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VIEW MATCH REPORT

Sunday 27 Nov 2005
Sunderland 0-1 Birmingham
Gutless Sunderland bottom of the Premiership

Birmingham leave the North East with at least some hope that they can salvage their season and retain their Premiership status. Julian Gray settled the basement battle in the 68th minute following in from a Walter Pandiani's header.

A battling Sunderland saw Stead denied as number of times, his best shot blocked by Izzet.

Liam Lawrence came close to equalising but Nico Vaesen pushed his shot wide to seal the Blues' second win this season.

With both sides desperate to end a losing streak of five-straight matches, the bottom-of-the-table encounter quickly sparked into life.

Vaesen, preferred to Maik Taylor in the Birmingham goal, saved Stead's looping right-footed shot in the opening stages.

The England Under-21 striker was at the heart of the action as Sunderland forced the visitors into some desperate defending.

But Birmingham, with David Dunn and Damien Johnson back to run the midfield, looked a far more organized and commited outfit.

Teenager Neil Kilkenny had a golden chance to open the scoring, breaking clean through only to see Gary Breen rush in and smother his shot.

Jiri Jarosik went close minutes later when his ferocious effort was palmed away by keeper Alnwick.

Sunderland were in there fighting and it was through Stead that they looked most dangerous. The striker had a left-footed strike was blocked by Izzet and his follow up effort was cleared off the line by Johnson.

Birmingham boss Steve Bruce, on his 150th league match in charge, tried to fire up his attack by replacing Jarosik with Pandiani after half-time.

The Uruguayan tested Alnwick soon afterwards, forcing the keeper into a fine fingertip save.

Bruce then brought on Jermaine Pennant and Julian Gray, in place of the tired but impressive Dunn. Thank god Dunnies back, is the collective Blues sigh. His trio of substitutions were to prove inspired. Bruce after the game said

"When you've got Julian Gray, Jermaine Pennant and Walter Pandiani on the bench then of course you can change the game.

Pennant threaded the ball through to Pandiani, who forced Alnwick to beat away his header leaving Gray to get onto the loose ball and calmly slot Birmingham into the lead.

A subdued Sunderland did not look like finding an equaliser but Lawrence, in a moment of inspiration, was unlucky to see his last-gasp effort saved by Vaesen.

But there were to be no more chances and the gloom continues to hang over the Stadium of Light, where the Black Cats have not won in the Premiership since December 2002, and do not look likely too.