West Brom spank Sunderland to go third

West Bromwich Albion continued their superb start to the Premier League season with a 4-2 win at Sunderland on Saturday that took them up to third place in the table.

Zoltan Gera’s curling 25-yarder put the visitors ahead after half an hour’s play at the Stadium of Light, before a fumble from Sunderland goalkeeper Simon Mignolet gifted Shane Long the Baggies’ second.

Romelu Lukaku’s 81st-minute penalty made it 3-1 after Craig Gardner had scored with a deflected free-kick, before Stephane Sessegnon brought Sunderland back into the game again with a late strike from close range.

However, Steve Clarke’s men struck again in injury through substitute Marc-Antoine Fortune to secure a fourth straight win and move to within just two points of the summit.