Birmingham came out of the blocks firing, and looked for all the world to snatch the lead within 10 minutes when Troy Deeney saw his venomous header strike the crossbar and bounce out. While the Blues continued to press for the opener, they were made to pay for not capitalising on their pressure just over 20 minutes into the opening interval. Against the run of play, Manchester United loanee Amad Diallo picked out Ellis Simms streaking into the box, and the striker stabbed home to grab the lead for the Black Cats and snap his nine-game duck without a goal.
It went from bad to worse for the hosts within five minutes of the restart, as Diallo went on a superb solo run and lashed a curling effort off the post and into the back of the net, doubling Sunderland’s lead and sending the travelling supporters behind the goal into bedlam.
The visitors’ goals against the run of play did not crush the Birmingham City spirit however, as Blues found hope in the final 15 minutes thanks to second-half substitute Lukas Jutkiewicz, who capitalised on a scuffed clearance in the Sunderland box and stabbed home to cut the deficit in half. But much to the chagrin of the home faithful, it was too little, too late for John Eustace’s men who were unable to snatch a point as the match fizzled out.
Heading into the night without a loss in four games, the Small Heath outfit will have been confident in their top-six hopes. But a disappointing home defeat may bring Blues back down to earth as they remain locked in 10th heading into the FIFA World Cup break.
Flashscore Man of the Match: Amad Diallo (Sunderland)
