Premier League: West Bromwich Albion v Sunderland match preview

A look ahead to this week’s Premier League fixture at the Hawthorns

Paolo Di Canio will hope for more celebration against West Brom (GETTY IMAGES)

Midfielder Stephane Sessegnon is set to make his debut for West Brom against former club Sunderland. The Black Cats sold the Benin international on deadline day after Paolo Di Canio had questioned his attitude and application. Sessegnon scored against West Brom both home and away last season.

Sunderland manager Di Canio comes into the game following an £8,000 fine from the FA for a misconduct charge after being sent to the stands during his sides defeat to Arsenal. He is free to manage from the dugout at the Hawthorns however.

Romelu Lukaku scored twice for West Brom in this fixture last season as the Baggies won 2-1, but has since joined Everton on loan from Chelsea.

Both West Brom and Sunderland will be looking to secure their first win of the season as they find themselves in occupying the bottom two places of the Premier League.

Saturday: 15.00.

Last three meetings

West Brom 2 (Lukaku 2) Sunderland 1 (Sessegnon), Premier League, February 2013

Sunderland 2 (Gardner, Sessegnon) West Brom 4 (Gera, Long, Lukaku, Fortune), Premier League, November 2012

West Brom 4 Sunderland 0, Premier League, February 2012

Stats

West Brom have managed to score 1 Premier League goal all season. It came from centre-back Gareth McAuley in stoppage time against Fulham last weekend.

Sunderland have the worst goal difference in the Premier League and find themselves on -5 after the opening 4 matches.

Sunderland striker Jozy Altidore is yet to open his account for the team after having a goal disallowed against Arsenal as the play was brought back for a free-kick on the forward.

There have been a total of forty league games drawn between Sunderland and West Brom.

ODDS

West Brom: 2.06

Sunderland: 4.2