Birmingham hold on to beat Sunderland 2-1

Oct 24, 2009 - 5:20 PM By MICK ROBERTS STATS European Football Writer=

LONDON (SE) - Birmingham new owner Carson Yeung led the celebrations as his team overcame Sunderland's spirited late rally to win 2-1 at St Andrew's on Saturday.

The result meant no happy return to Birmingham for Sunderland manager Steve Bruce who was in charge at St Andrew's for almost six years and left under a cloud as Far Eastern businessman Yeung attempted a takeover.

Bruce could have no complaints as his team went 2-0 behind and then having got back to 2-1 wasted two clear chances to level.

Birmingham manager Alex McLeish praised striker James McFadden who scored the second goal and was outstanding in a front pairing with Cameron Jerome.

McLeish said: "There was a great display from James and he showed what he is capable of. This will give him confidence to play in more forward areas.

"Jerome gave him great support and the pair of them worked fantastically hard.

"Overall I think we deserved to win. The players gave everything and the new owners would have enjoyed what they saw.

"For them it was a great start and I am pleased for them that they had something to cheer."

Birmingham took the lead in the 37th minute when Sebastian Larsson took a free kick on the left Liam Ridgewell diverted the ball past goalkeeper Craig Gordon.

McFadden marked his 50th Birmingham appearance when he finished off a move involving Larsson and Jerome with a low right foot shot after cutting in from the left.

Bruce made a triple substitution midway through the second half sending on Bolo Zenden, George McCartney and Fraizer Campbell and Sunderland responded by getting on top.

With eight minutes remaining Sunderland pulled a goal back when Andy Reid took a free kick which caused panic in the Birmingham defence and after Michael Turner headed over goalkeeper Joe Hart, Scott Dann could only turn the ball into his own goal.

There were three minutes left and Blues fans already whistling for the end, Sunderland should have levelled when Reid found top scorer Darren Bent free but he volleyed wide when a goal seemed certain.

Sunderland boss Bruce was delighted by the warm reception he got from home fans but the result was a disappointment.

Bruce said: "I always had a good relationship with the Birmingham fans and I would have liked to have left on better terms with the club. But that is what happens in football.

"I felt we should have done better. We conceded at a set piece for the first and did not get in a proper challenge for their second.

"But then we got a goal back and I thought we dominated the second half and should have got a goal near the end. Darren Bent has been in great form and it was the sort of chance he puts away.

"We must take our chances and to be fair, we have done that so well this year."