Albion 3 Sunderland 0 - analysis

Yet, amid the rip-roaring show of faith in Mowbray's rock bottom team, there was a nagging sense of regret at what might have been.

Granted, the Baggies ended their 11-match winless run against a woeful Sunderland side threatening to fall flat on their face as they stumble towards the Premier League safety line.

But the vital ingredients that went into the long-awaited victory would have earned the Baggies success against much stronger opponents.

So the sell-out crowd who lapped up a comprehensive home success must have reflected later on where such qualities had been for so much of this campaign of shattered hopes.

The build-up had purpose, the finishing was precise and there was none of the defensive suicide that has undermined everything good about the Baggies' top-flight challenge.

In short, Albion combined their admirable brand of football with the composure in both boxes required for success among England's elite.

Yet such a display – probably their best of the season – has almost certainly come too late in a season that, despite this stay of execution, still looks destined to end in ultimate disappointment.

The comfortable success against a Black Cats outfit devoid of confidence and momentum represented the latest battle in the mission to regain the trust of supporters whose mood was poised on a knife-edge when the previous home fixture against Stoke ended in dismal defeat.

It was a battle the Baggies won hands down with the crowd offering raucous appreciation of their team and manager.

Even a homemade banner demanding the departure of chairman Jeremy Peace was virtually forgotten as Ricky Sbragia's strugglers were put to the sword.

And several of their lesser lights enhanced their own reputations with performances of rich promise.

There was Chris Brunt, whose fourth goal in three matches took him to the top of the Hawthorns scoring charts and provided further signs that, should he stick around long enough for another crack at the Premier League in Albion colours, he could develop into a serious player.

There was Graham Dorrans, whose composure, assurance and impressive discipline were the common themes of quality that ran throughout the match and underpinned his team's success.

He too looks like a man whose talents could be integral to the Albion of the future.

Juan Carlos Menseguez produced a classy cameo and a fine late goal to make a belated start to his own bid for a permanent summer move to England.

And Gianni Zuiverloon conjured another glimpse of the early-season strength and ability that Baggies fans must have feared was a flash in the pan when his form tailed off alarmingly in the defining middle months of the season.

Jonas Olsson was strong and progressive, Robert Koren purposeful and Marc-Antoine Fortune a constant focal point.

So much augers well for a brighter future. But, given the likely course of the next month, even a performance as promising as Saturday's all felt a little hollow.

Nevertheless, it was tremendous fun. And in a season with plenty of lows, there was a lot to be said for a smile or two.

Albion were on top from the outset against a Mackems side whose utter lack of urgency bellied their own need for points.

And the dominance of the home side increased in scale as the afternoon progressed. Jay Simpson, restored to the starting line-up on the left of a five-man midfield, curled an early shot just wide for Albion and both Brunt and Jonathan Greening delivered teasing crosses just too high into the visitors' box.

Sunderland offered little resistance but almost punished the Baggies for their one sloppy moment of the day.

Former Hawthorns loanee Kieran Richardson was allowed to advance unchallenged through midfield and unleash a powerful shot that bent viciously towards the top corner, only for keeper Scott Carson to produce a fine one-handed save.

That was the only moment of alarm for Mowbray's men, who increased the pressure on the Black Cats' goal and took a deserved lead five minutes before half-time.

After a series of disappointing corners from the left, Greening finally floated one into the danger zone, Abdoulaye Meite flicked it to the far post and the tumbling Olsson came up with a low, left-footed shot just powerful enough to beat Marton Fulop.

A double change at the interval only seemed to increase the Baggies' superiority as they doubled their lead just before the hour as Brunt's rich vein of form continued.

It was the Northern Ireland international who started the move as he picked out the hard-working Fortune on the right.

Brunt continued his run, arriving unnoticed in the box to turn home Fortune's low cross at full stretch.

The moody Djibril Cisse could have changed the course of the match but the Frenchman was guilty of an amazing miss as he diverted Teemu Tainio's shot over from a couple of yards out.

And Menseguez completed a pleasing afternoon for the Baggies as he received a neat ball from Brunt, rounded a flat-footed Anton Ferdinand and slotted into the bottom corner with a minute to go.

It didn't take long after the final whistle for the inevitable question to arrive.

"Was that the start of another 'Great Escape?" asked one of Olsson's radio inquisitors. The Swede did his best to remain positive while knowing that the answer is probably no.

A braver journalist reserved a cheekier question for Mowbray.

"Was that the beginning of your promotion campaign?" he enquired.

Premature it might have been. But it sounded fair enough. And, as opening gambits go, this victory was impressive.

Yet, such was the scale of Albion's thoroughly deserved success, it was tough not to wonder how it ever got to this.

By Steve Madeley.