West Brom 1 : Sunderland 0

Peter Odemwingie marked his Premier League debut with a match-winning goal to give West Brom a vital win against a lacklustre Sunderland side.

The Nigerian forward, who completed his move from Lokomotiv Moscow on Friday, scored the only goal of the game as the Baggies put last weekend's 6-0 thrashing at Chelsea firmly behind them and claimed their first points of the season.

Roberto Di Matteo's side dominated the first half, although the hosts struggled to break through Sunderland's back-line.

Odemwingie looked a threat throughout, adding some much needed pace to the Baggies attack, and it was the 29-year-old who came closest for the home side in the first-half, when he shot just wide from inside the box.

Sunderland, however, began the second-half more brightly, as Darren Bent came close, heading just wide from a Jordan Henderson free-kick. Kieran Richardson also came close for the visitors, but his free-kick sailed just over the bar.

West Brom always remained in control and continued to pass the ball around well, looking like a side certainly capable of surviving in the Premier League.

Following decent attempts at goal by Chris Brunt and Graham Dorrans that tested new-signing Simon Mignolet in the Sunderland goal, the deadlock was finally broken in the 81st minute, as Odemwingie latched on to a fine through ball by James Morrison, timing his run to perfection before coolly slotting ball home underneath the incoming goalkeeper.

Steve Bruce's Sunderland remain without a win from their first two games, the Mackem's misery matching Albion's joy.