Sunderland failed to build on victory over Hull City as they slumped to a disappointing defeat at St Anndrew’s.
The Black Cats failed to turn up in the opening 45 minutes and they were punished, as David Davis tucked away the opener before Jeremie Boga’s bullet header doubled their advantage.
It didn’t get any better after the restart as Sam Gallagher made it 3-0 and the hosts threatened to run riot, before Bryan Oviedo pulled one back late on.
An evening to forget.
KONE RETURNS
Chris Coleman made two changes ahead of the game as Lamine Kone and Adam Matthews started in a back five. Kone made his first appearance since October as John O’Shea missed out due to illness, as Billy Jones also failed to make the trip south. Lee Cattermole captained the Lads as Josh Maja and Joel Asoro once again led the line, and Jonny Williams was also included amongst the substitutes.
BLUES ON SONG
Birmingham immediately put to bed any pre-match jitters as Steve Cotterill’s side made a bright start to the game. With less than two minutes on the clock, on-loan Chelsea winger Boga picked up a good position on the left and lashed a volley well wide, but within moments the Blues were racing forward again and Cattermole did well to charge down Cheikh Ndoye’s fierce effort. Sam Gallagher then sent a free header wide after Boga whipped a cracking free-kick into the box, as the home side rounded off a confident opening.
BLACK CATS UNDONE
Sunderland needed a lift and they got one as Maja injected some class into their attacking play. The striker sold his marker down the river to send the Lads onto the front foot, but after defending back-to-back corners the Blues countered and Robbin Ruiter had to be quick off his line to thwart Boga. Coleman’s continued to tread dangerously as Oviedo’s last-ditch intervention denied Jaques Maghoma from close range, but their luck ran out on 28 minutes as Birmingham pieced together the best moment of the match, as Davis exchanged passes with Maghoma before burying the ball under Ruiter.
MOUNTAIN TO CLIMB
The home side continued to boss proceedings and when they doubled their lead few in red and white could argue. Maghoma and Boga toyed with their respective full-backs throughout an impressive opening period, and they combined to devastating effect two minutes before the interval, as Maghome danced to the byline before cross to Boga whose bullet header powered beyond past Ruiter. At the interval, Coleman’s side had a mountain to climb.
NO MAN’S LAND
Sunderland needed to respond quickly following the restart but the game continued in a similar fashion, as Birmingham picked up where they left off. Gallagher forced the first save of the game but moments later Ruiter found himself in no man’s land after being beaten to the ball by Davis. The winger remained calm and took a touch before squaring the ball to an unmarked Gallagher who couldn’t miss from four yards. The goalscorer almost added a fourth before the hour mark, but his curling effort whistled just past the post.
CONSOLATION
Coleman introduced Kazenga LuaLua and Aiden McGeady as the Black Cats attempted to muster a response, but Birmingham remained comfortable at the back until the latter stages. Oviedo dragged the Black Cats back into late on, volleying home at the back post after seeing an earlier effort crash against the post. And McGeady and LuaLua both went close, the former forcing Stockdale into a low save from a 25-yard free kick. The damage had already been done, though, and a night to forget ended in defeat.
Sunderland: Ruiter, Matthews, Browning, Kone, Clarke-Salter (McGeady, 64), Oviedo, Cattermole, Honeyman, Robson, Asoro (Gooch, 83), Maja (LuaLua, 59)
Subs: Steele, Love, Galloway, Williams.