Brunt fires Baggies to victory

Chris Brunt continued his hot streak of goal-scoring form as West Brom kept alive their faint hopes of avoiding relegation with a 3-0 win over Sunderland - their first win in 12 games against the Black Cats.

The Northern Ireland international struck the decisive second goal - his fourth in the last three games - after Jonas Olsson had broken the deadlock.

Juan Carlos Menseguez's first goal for the club put the icing on the cake for Albion as Sunderland slumped to a fifth defeat in the last six games.

Sunderland midfielder Andy Reid had the first chance and found the target with a dipping 20-yard effort but it did not trouble West Brom goalkeeper Scott Carson.

A low centre from Albion's on-loan Arsenal striker Jay Simpson took a deflection and fell to Robert Koren 15 yards out but his shot was blocked by Teemu Tainio.

A quick break by Djibril Cisse found Sunderland a man advantage but Abdoulaye Meite made a solid tackle on the Black Cats' leading scorer.

Kieran Richardson brought a fine save out of Carson with a swerving 30-yard drive which was turned around the post.

Then after 40 minutes central defender Olsson broke the deadlock. Skipper Jonathan Greening's inswinging corner flicked off the head of Abdoulaye Meite to Olsson at the far the post and his half volley flew past Fulop.

In the second half Fulop raced out of his area to deny Brunt after he had attempted to run on to a fine pass from Koren in a rare moment of excitement.

After 58 minutes Brunt scored his fourth goal in the last three games to double the Baggies lead. Marc-Antoine Fortune shrugged off the challenge of Anton Ferdinand and his low cross from the by-line was turned home at close range by the former Sheffield Wednesday man. With a minute left, Brunt's pass was turned home by Menseguez.