Sunderland notched a massive three points tonight with a deserved two nil win over fellow strugglers Birmingham at the SOL. A debut goal from Rade Prica secured the victory after Daryl Murphy netted in the first half. The win moves the lads out of the bottom three, in fact up to the dizzying heights of fourteenth.

Keano made only one change from our defeat at Spurs with Phil Bardsley making his debut at right back in place of Paul McShane. Fellow new signing Rade Prica had to settle for a place on the bench. In goal Craig Gordon behind a back four of Bardsley, Evans, Nos and Danny Collins. In midfield Stokes, Yorke, Miller and Whitehead. Up top Daryl Murphy partnered Kenwyne Jones.

The match started as you would expect a game involving two struggling sides to. Plenty of commitment and strong tackles made the play scrappy. Dwight Yorke didn’t help matters by dwelling on the ball a few times and conceding possession.

However, we took the lead on fifteen minutes from a well worked set piece. Bardsley drilled a free kick into the box and onto the head of Jones who in turn found Murphy to volley home. It was smashing link up play between the strikers and a composed finish from Murphy even if he was only six yards out.

The goal rallied Sunderland and the crowd and we nearly hit Birmingham straight after the restart when Stokes showed a great first touch before dribbling through the Brum midfield only to waste the pass. On the half hour Stokes again showed the natural skill Roy Keane often talks about him showing in training. The Irishman again beat two men before pinging in a dangerous cross which was just a yard ahead of Jones.

Birmingham’s best chance came five minutes before half time when Muamba put Jerome clean through. The pacey striker beat the offside trap but could not beat Craig Gordon who parried the shot for a corner.

At half time Keano made one change with Rade Prica making his debut in place of Dwight Yorke. The goal scorer Murphy dropped back to midfield allowing Prica to partner Jones. Despite the change Birmingham started the second half the better with Kapo blasting wide on their first attack. However, their next best effort was a corner which Gordon punched clear. With half an hour to go we made another change with O’Donovan replacing Stokes who had looked lively but faded second half.

Nos then nearly gifted Brum an equaliser with a suicidal header back to Craig Gordon but fortunately the keeper was brave clearing the ball with his hands before being fouled by Jerome. The save from Gordon proved vital as we sealed the points moments later. Debutant Rade Prica pounced on Liam Ridgewell’s poor back pass and calmly lifted the ball over Taylor.

As Birmingham started to press forward in search of something we started finding holes in their defence. O’Donovan burst forward and was cynically fouled, then on another attack Murphy’s cross come shot almost caught out Taylor who had to palm clear. Whitehead pounced on the rebound and crossed for Prica who thought he had made it three when he bundled home. However, the ref harshly spotted a handball. The lads professionally saw the game out and O’Donovan almost put the icing on the cake glancing a header wide.

Final Score: Sunderland 2 Birmingham 0

ALS Man of the Match: Phil Bardsley

Aidan Crowe

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