West Bromwich Albion beat Sunderland to climb to third

West Bromwich Albion withstood two Sunderland comebacks to collect maximum points from the Stadium of Light and climb to third in the Premier League.

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Goals from Zoltan Gera and Shane Long had handed the Baggies a 2-0 half-time lead, but Craig Gardner's deflected free kick pulled one back for the hosts.

Chelsea loanee Romelu Lukaku restored West Brom's two-goal cushion before Stephane Sessegnon gave Sunderland late hope with an 87th-minute reply.

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However, Marc-Antoine Fortune put the game beyond doubt in injury time after receiving a pass from Lukaku, setting set up a victory that sees West Brom leapfrog his parent club in the table.

The hosts had most of the early pressure, but could not make an impact on the score as both Adam Johnson and Sessegnon were denied by Boaz Myhill.

His opposite number Simon Mignolet may have expected to do better when Gera unleashed a powerful 30-yard drive which found the top corner, and the Belgian was also at fault for West Brom's second.

Chris Brunt's over-hit pass was spilled by the Black Cats stopper and the in-form Long was on hand to convert a simple rebound minutes before the break.

Despite having most of the possession, Sunderland's chances were limited to a Steven Fletcher header before they were awarded a free kick 25 yards out.

Gardner drove the ball towards goal and Myhill could only parry it into the net after it had taken a deflection off Fortune, who was standing in the wall.

Sunderland's momentum was stalled when Johnson was adjudged to have brought down Liam Ridgewell in the box, and Lukaku stepped up to convert the spot kick.

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Sessegnon ensured that the visitors were in for a nervy finish when he tapped in from close range after Fletcher's initial header was saved by Myhill.

Martin O'Neill's side committed plenty of men forward for the final stages, but the Black Cats were caught out on the counter when Lukaku played in Fortune to slot past Mignolet.