Rampant Sunderland banish memory of Keane

Sunderland surged out of the relegation zone as the Black Cats beat West Brom 4-0 to claim their first victory since Roy Keane's departure.

After narrowly losing at Manchester United last weekend, caretaker manager Ricky Sbragia was coy about his desire to replace Keane on a permanent basis, but Sunderland's players made his case in convincing fashion at the Stadium of Light on Saturday.

They tore bottom of the table Albion to pieces in the first half as Trinidad and Tobago forward Kenwyne Jones scored twice in two minutes before Andy Reid added a third.

Djibril Cisse's penalty soon after the break ensured Sunderland ended a three-match losing run and left Albion nursing a fifth defeat in six matches.

Sunderland had lost their last four matches but they were on top from the start. Cisse collected Steed Malbranque's ball down the right and crossed for Jones to shoot straight at Scott Carson.

West Brom had been warned but Sunderland took the lead in the 22nd minute when Jones met Reid's cross with a powerful 22nd-minute header.

The celebrations from that goal had barely died down when Carson parried Cisse's effort and Jones followed-up to make it 2-0 with a clinical finish.

Cisse shot straight at Carson under pressure from Abdoulaye Meite as the hosts piled forward and they got a third in the 40th minute.

Malbranque fired his cross towards the far post, where Reid was perfectly positioned to head home.

Albion boss Tony Mowbray made a double change at the break when he sent on striker Roman Bednar and South Korea midfielder Do-heon Kim.

But Bednar made an impact at the wrong end as he handled Malbranque's free-kick in the penalty area after 47 minutes.

Referee Lee Mason pointed to the spot and Cisse smashed the penalty past Carson to wrap up the points.

Sunderland showed no sign of letting up and Cisse shot over with just the keeper to beat. Jones was denied a hat-trick when Carson blocked his shot with his foot and Reid shot wide from the rebound.

Carson had to make a smart 72nd-minute save from Cisse's deflected shot as the Black Cats threatened to turn a comfortable victory into a rout.