Managerless Sunderland got back on the winning trail at the first attempt following Tony Mowbray’s departure as they deservedly beat West Bromwich Albion.

Substitute Brandon Thomas-Asante pulled one back for the Baggies late on, just two minutes after Neil had run clear on the break to make it 2-0.

But Albion had nothing more to give as they succumbed to a second successive 2-1 defeat as Sunderland’s players gave the perfect response to Monday’s surprise sacking of Mowbray.

The Baggies were upset by injuries, without skipper Jed Wallace for a second game running, and having lost Matt Phillips for four months.

They were at least able to bring back top scorer John Swift for only his second start in two months, but they were also without Okay Yokuslu, for whom Jayson Molumby came in, and boss Carlos Corberan opted to make two further changes, swapping Kyle Bartley and former Sunderland striker Josh Maja for Semi Ajayi and Thomas-Asante respectively.

It was an unhappy return for Maja, who had to be helped off in only the 36th minute following a poor challenge from Ballard, for which the Sunderland man was booked and possibly lucky to escape greater punishment.

Sunderland caretaker boss Mike Dodds made two changes for his first game in charge since briefly filling in for two matches between Lee Johnson’s sacking and Alex Neil’s appointment in February 2022.

He brought back Patrick Roberts in place of on-loan Mason Burstow, while Jobe Bellingham, who Dodds has known well since first working with him at Birmingham City, came in for Abdoullah Ba.

Bellingham was involved in the first half’s key moment, when he appeared to have cashed in on sloppy Albion defending to put Sunderland ahead from close range, only for the goal to be incorrectly chalked off for offside.

Roberts then nearly made a breakthrough midway through the second half when his right-foot shot hit the post and Jack Clarke’s follow-up was brilliantly tipped wide by Albion keeper Alex Palmer.

But Sunderland finally got the breakthrough on 69 minutes when newly arrived substitute Alex Pritchard’s free-kick was headed in powerfully at the near post by Ballard – only his third goal for the club and his first at the Stadium of Light.

The points looked safe when Sunderland broke quickly to double their lead.

Conor Townsend made a mess of a lofted clearance and slipped, the alert Pritchard latched onto the loose ball to send Neil clear and he kept his head to coolly clip the ball over Palmer.

Just two minutes later Albion were handed a lifeline when Thomas-Asante pulled a goal back from close range – but that was all Corberan’s men could muster.

Sunderland’s last eight league wins over Albion have all been under a different manager, dating back to 1999 – Peter Reid, Mick McCarthy, Niall Quinn, Roy Keane, Ricky Sbragia, Gus Poyet, Tony Mowbray and now caretaker boss Dodds.

Who’s next?

Sunderland, who climbed to sixth, within two points of fifth-placed Albion, now face two games in the next week – at home to Leeds United on Tuesday night, then next Saturday away to Bristol City.

Albion are also in action on Tuesday night, at Rotherham, before hosting a Midlands derby against Stoke City next Sunday.

Sunderland caretaker boss Mike Dodds told BBC Radio Newcastle:

“I’m just really happy for everyone at the football club. The most important thing was getting the three points.

“I didn’t like the first half. I didn’t like the level of control they had – and we had to tweak a few things. But, for a large spell, we controlled the second half.

“Alex Pritchard did exactly what I expected him to do and impact the game. A free-kick and a clever little reverse pass to set Dan Neil free.”

West Bromwich Albion head coach Carlos Corberan told BBC Radio WM:

“Sunderland have the skill to create problems and were more likely to take control of the game.

“It was a massive foul that Maja received. But those are things that are out of our control.

“This is the second time it has happened to Josh Maja. It happened at Bristol City too. And the same ankle.”