The corner is knocked to the edge of the area where Boudewijn Zenden fires over the top and into the Sunderland fans.

We are into four minutes of stoppage time now and Sunderland have a free kick inside the Birmingham half. Andy Reid's kick is knocked behind for a corner.

Christian Benitez gets in on goal and finds Gary McSheffrey but Craig Gordon pulls off a good save to keep Sunderland in the game.

Darren Bent volleys an Andy Reid cross from a tight angle inches wide of the post.

Birmingham are looking to break on Sunderland to try and nick a killer third here so it's an exciting final few minutes in store as George McCartney's cross finds Kenwyne Jones who heads straight at Joe Hart.

Sunderland are doing all the pressing now as Stephen Carr has to clear with Fraizer Campbell's ball almost running through to Darren Bent.

Almost an equaliser here with Fraizer Campbell heading Andy Reid's cross into the area just over.

Sunderland are pressing now in a bid to get into this game but they have yet to create a killer chance needed to pull a goal back.

Phil Bardsley wins a corner off Liam Ridgewell to win a corner for Sunderland. Andy Reid puts it in and Birmingham eventually scramble the ball away under some immense pressure.

Kenwyne Jones tries to either cross the ball or shoot at goal but the ball drops high and wide.

Sunderland win a corner which is played in by Andy Reid and cleared to the edge of the area by James McFadden to Boudewijn Zenden who fires just wide.

A big worry now for Steve Bruce as he has used all of his substitutes and Anton Ferdinandis struggling with a leg injury. But it looks like he is okay to carry on.

Despite the changes Sunderland have yet to really look like getting a goal as we move into the final 20 minutes.

George McCartney concedes a corner which is played in by Sebastian Larsson but is cleared by Sunderland.

There were no signs of any injuries there so Steve Bruce has put all of his eggs in one basket to get a result here.

Christian Benitez almost gets a third here as his effort his deflected and forces Craig Gordon to push it round the post. Kenwyne Jones gets up to head away James McFadden's corner.

Play is back up and running as Sunderland are poised to make a double change to try and get back into the game.

Darren Bent needs treatment here after being smacked in the worst possible of places and the action is held up.

A chance here for Liam Ridgewell but he cannot connect with Stephen Carr's cross and the offside flag is raised.

Roger Johnson is on hand to hack the ball clear after Joe Hart somehow drops a routine ball into the middle by Andy Reid.

Christian Benitez wins the Blues' first corner of the second half with a shot that is deflected out off Jordan Henderson. James McFadden puts it in but Phil Bardsley clears.

Kieran Richardson gets a chance with his favoured left foot but he slices at it and the effort goes wide.

Sunderland are trying to get into this game and they could do with a goal soon if they are to put the pressure back on the Blues.

Sunderland break forward now but Lorik Cana wastes the move with a poor shot from 30 yards which is miles over.

Another free kick for Birmingham in a decent position. Sebastian Larsson plays the ball in from the right but Steed Malbranque brings the ball away for Sunderland as Christian Benitez can't connect with it.

Sunderland are pressing forward now with Phil Bardsley trying a shot but Lee Bowyer gets in a block.

A chance for Birmingham with a free kick around 25 yards from the Sunderland goal. Sebastian Larsson hits it and Craig Gordon saves at the second attempt.

Kenwyne Jones escapes in behind Scott Dann. His cross is then dreadful as he attempts to find Darren Bent.

There have been no changes at the interval and Sunderland have started brightly as they look for an equaliser.

A fifth corner of the half for Sunderland is played in Andy Reid but Birmingham manage to clear.

Christian Benitez, who is causing problems, gets a shot in which has Craig Gordon but it goes the wrong side of the post.

Sunderland maintian the pressure but Liam Ridgewell gets in a great block to deny a goalbound effort reaching its target.

Good play by Sunderland here as they win a corner down the right-hand side. Andy Reid plays it in but Joe Hart punches clear.

Cameron Jerome gets sight of the goal and unleashes an effort but it is wide of Craig Gordon's goal.

Andy Reid tries his luck to get Sunderland back in it quickly but his effort is well wide of the mark.

That goal should liven things up a little but Steve Bruce will be fuming about the poor marking in the area.

Steve Bruce will be disappointed as his Sunderland side started brightly but have yet to force a save from Joe Hart in this contest.

The biggest cheer of the afternoon goes up for Michael Turner who manages to boot a clearance out of the stadium.

Darren Bent gets in behind the defence but his pull back is blocked before it can reach Jordan Henderson.

A corner for Sunderland now is played in by Andy Reid but Michael Turner cannot reach it and Stephen Carr clears the danger.

Sebastian Larsson's corner goes out to Barry Ferguson whose ffort from 30 yards is wide.

Craig Gordon to the rescue here as he dives to parry a Christian Benitez shot around the post for another corner.

Sunderland take an age to clear the corner as Roger Johnson went down looking for a penalty but nothing is given.

Christian Benitez puts a low cross into the area and James McFadden's effort is deflected over the bar by Kirean Richardson and it's the closest we have come to a goal.

Cameron Jerome gets into the area but his effort lacks any power to trouble Craig Gordon.

Kieran Richardson hits the free kick into the area but it goes over everyone and drifts out for a goal kick.

Birmingham are building up nicely here but Lee Bowyer's effort is blocked. Barry Ferguson pole axes Michael Turner and then starts a pushing match with Lorik Cana as Sunderland get a free kick.

James McFadden wins Birmingham's first corner of the game. Sebastian Larsson plays it in and Roger Johnson gets up but heads over the bar.

It is getting a bit scrappy now this game as we approach the 20-minute mark summed up by Joe Hart's hashed clearance into the crowd.

Birmingham put a free kick into the middle which Craig Gordon unconvincingly punches under pressure from Liam Ridgewell before Sebastian Larsson fires wide.

Sunderland sit back off Birmingham, who have got into this game, and Christian Benitez is allowed to get in a shot which he hits well over the bar from inside the area.

Phil Bardsley crosses into the centre with Darren Bent almost getting to it before Stephen Carr clears the danger.

Cameron Jerome almost gets another chance when Michael Turner makes a hash of his clearance but the visitors rescue the situation.

Nice build up play by Birmingham with a cross into the middle for Cameron Jerome but Sunderland clear the danger.

Darren Bent darts into the area to get on the end of Andy Reid's cross and goes down under a nudge from Liam Ridgewell but the referee says no penalty.

A good build up sees James McFadden get a shot in a goal but it is meat and drink for Craig Gordon. It's Birmingham's first effort.

Birmingham try to get forward now but the Sunderland back line holds firm to thwart their advances.

Apart from those early corners there has not been much to speak about so far in the opening moments of the game here. Although Sunderland are looking to get forward when they can.

Andy Reid's corner is not cleared properly as Steed Malbranque has an effort blocked with Sunderland dominating the early exchanges here.

Darren Bent whips the ball into the middle and Jordan Henderson can't reach it but the ball comes back in and it's a second corner for Sunderland.

Andy Reid whips the corner in and the ball is narrowly missed by Lorik Cana after Joe Hart came out but totally missed it.

Not much to speak about with three early throw ins for Sunderland as Andy Reid's shot is deflected out for a corner.