Ten man Sunderland had to settle for a point on Saturday afternoon after surrendering a two goal lead against Birmingham at the SOL. Despite taking the lead through a first half Darren Bent penalty and second half Stephen Carr own goal, the lads succumbed to two late set pieces after new skipper Lee Cattermole stupidly saw red late in the first half.

It’s been an interesting summer compared to the last few we've become accustomed to as we've sold big and bought little in terms of cash, yet still plenty of ins and outs. The loss of Craig Gordon to injury was a blow and Bruce's public search for a replacement before deciding he would settle for Mignolet when he couldn't get David James or Joe Hart did little to inspire confidence in the young keeper.

Nevertheless we lined up with Mignolet in goal behind a new look back four of Onuoha, Mensah, Bramble and Richardson. In midfield The Egyptian, Cattermole, Henderson and Malbranque. Up front Campbell partnered Bent.

The lads started brightly with Richardson bombing forward at every opportunity and Campbell looking lively up front. Malbranque had the first effort on goal after been found by Richardson but his shot went wide. Malbranque had another effort moments later which Bent attempted to divert goal wards but failed to do so. We then forced a corner which Henderson played in low for Bent but the striker missed totally as the ball bounced off his standing foot.

Birmingham offered little going forward and we took the lead after thirty minutes from the spot. Campbell latched onto Bents flick on at lightning pace to race into the box ahead of Stephen Carr who clumsily bundled the striker to the ground. The ref pointed to the spot and Bent does what he does best coolly slotting low to Fosters right.

We should have doubled the leads moment later when Bent found himself clean through but he appeared to kick the ball into the ground and then Ridgewell nearly scored an own goal diverting The Egyptian’s cross past Foster at the near post.

Then the turning point of the game as newly installed captain Lee Cattermole got himself sent off in the space of ten minutes. The first yellow was for tugging back Larrson and breaking up a Birmingham attack in the centre circle. Then right before half time he clattered Bowyer from behind earning his second yellow and early bath. Two silly bookings costing us three points, a bit like Portsmouth away last season. Fool.

After the break and with no changes we looked to hold onto the lead and everything seemed rosy when Stephen Carr got onto the end of Henderson's cross to expertly nod over Foster's head into the top corner.

Two nil up and seemingly cruising with ten men, Bruce then made a change with Riveros making his debut at the expense of Malbranque while Birmingham threw on the beanpole striker Nicola Zigic who we've been linked with in the past and who instantly caused panic for us at the back.

With fifteen minutes to go Bramble who otherwise had looked composed gave away a cheap corner which Birmingham took short with the cross eventually finding Dann to nod through the legs/hands/head of Mignolet. As Birmingham pressed for an equaliser Mignolet did well to tip over a long range Zigic shot but then looked nervy as Sunderland struggled to clear the resulting corner. Birmingham equalised from another set piece with Ridgewell getting the final touch on Larsson's free kick. The assistant signalled four minutes injury time which wasn't what I was hoping for as Birmingham were in the ascendency and to be fair Zigic had a half chance to nick all three points but he failed to volley goal wards.

Final Score: Sunderland 2 Birmingham 2

ALS Man of the Match: Stephen Carr

Aidan Crowe

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