A clash between two sides who still harbour outside hopes of finishing inside the play-off spots failed to spring into life until the final minute of the first half.
Lunging into a clumsy tackle, Luke O'Nien brought down John Swift in the penalty area, leaving referee John Busby little choice but to point to the spot. Replays suggested the decision was somewhat soft, but having won the spot-kick, Swift stepped up himself and rifled down the middle with a right-footed effort to give the home fans inside the Hawthorns a moment of joy in what was an otherwise drab half.
Feeling aggrieved by the referee’s decision, it wouldn’t take long after the restart for Sunderland to hit back by levelling the game.
Standing a loopy ball up at the back post, Lynden Gooch’s inch-perfect cross was met by Cirkin in the penalty area, whose powerful header sailed beyond West Brom goalkeeper Alex Palmer into the top right-hand corner.
Frustration for Baggies boss Carlos Corberán, who had seen his side lead for a total of less than 10 minutes either side of the break.
From thereon in it was a game of attrition between the two play-off contenders, with both sides hesitant to commit too many bodies forwards in case of being caught out at the back.
As such, it was no surprise the winning goal came from a splendid passing move, where Sunderland broke down the resilient West Brom backline with precision and patience.
Gliding into the penalty area unopposed, Cirkin doubled his tally for the afternoon with a tidy finish from 12 yards out, sending the travelling Black Cats supporters into ecstasy.
The victory moves Sunderland into the Championship play-off spots, but hopes of back-to-back promotions remain slim for the North-East outfit, given the number of games in hand teams below them have left to play.
West Brom are one of those clubs, whose own promotion push will now resume in midweek at Bramall Lane against Sheffield United.
Flashscore Man of the Match: Dennis Cirkin (Sunderland)
