Looking back at the Championship fixture on December 9, 2023, Sunderland emerged victorious against West Bromwich Albion with a narrow margin of 2-1. However, the statistics and data reveal a much deeper narrative underneath that final scoreline.

Before diving into the goals, let's first observe the game's disciplinary actions. West Bromwich Albion received six yellow cards, a considerably high amount compared to Sunderland's single yellow, showing a clear lack of discipline from the away team, which could've disrupted their rhythm, momentum and overall team play. Meanwhile, Sunderland displayed a more orderly approach which is always advantageous in keeping the team focused on their game plan.

Analyzing the goals, Sunderland's efficient play is reflected in their two timely strikes in the second half at approximately 1:09:29 and 1:24:12, demonstrating their ability to capitalize on key moments in the game. West Bromwich Albion managed to respond but only after the second goal of Sunderland at 1:26:07. This late reaction from the away team might suggest a lack of proactiveness in their offensive play.

In terms of set-pieces, figures indicate an upper hand for West Bromwich Albion who managed to earn a total of 7 corner kicks compared to Sunderland's 4. The higher number suggests that West Bromwich Albion may have had more possession or territorial aggression, however, the lack of goals converted from these opportunities underscores their inefficiency in such critical scenarios.

Offsides is another parameter worth mentioning. West Bromwich was caught offside twice, versus the host team once. This statistic suggests that West Bromwich Albion was trying to breach Sunderland's defense quite frequently using forward runs, but the home team's disciplined defensive line managed to hold the fort effectively, cutting off their opposition's supply.

In conclusion, despite West Bromwich Albion’s seemingly more aggressive approach (as seen in the corners and offsides), Sunderland's more disciplined style of play, coupled with timely goals secured them the match. The number of yellow cards for West Bromwich Albion further hints at perhaps a bit too much aggression, which rather than benefiting, most likely worked to their disadvantage. Sunderland’s ability to convert fewer opportunities into goals while keeping their cool further underlines their effectiveness and efficiency.

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