bang up for this.

Ged Scott
BBC Sport at The Hawthorns

Image source, Getty Images

This is the best atmosphere I've heard at The Hawthorns in a while.

There was even a bit of the Liquidator played to get the party started.

The place is bouncing - and so are the Baggies. Carlos Corberan's side have made an electric start.

Albion have not lost at home since a 2-0 defeat by Sheffield United on 29 October, their first match under Carlos Corberan.

After an early Baggies burst, Sunderland finally get the chance to put their foot on the ball and keep possession for a minute.

BIG appeals for an Albion penalty as Jayson Molumby tumbles under a challenge on the edge of the box by Abdoullah Ba.

Not given by referee John Busby.