Sunderland gave fans a memorable away day on Saturday, winning 1-0 at West Brom.
Sunderland headed to The Hawthorns in some mathematically decent form, albeit lacking wins.
They’d lost just one of their previous five before West Brom and had kept four clean sheets in that time as well.
But many expected a top-six chasing Baggies outfit to trump Sunderland on Saturday, and bring an end to their run of form and run of clean sheets.
Mike Dodds though oversaw a Sunderland win over West Brom for the second time this season.
Pierre Ekwah hailed after scoring Sunderland winner vs West Brom
West Brom saw Brandon Thomas-Asante sent off in the first half.
Inevitably, the man advantage handed the game towards Sunderland who quickly got themselves in front.
Pierre Ekwah scored his fifth Championship goal of the season with a nonchalant half volley, earning praise from journalist Michael Graham on social media who hailed the Frenchman ‘quality.
And Graham was impressed with two other Sunderland players at West Brom.
Dan Ballard and Callum Styles praised after West Brom
Dodds named an unchanged XI against West Brom, following the 0-0 draw vs Leeds United in midweek.
And it was an unchanged shape too with Sunderland going 5-2-2-1, with advancing wing-backs in Timothee Pembele on the right and Callum Styles on the left.
Styles has been a source of criticism since he arrived on loan from Barnsley in January.
But having played at left wing-back in the last two games, tasked with being more attacking, Styles has shone.
And Dan Ballard was once again a rock at the back too, recording more defensive actions than any other player on the pitch (7 defensive actions; 5 clearances, 1 interception, 1 block, per Sofascore).
Two tricky transfer situations for Sunderland in the summer
Both Ballard and Styles will present Sunderland with some tough calls in the summer, Styles definitely.
Sunderland have the option to buy Styles permanently from Barnsley, and whilst he’s certainly given the club reason to buy him in the last two games, on the whole, he’s still been quite poor for the Black Cats.
And Ballard has had Premier League links throughout this campaign, in which he’s been quality for Sunderland, but the club arguably has other names they’d rather cash in on like Jack Clarke.
Losing Ballard would open up a void at the back, in a position where the likes of natural midfielder Luke O’Nien and then full-back Trai Hume have been filling in.
Ballard and Styles look like two mainstays in this back-five formation under Dodds recently, with Sunderland now finishing strong after a rocky few months.