"We started off playing an accomplished Premiership outfit who caused us problems with their formation," the Sunderland boss said after the 3-1 home defeat.
"We matched them in terms of performance and got back on level terms, deservedly so, but it was a case of giving the ball away for the first goal, not defending properly for the free-kick, then got caught on the sucker chasing an equaliser.
"Danny Murphy did what he does best and that goal seemed to knock the stuffing out of us. They defended well and we never got a chance. The lads worked hard and I've got no grouse about their effort.
"This is a learning curve and if I remember rightly, West Brom won only one of their first 23 games last season and stayed up."