Sunderland and West Bromwich Albion are locked at 0-0 after a feisty first half at the Stadium of Light.
Sebastian Larsson whipped an early free kick into the side-netting before James Morrison tested Costel Pantilimon with a rasping drive in the opening exchanges.
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Both sides seemed intent on stamping their mark on the game and Mike Jones had to intervene as a number of scuffles punctuated the opening 20 minutes.
In the 27th minute, Jermain Defoe teed up Ricky Alvarez to shoot from the edge of the area, but the Argentine sliced his effort over the bar.
Adam Johnson saw a strike ruled out for offside before Larsson tested Ben Foster as Sunderland ended the first half in the ascendancy.
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