FOOTBALL Live

Saturday October 24, 2009 Finished St. Andrews

2 - 1

Birmingham City

  • Ridgewell 37’
  • McFadden 48’

Sunderland

  • Dann 82’ (o.g.)

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  1. Blues survive late fightback

    Blues survive late fightback

    Birmingham survived a late fightback at St Andrews to record their third Premier League win of the campaign with a 2-1 win over Sunderland. More

  • Live Commentary

    Time:90'
    • Birmingham City
    • Sunderland
    • 90+4' It's full time at St Andrews where Birmingham have clinched a 2-1 victory.
    • 90+3' Craig Gordon is booked for coming out of his area and handling - it's a Birmingham freekick 20 yards out.
    • 90+2 Birmingham survive a late scramble in their area as Joe Hart comes and flaps at a long ball into the box, but Birmingham clear.
    • 91' The ball deflects off a blue shirt and behind to give Sunderland a late corner. But the set-piece is tossed into the box and easily cleared.
    • 90' We are into stoppage time here at St Andrews and Sunderland have a freekick 30 yards from goal.
    • 88' McSheffrey is denied by a great save from Gordon. The sub cuts back into the Birmingham box before shooting low only to see his effort beaten away by Gordon with his feet.
    • 87' Bent misses a glorious chance to level for Sunderland. A deep cross from Andy Reid finds the striker unmarked at the far post and he sidefoots it off the outside of the post and wide.
    • 86' Garry O'Connor has a shot for Birmingham that deflects off a Sunderland leg before looping into the hands of Gordon.
    • 85' McSheffrey breaks down the left for Sunderland but he is dispossessed and Sunderland look to hit them on the counter attack.
    • 83' Birmingham seem to have been shaken by that Sunderland goal but are back on the attack down the left and win a freekick 30 yards out.
    • 81' Sunderland pull a goal back! The freekick is tossed into the box and Michael Turner get his head to the ball ahead of Joe Hart and flicks it goalwards. Scott Dann tries to get back to prevent it going in but can only help it on its way.
    • 80' Sunderland win a freekick as Barry Ferguson up-ends Bardsley on the right and the Scot earns himself a place in the book for his efforts.
    • 79' There is a goal-mouth scramble in the Birmingham box as a shot from Andy Reid is charged down, but Birmingham eventually clear.
    • 77' Sunderland win a corner on the right as a cross from Bardsley is charged down by Ridgewell.
    • 75' And it is Birmingham's turn to make a change with goalscorer McFadden going off for O'Connor and Jerome departing for McSheffrey.
    • 74' The game has become a little scrappy with both sides giving up possession easily in midfield.
    • 73' Sunderland have a corner on the right that Andy Reid crosses into the box. The clearance falls to Zenden but his shot is high and wide.
    • 71' Sunderland make a triple change with Zenden, Campbell and McCartney coming on for Henderson, Cana and Malbranque.
    • 69' Jerome has a half chance for Birmingham - a cross from McFadden finds the striker unmarked in the box but he can't quite leap high enough and heads it up in the air.
    • 68' Benitez is again causing mischief on the edge of the Sunderland box, before eventually being dispossed and Sunderland clear.
    • 66' Benitez shoots just wide for Birmingham. McFadden breaks from midfield and feeds the striker who runs across the face of the area before getting his shot away which is deflected a foot wide.
    • 64' Sunderland look to release Jones over the top but the pass is easily cut out and Birmingham clear.
    • 63' Bent is down hurt for Sunderland after a challenge with Ridgewell - he looks to be in a lot of pain but he is up on his feet now and it doesn't seem serious.
    • 62' McFadden has another effort for Birmingham. He cuts inside Bardsley once more before failing to make a good contact on his shot that is cleared to safety.
    • 61' Joe Hart almost hands Sunderland a route back into the match - he comes for a cross and drops the ball at the feet of Jones, but the striker cannot finish and Birmingham escape.
    • 59' Benitez is proving a real handful for Sunderland at the moment. He beats Michael Turner with ease before hitting a shot that deflects off Ferdinand and goes behind for a corner.
    • 58' Andy Reid feeds Richardson who advances on goal before hitting a shot from 25 yards well wide - nothing is working for Sunderland at the moment.
    • 57' Malbranque exchanges passes with Bardsley before underhitting one and then committing a clumsy foul - it has not been the Frenchman's day so far.
    • 56' Terrible shot from Lorik Cana - the ball breaks to the midfielder on the edge of the area and he slices it high into the crowd.
    • 55' Larsson's cross finds its way through to McFadden but he is muscled off the ball and Sunderland break.
    • 54' Jerome is fouled by Richardson on the right touchline to win a freekick for Birmingham.
    • 53' Birmingham have everyone behind the ball in their own half now and are inviting Sunderland to try and break them down.
    • 52' Jones fails to control the ball on the edge of the Birmingham box and the hosts break and quickly feed Benitez. He almost finds his strike partner, Jerome, but Sunderland intercept.
    • 51' Great save from Gordon - the Scot is again at full stretch to keep out Larsson's freekick, low to the keeper's right.
    • 50' Birmingham win a freekick on the edge of the area as Larsson is upended.
    • 48' Goal for Birmingham! James McFadden gets on the end of a flick from Benitez, cuts inside Bardsley,leaving the full back stranded, and calmy strokes the ball into the bottom corner - lovely finish.
    • 47' A long ball over the top almost allows Benitez to get in behind the Sunderland defence but the pass had a little too much on it and it goes behind for a goal kick.
    • 46' And we are underway again in the second half.
    • 45+1' The half-time whistle sounds at St Andrews where it is 1-0 to Birmingham.
    • 45' Sunderland win a corner at the end of the first half, and it finds its way through to Bent at the far post. The striker can't get any power on his header and it is cleared by Ridgewell.
    • 44' Benitez has a shot for the hosts that is narrowly wide of Gordon's right-hand post but it looked like the Scot had it covered.
    • 43' Malbranque has a cross that is cut out at the near post and Birmingham break at speed. They almost feed Benitez through through the middle but Gordon is out quickly to clear the danger.
    • 42' Great cross from Andy Reid almost finds Malbranque at the far post but Ridgewell just stretches to head the ball behind.
    • 41' Jerome has a half chance for Birmingham but mis-cues his shot from the edge of the area and slices it well wide.
    • 40' Kieran Richardson tries to beat Larsson down the left touchline but the Birmingham midfielder gets back to make a fine challenge and knock the ball out of play.
    • 39' Darren Bent tries to get on the end of a long-ball upfield but Birmingham's clearance falls to Andy Reid whose shot from outside the area bounces well wide.
    • 38' Ridgewell was perhaps a little fortunate with his finish, but Sunderland's defence was completely static when that ball was flung into the box.
    • 36' Goal for Birmingham! Larsson whips the freekick into the area and Ridgewell gets in front of his marker before kneeing the ball past Gordon and into the back of the net. You have to say, that has been coming.
    • 35' Sunderland are enjoying a rare spell of possession but Birmingham are hassling and harrying them all over the pitch. They win the ball back before breaking down the left through McFadden who is fouled by Bardsley.
    • 33' Birminghham have a freekick deep in their own half that they hit long towards Benitez, but Turner gets across to put in a good challenge and hit it out for a throw.
    • 31' And a similar effort at the other end from Larsson whose cross is gathered by Gordon.
    • 30' Sunderland have a throw on the left and they work it to Andy Reid whose cross is a tad too deep and is collected by Joe Hart.
    • 29' Malbranque tries to feed Darren Bent down the right-hand side but his pass has too much on it and it goes out for a throw.
    • 27' Gordon pulls off a great save from Benitez! The striker turns in the area and lets fly with a powerful drive that Gordon is at full stretch to turn round the post.
    • 26' McFadden misses a great chance for Birmingham - actually make that a great tackle from Kieran Richardson. Benitez slides the ball acrosss the face of the goal and it looks like McFadden only has to tap into the empty net but Richardson gets back to defelct his shot over the bar.
    • 25' Jerome has a shot from the right-hand edge of the area, but it is fairly tame and is easily gathered by Gordon in goal for Sunderland.
    • 23' Roger Johnson picks up the game's first yellow card for an absolutely ridiculous lunge into a challenge on Andy Reid - needless to say he didn't get much of the ball.
    • 22' Bowyer attempts to clear the ball ten yards outside his own area but completely misses his kick and hits it back towards his own goal - luckily for him it falls to a blue shirt and is cleared.
    • 21' Jerome shows good ability to hold the ball up on the edge of the Sunderland area, he feeds it back to Larsson who crosses towards Benitez. It comes to nothing though and Sunderland clear.
    • 20' Birmingham win a corner on the left that is curled into the area by Larsson towards Roger Johnson who heads wide.
    • 18' It has been a fairly stale opening to the encounter, with no real chances at either end. Kenwyne Jones looks fairly disinterested up front for Sunderland... if he is not careful Bruce will bring on the beach-ball.
    • 17' Birmingham win a freekick in midfield as Ferguson is shoved in the back, they take it quickly and are forced back to keeper Joe Hart who clears upfield.
    • 16' Birmingham launch the freekick into the Sunderland box and Gordon flaps at the ball under pressure from Ridgewell, but the visitors manage to clear.
    • 15' Jerome Taylor wins a freekick on the right, 40 yards from goal, for Birmingham after being clattered from behind by Anton Ferdinand.
    • 14' Christian Benitez has a half chance for Birmingham, cutting into the area on his left foot before firing high, wide and handsome.
    • 13' Malbranque feeds Bardsley on the right and he flings a cross into the box that is slightly too high for Bent at the far post and Birmingham clear.
    • 12' The portly Andy Reid shows a rare turn of pace to catch Sebastian Larsson, rob him of the ball and shift possession on quickly in midfield.
    • 11' McFadden breaks down the left and flings a cross into the box, but Benitez fails to control and Sunderland clear.
    • 9' McFadden has a tame shot at one end that is easily saved by Gordon before Sunderland break quickly and Bent goes down in the area following a push in the back from Liam Ridgewell - hard to tell if there was much in that, but as they say, I've seen them given.
    • 7' Sunderland keeper Craig Gordon is forced to come of his line quickly to intercept a back pass, and under pressure from Benitez, he shows some neat skills to drop his shoulder, beat the forward and pass it calmly forward. nice.
    • 6' Both sides are exchanging long-balls from back to front before Darren Bent is caught offside - it would be fair to say that in the opening five minutes the ball has barely touched the turf - this is old-school English football, full-back to centre forward!
    • 5' Birmingham look to build down the right-hand touchline but Stephen Carr fails to control the ball that skids beneath his foot and out for a Sunderland throw.
    • 4' The corner goes deep, Birmingham keeper Joe Hart comes off his line but gets nowhere near it and flaps like a bird as the ball goes beyond everyone and behind.
    • 3' Sunderland have a throw-in near the right-hand corner flag, they work it to Andy Reid and his cross is deflected behind for a corner.
    • 2' Birmingham are quickly on the attack with Benitez chasing after a long-ball upfield that runs through to Sunderland keeper Gordon.
    • 1' And we are underway here at St Andrews...
    • - So we are approaching kick-off and the atmosphere is building here at St Andrews - the captains are posing for the pre-match pics with a rather strange looking cuddly mascot that resembles a bulldog chewing a wasp. Cute!
    • - Today's game also sees Sunderland boss Steve Bruce return to his former club. Bruce spent six years at St Andrews before leaving in 2007 for Wigan.
    • - The name on everybody's lips today, both Mackem and Brummy, is the one and only Kevin Phillips - the striker is on the bench for Birmingham, having spent the best years of his career at Sunderland. Phillips bagged 115 goals for the Black Cats in a six-year spell stretching from 1997-2003, but will he come back to haunt his former club today?
    • - So that means there is no place for the beach-ball in Sunderland's starting line-up despite his heroics against Liverpool last weekend. It looks like the Black Cats will have to rely on Darren Bent for goals, and with eight Premier League strikes to his name already this season, he is proving fairly reliable at doing just that.
    • - And here's the Sunderland line-up: Gordon, Bardsley, Ferdinand, Turner, Richardson, Malbranque, Cana, Henderson, Reid, Bent, Jones. Subs: Fulop, McCartney, Nosworthy, Zenden, Campbell, Da Silva, Healy
    • - Here's the moment you have all been waiting for... the teams are in and here they are in full. Birmingham line up as follows: Hart, Carr, Roger Johnson, Dann, Ridgewell, Larsson, Ferguson, Bowyer, McFadden, Jerome, Benitez. Subs: Maik Taylor, O'Connor, Phillips, McSheffrey, Queudrue, Parnaby, Carsley
    • - Birmingham, on the other hand, are currently languishing in 17th having won only two of their opening nine salvos.
    • - Sunderland have enjoyed an excellent start to the campaign and victory today could see them move into the top four ahead of Arsenal, Manchester City and Aston Villa, providing the Villans fail to beat Wolves in the day's early kick-off.
    • - But when it comes to the Premier League it's Birmingham who have the edge having won four of their six games, while Sunderland have never secured a Premier League victory at St Andrews.
    • - We will have the teams for you shortly, but in the mean time here's a bit of background to today's clash - Sunderland have the upper hand in the head-to-head winning 48 of the 102 league meetings between the two sides, while Birmingham have won only 34.
    • - Welcome to today's live coverage of Birmingham's Premier League clash with Sunderland at St Andrews.

  • Summary

    • 88' McSheffrey is denied by a great save from Gordon. The sub cuts back into the Birmingham box before shooting low only to see his effort beaten away by Gordon with his feet.
    • 87' Bent misses a glorious chance to level for Sunderland. A deep cross from Andy Reid finds the striker unmarked at the far post and he sidefoots it off the outside of the post and wide.
    • 81' Sunderland pull a goal back! The freekick is tossed into the box and Michael Turner get his head to the ball ahead of Joe Hart and flicks it goalwards. Scott Dann tries to get back to prevent it going in but can only help it on its way.
    • 66' Benitez shoots just wide for Birmingham. McFadden breaks from midfield and feeds the striker who runs across the face of the area before getting his shot away which is deflected a foot wide.
    • 51' Great save from Gordon - the Scot is again at full stretch to keep out Larsson's freekick, low to the keeper's right.
    • 48' Goal for Birmingham! James McFadden gets on the end of a flick from Benitez, cuts inside Bardsley,leaving the full back stranded, and calmy strokes the ball into the bottom corner - lovely finish.
    • 36' Goal for Birmingham! Larsson whips the freekick into the area and Ridgewell gets in front of his marker before kneeing the ball past Gordon and into the back of the net. You have to say, that has been coming.
    • 27' Gordon pulls off a great save from Benitez! The striker turns in the area and lets fly with a powerful drive that Gordon is at full stretch to turn round the post.
    • 26' McFadden misses a great chance for Birmingham - actually make that a great tackle from Kieran Richardson. Benitez slides the ball acrosss the face of the goal and it looks like McFadden only has to tap into the empty net but Richardson gets back to defelct his shot over the bar.
    • - And here's the Sunderland line-up: Gordon, Bardsley, Ferdinand, Turner, Richardson, Malbranque, Cana, Henderson, Reid, Bent, Jones. Subs: Fulop, McCartney, Nosworthy, Zenden, Campbell, Da Silva, Healy
    • - Here's the moment you have all been waiting for... the teams are in and here they are in full. Birmingham line up as follows: Hart, Carr, Roger Johnson, Dann, Ridgewell, Larsson, Ferguson, Bowyer, McFadden, Jerome, Benitez. Subs: Maik Taylor, O'Connor, Phillips, McSheffrey, Queudrue, Parnaby, Carsley

Live Team Line-Up

  • Birmingham City

    Manager: Alex McLeish

    Captain: Stephen Carr

    Starting line-up

    • J. Hart
    • S. Carr
    • R. Johnson Yellow Card
    • S. Dann Own Goal
    • L. Ridgewell Goal
    • B. Ferguson Yellow Card
    • L. Bowyer
    • S. Larsson Substitution Out (83′)
    • J. McFadden Goal Substitution Out (76′)
    • C. Jerome Substitution Out (77′)
    • C. Benítez

    Subs

    • K. Phillips
    • F. Queudrue
    • L. Carsley Substitution In83′
    • M. Taylor
    • S. Parnaby
    • G. McSheffrey Substitution In77′ Yellow Card
    • G. O'Connor Substitution In76′

    Injured

    None

    Suspended

    None

  • Sunderland

    Manager: Steve Bruce

    Captain: Lorik Cana

    Starting line-up

    • C. Gordon Yellow Card
    • P. Bardsley
    • M. Turner
    • A. Ferdinand
    • K. Richardson
    • L. Cana Substitution Out (68′)
    • J. Henderson Substitution Out (68′)
    • S. Malbranque Substitution Out (68′)
    • A. Reid
    • D. Bent
    • K. Jones

    Subs

    • G. McCartney Substitution In68′
    • N. Nosworthy
    • D. Healy
    • M. Fülöp
    • P. da Silva
    • B. Zenden Substitution In68′
    • F. Campbell Substitution In68′

    Injured

    None

    Suspended

    None

Comment 85 - 104 of 104

Sort comments by: Most recent | Most rated

  1. boo

    From arab4everandever, on Sun 1 Nov 12:11PM

  2. LUCKY WIN FOR BIRMINGHAM!

    From Butch Coolidge, on Fri 30 Oct 5:45PM

  3. LORIK CANA ESHTE ME I MIRI,REZULTATET E SANDERLANDIT­ JANE MERITA TE KETIJ FUTBOLLISTI,LORIKU ESHTE SHQIPTAR­ ESHTE NGA KOSOVA PRA KA ZEMER LUANI ESHTE SHUME­ LUFTARAK DHE REZULTATET NUK MUNGOJNE PERPARA LORIK CANA­ KOSOVA TE PERKRAH...........

    From ekremr73, on Mon 26 Oct 2:23PM

  4. a great day on tyneside as the toon go top and the­ smb's get beaten

    From Geordie, on Sun 25 Oct 8:37AM

  5. hoooooooooooooo liverpol,,,hooooooooooooo man uted

    From MicroWaves T, on Sat 24 Oct 5:19PM

  6. Fatty bum bum Reid seems to be getting fatter!, he has­ skill, but I cant see him playing for Ireland unless he­ loses half his bodyweight!

    Blues well deserved to win­ today, for 80 minutes they totally outplayed­ Sunderland!

    From Davegrey, on Sat 24 Oct 4:59PM

  7. where was the beach ball

    From danielcurry, on Sat 24 Oct 4:58PM

  8. BOOOOO! terribile! WE MUST WIN WEST HAM NEXT WEEK! LETS­ JUST HOPE MAN UTD BEAT LIVERPOOL

    From Sean A, on Sat 24 Oct 4:57PM

  9. practically own manu and liverpool then loose to­ birmingham, funny old game...

    From glenn, on Sat 24 Oct 4:56PM

  10. Brum wanted it more than we did--end of story--same old­ story!!!

    From Bob P, on Sat 24 Oct 4:56PM

  11. the game is Live now
    just google totalfootballmadness

    From J, on Sat 24 Oct 4:47PM

  12. it was out of my expectations...

    From Ben, on Sat 24 Oct 4:44PM

  13. OG to Sunderland!! Who needs a Beach ball!!!

    From malcolm, on Sat 24 Oct 4:43PM

  14. COME ON!!! 2-1

    From Mike, on Sat 24 Oct 4:42PM

  15. 'Sunderland win a freekick as Barry Ferguson­ up-ends bardsley on the right and the Scot earns­ himself a place in the 'boof' for his­ efforts'. sort it out yahoo!

    From Chris, on Sat 24 Oct 4:42PM

  16. it's too LATE!!!

    From W-H-Y, on Sat 24 Oct 4:41PM

  17. watch the game LIVE
    just google totalfootballmadness

    From J, on Sat 24 Oct 4:39PM

  18. Even Bruce's substitutions don't seem to­ makemuch sense today. IMO it should have been da Silva­ for Richardson, Zenden for Henderson and Campbell for­ Jones (who sems to have been the invisible man for most­ of the game!.

    From Paperboy, on Sat 24 Oct 4:35PM

  19. Last week Jekyl played--this week it's­ "HIDE"! We're just not­ competing--absolute rubbish. A lot of problems for­ Bruce to sort out. too many players not performing---on­ the pitch anyway!

    From Bob P, on Sat 24 Oct 4:34PM

  20. throw a beachball on somebdy please

    From HENRY F, on Sat 24 Oct 4:33PM
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