Source: Daily_Mail
Sunderland 2 Birmingham 0: Henderson and Campbell on target
Sunderland and Birmingham City have markedly different approaches to the League Cup this season and it showed here.
For Sunderland a good run is now desired more than hoped for, whereas Birmingham, desperate to survive in the Premier League, could do without the thing altogether.
The visitors' attitude was revealed in the fact that Craig Gordon made not one save.
The Wearsiders' happiness was increased by 19-year-old Jordan Henderson's first senior goal for the club being followed by Fraizer Campbell's first since his summer transfer from Manchester United.
Henderson scored in the fourth minute and Campbell in the 23rd. And that was that.
As the game wore on several City players pulled out of tackles. It was not very Alex McLeish. 'We've got bigger fish to fry,' McLeish said.
'Very comfortable,' said Steve Bruce, 'the two young players will remember their first goals.' Bruce said substitute David Healy will be staying 'for 2-3 months at least', ending Coventry's loan hopes.
Two of Bruce's summer signings, John Mensah and Paulo Da Silva, did well enough to have Phil Bardsley and Anton Ferdinand fearing for their places against Wolves.
McLeish made seven changes, sending a message to Birmingham fans, only 249 of whom turned up.
They saw Henderson finish an early move with a right-foot shot on the run. Less than 20 minutes later Andy Reid exposed Birmingham on the opposite flank, Campbell guiding a six-yard header past Maik Taylor.
