• Date: Wed 15 August 2007
  • Venue: St Andrews Stadium
  • Ref: Stroud, K
  • Attendance: 24,898
Birmingham City

Birmingham City

O'Connor (82)

2 - 2
Sunderland

Sunderland

Chopra (75)

John (90)

Birmingham City vs Sunderland

Team Lineups

Birmingham City

Colin Doyle
Johan Djourou
Stuart Parnaby
Liam Ridgewell
Stephen Kelly
Olivier Kapo
Fabrice Muamba
Sebastian Larsson
Mehdi Nafti
Gary McSheffrey (Garry O'Connor, 65)
Mikael Forssell (Cameron Jerome, 84)

Sunderland

Craig Gordon
Nyron Nosworthy
Greg Halford (Roy O'Donovan, 70)
Paul McShane
Carlos Edwards
Dickson Etuhu
Ross Wallace
Danny Collins
Dean Whitehead (Liam Miller, 58)
David Connolly (Stern John, 58)
Michael Chopra


Live Text Commentary
Full time
 

It's finished 2-2, John's late goal earning Sunderland a point.

90
Goal
 

John scores from close-range and it looks like they have earned a point

87

Miller's free-kick is headed wide by Nosworthy but he really should have scored

85

Edwards has picked up a knock and looks like he'll have to go off with no subs left to come on

85

John heads Edwards' cross onto the bar as Sunderland look for a second equaliser now

84
Substitution
 

Forssell is replaced by Cameron Jerome

83

The outstanding Kapo was involved in the goal before Forssell found O'Connor who finished expertly

82
Goal
 

O'Connor puts Blues back in front with a neat finish after a lovely flowing move from the home side

77

Chopra has followed up his late winner on Saturday with what could be a vital equaliser tonight

75
Goal
 

Chopra does it again for Sunderland as his stunning strike equalises for the visitors

72
Substitution
 

Time is running out for the visitors and Keane makes his final change with Roy O'Donovan coming on for Halford

69

Edwards' ball in is gathered by Doyle, who has been really solid for City tonight

67

Plenty of time left yet for the Black Cats but they need to start creating chances if they are going to get anything out of this game

65
Substitution
 

McSheffrey is replaced by Garry O'Connor as Bruce makes his first change of the night

62

Wallace's latest corner is cleared by Djourou this time

60

The Black Cats boss will be hoping those changes can get his side back into the game

58
Substitution
 

And David Connolly comes off for former Blues striker Stern John

58
Substitution
 

Keane decides to make changes as Whitehead is replaced by Liam Miller

55

Still a lack of clear opportunities as Larsson's cross is just too heavy for Forssell

52
Yellow Card
 

Dickson Etuhu fouls Parnaby and he becomes the first man to be booked tonight

51

McSheffrey's caught offside as Kapo catches the eye again for Birmingham, he has been impressive

49

Roy Keane is bound to have asked his players for an improvement in the second half after they barely created an opening in the first half

47

Forssell's effort is blocked by Nyron Nosworthy

Second half
 

The second period gets underway at St Andrews

Half time
 

Blues lead at the break thanks to that own goal from McShane

44

Sebastian Larsson's corner finds Djourou but he fails to control his shot and it flies over

42

Edwards does well but his shot is over for the visitors

39

Carlos Edwards fouls Mikael Forssell - the striker has been quiet so far though

37

Mehdi Nafti shoots but it's wide as the home side threaten to extend their lead

35

Sunderland are looking for an equaliser as another Wallace corner is cleared by Doyle

33

Blues have barely deserved the lead but thanks to McShane's chest they are in front

31

Sunderland want a penalty after Kelly appears to bring down Connolly but the ref says no

28
Goal
 

Birmingham take the lead as Stephen Kelly's header is turned into his own net by Paul McShane

26

Edwards' corner is punched away by Doyle before Whitehead's shot is off-target

23

Halfway through the first half and there is yet to be a meaningful attempt on goal

20

Paul McShane is adjudged to have fouled McSheffrey, the game is very stop-start at the moment

19

After that initial lively start, it's gone very quiet

17

It's gone a little scrappy at St Andrews as neither side has carved out a real chance so far

14

Gary McSheffrey's shot from distance flies wide as Blues attack

12

Carlos Edwards fires over a corner but City keeper Colin Doyle claims it

11

Both sides are looking to attack in the early part of the game but no clear-cut chances so far

8

Gary McSheffrey brings down Danny Collins to earn Sunderland a free-kick

6

Wallace's free kick from the right is cleared by Johan Djourou in what has been a lively opening to the game

4

Olivier Kapo does well on the left for Blues and his cross is good but no-one can get on the end of it

3

Ross Wallace's cross is overhit and drifts out of play

2

Chopra and Connolly combine well early on as Sunderland look to pick up where they left off against Spurs

Kickoff
 

The action gets underway at St Andrews

Awaiting Kickoff
 

Birmingham make one change with Stuart Parnaby making his first start in place of Franck Queudrue while Sunderland make four changes, Michael Chopra, Greg Halford, Dean Whitehead and David Connolly all starting