In spite of the fact that Blues had to come from two goals down this was a big opportunity missed. Boss Mcleish started off by picking a side which was never likely to create anything and was never going to achieve anything more than a 0-0 score line. Steed Malbranque should have opened the scoring when England hopeful Bent miss-controlled the ball into the Frenchman’s...

Foster (6) Had more difficulty with Carr and Bowyer than anything Sunderland could muster! Carr (2) Conceded pen. Own goal and lost the toss! Johnson (6) Error led to their first goal. Dann (7) Steady defensively Blues best goal threat. Ridgewell (7) Good game and knew little about his goal. Larsson (8)* 2 assists and technically the best on show Bowyer (4) Legs have...

BBC Football pundit Mark Lawrenson has predicted that Birmingham City will lose to Sunderland on Saturday. He told BBC Sport Online: “Sunderland are slowly improving under manager Steve Bruce. The Black Cats boss has obviously concluded that striker Kenwyne Jones does not produce often enough and sold him to Stoke, while bringing in Danny Welbeck on loan from Manchester...

Hart   (8) Two great saves and kept Blues in it Carr   (7) Never in difficulty Johnson   (6) Always stretched. Dann   (4) Two goals to the opposition Ridgewell   (5) Needs a week to get back in position. Gardener   (7) Will die for the cause Michel  (6) Poor start came to life after the break Ferguson  (9) * Started everything. Chucho   (7) Denied by...

My Preview suggested that the Mackems had used up a great deal of their luck last week against Man City while in his pre-match comment Steve Bruce suggested that Blues would be hard to break down.  Both were way off line as Blues shipped two goals even quicker than last Saturday against Everton. Luck is a concept which has no basis in reality and Sunderland’s points...

Michel starts for Birmingham City for their Premier League clash against Sunderland. Sunderland: Gordon, Hutton, Turner, Mensah, Ferdinand, Campbell, Meyler, Richardson, Malbranque, Bent, Mwaruwari Subs: Carson, Bardsley, Zenden, Henderson, Da Silva, Kilgallon, Cattermole Birmingham: Hart, Carr, Dann, Johnson, Ridgewell, Gardner, Michel, Ferguson, Fahey, Jerome, Benitez Subs:...

When Blues beat Sunderland earlier in the season the Mackems were enjoying a brief period at the level in the Premiership that Blues are now established. A League table including just the games played since then would show Blues in fourth place and Sunderland in the bottom two. It would also show Portsmouth out of the relegation zone before the 9 point deduction. That...

BBC football pundit Mark Lawrenson has predicted that Birmingham City will lose to Sunderland on Saturday. He told BBC Sport Online: “I think Sunderland will win this one, they have drawn a lot of games recently but are starting to think about edging to safety. “Birmingham are looking up the table to where they can go, which is great for them. I feared the...

With the two pacy and fully fit strikers available for the first time Alex started with the 4-4-2 formation that the fans have so desired. The pace and endeavour of Jerome coupled with the speed and trickery of Chucho discomforted the Sunderland back line all afternoon. The Blues have not done this all season and ordinary defenders, let alone those of top class, have...

Hart (4) only problems were self inflicted Carr (7) great battle with Reid all afternoon Johnson (8) deserved a clean sheet Danns (8) Ditto Ridgewell (7) Learning the position still Larsson (7) worked his socks off Bowyer (7) hard working and creative Ferguson (7) passes for fun and opened his tackle account McFadden (9)* Top class goal, Top class display Chucho (8) just...