Swansea City's shock 3-2 win at Liverpool meant that Sunderland started Saturday's game at West Bromwich Albion in bottom place. Another wretched performance from David Moyes' team led to a 2-0 defeat that kept them there.
Appalling defending cost Sunderland both goals, scored within six minutes in the first half, and there was nothing in the response of Moyes' men to suggest they are a team capable of pulling clear of relegation trouble.
At no time during the match was West Brom keeper Ben Foster threatened. His one save from a feeble Billy Jones header summed up his afternoon of inactivity.