Sunderland 1-1 Birmingham City
Sunderland were left frustrated at the Stadium of Light as ten-man Birmingham City claimed a point.
Sam Gallagher, who was sent off in the second-half, opened the scoring but Chris Coleman’s side struck back before the interval as Lewis Grabban scored his 12th goal of the season.
Both sides traded blows and George Honeyman’s cross-shot was turned onto the crossbar by David Stockdale following the interval, but despite being reduced to ten men, the Blues soaked up late pressure to earn a share of the spoils.
AS YOU WERE
It was as you were at the Stadium of Light as Sunderland sought about claiming a second successive home success with an unchanged side. Last weekend’s hero, Josh Maja, once again started on the bench, as did the returning Bryan Oviedo, but there was no place for Lee Cattermole with the midfielder set to miss four weeks due to a thigh injury. Birmingham made one change as Cheikh N’Doye lined up alongside former Black Cat Craig Gardner in midfield.
LOVE TRAIN
Sunderland raced out of the blocks and Donald Love immediately put the Blues under pressure, as Jonathan Grounds was forced into a sliding challenge to thwart the right-back. It set the tone for Coleman’s men and showed they were once again up for the fight, with Steve Cotterill’s side struggling for momentum and time on the ball during the opening exchanges. And the visitors continued to find themselves under pressure as Lynden Gooch surged to the byline before Darron Gibson’s thumping effort was desperately blocked.
CHANCES SPURNED
Any optimism established following a confident opening was almost snuffed out with nine minutes played, however, as Birmingham went within a whisker of scoring. Gardner’s corner put Robbin Ruiter under pressure after a glancing touch from Grounds, but any real contact would have diverted the ball past the Dutchman and into the net. Two minutes later, it was Lewis Grabban with his head in his hands, as the Lads’ top scorer steered the ball wide from close range after an excellent cross from Love. Like Grounds, he should have scored.
CHANCES TAKEN
Inevitably, Sunderland paid the price. The Black Cats squandered possession in the middle and Gardner’s quick thinking unleashed Gallagher, with the striker seizing a lofted ball over the top before finishing at the second attempt. It didn’t last, though, and six minutes later the Lads were level as Grabban picked out Love whose wayward volley was crashed home by the club’s top scorer. Birmingham responded brightly and were close to a second as Ruiter denied Gallagher after Jota – their standout performer and main threat – breezed past Marc Wilson, but it remained level at the interval.
ON A KNIFE EDGE
Birmingham continued to turn the screw following the restart as Sunderland simply couldn’t find their rhythm. Ty Browning was at the centre of the action with a terrific block following a timely interception as the Blues continued exploit the right wing, but the visitors did find themselves short at the back on 53 minutes when Vaughan dragged a tame shot just wide. Five minutes later, Honeyman’s chipped cross-shot was clawed onto the crossbar by Stockdale following great play from Adam Matthews, as the pendulum continued to swing back and forth.
ROUGE
With 67 minutes played, the pendulum swung firmly in Sunderland’s favour. Birmingham tired as the game entered the final quarter and it showed in their challenges, with Gallagher sent off after picking up a second yellow card following a late tackle on Vaughan. The Black Cats spurned their golden chance to go ahead, though, when Honeyman curled the ball wide with time on his side following a defensive-splitting reverse ball from Grabban. Coleman responded with a triple change as Didier Ndong, Joel Asoro and Maja took to the field with just over 15 minutes to make a difference, but they were left frustrated as it ended all-square.
Sunderland: Ruiter, Wilson, O’Shea, Browning, Love, Matthews, Gibson (Ndong 74), Honeyman, Gooch, Vaughan (Asoro 74), Grabban (Maja 74).
Substitutes: Steele, Oviedo, McGeady, McManaman.
Birmingham City: Stockdale, Grounds, Colin, Kieftenbeld, Gardner, Dean, N’Doye, Gallagher, Boga (Davis 79), Jota (Maghoma 79), Morrison.
Subs not used: Trueman, NSue, Jutkiewicz, Bramall, Gleeson.