Birmingham 3-1 loss to Sunderland at the Stadium of Light continued Wayne Rooney’s hunt for his first win as manager.
Rooney’s struggling team battled back into the game after Jobe Bellingham opened the scoring, and Koji Miyoshi equalized late in the first half.
Sunderland led for most of the game, and Adil Aouchiche’s close-range shot 14 minutes from time secured the win after Dion Sanderson’s own goal.
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Nectarios Triantis made his first league start since joining Sunderland from Australia when Dennis Cirkin was hurt in the warm-up.
The Black Cats dominated the early stages, with Nazariy Rusyn hitting a post-bound shot in the 11th minute after turning well.
Sunderland broke the deadlock six minutes later with a set piece. Bellingham volleyed home from the edge of the six-yard box after Jack Clarke swung in a left-wing corner. Rusyn flicked the ball on.
Bellingham joined Sunderland from Birmingham FC in the summer. The 18-year-old, the younger brother of England and Real Madrid star Jude, almost doubled his score midway through the first half.
Bellingham spun quickly but missed Patrick Roberts’ deep corner in the penalty box while hitting Rusyn’s post minutes earlier.
Birmingham struggle:
Birmingham struggled at that point, but the visitors battled back and started creating chances.
Niall Huggins blocked Jay Stansfield from bundling home, but the home defense was overrun on the half-hour.
Pierre Ekwah lost control, and after Stansfield crossed from the right, Miyoshi scored a superb first-time finish.
The second half was full of chances due to the open game.
After Birmingham’s Emanuel Aiwu’s last-ditch challenge stopped Rusyn from shooting, Sunderland’s perseverance recovered the lead before the hour.
FULL-BACK After Roberts’ right-wing cross and a short corner. Trai Hume headed over John Ruddy to save at the back post.
Sanderson tried to touch the ball before it went in after multiple ricochets as Aiwu and Triantis slid in on the goal line.
With 14 minutes left, Clarke skillfully crossed low from the left, and Aouchiche scored from close range.
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