English League Championship:Roy Keane admitted this week that he has asked Steve Bruce for advice since taking over at the Stadium of Light but it could be some time before the Sunderland manager calls his former Manchester United team-mate again. Sunderland were celebrating what would have been a precious three points here when DJ Campbell arrived as a late substitute, dramatically bundling in a 90th-minute equaliser.
Birmingham City 1 Campbell 90 Sunderland 1 Edwards 27 (Attendance: 20,941)
The goal was cruelly timed although Keane will rue his side's failure to extend their lead. Sunderland had dominated the first half and created enough chances during a more evenly contested second period to put the match beyond Birmingham's reach. But Rowan Vine, another substitute, crossed and Campbell scored.
The visitors took the lead in the 27th minute through Carlos Edwards' sublime strike and it was a goal that had been coming for some time. Sunderland's incisive passing allied to their adroit movement was too much for Birmingham in the first half. Indeed it was the 37th minute before the home side threatened, Cameron Jerome shooting over.
Up to then, Sunderland had provided a footballing lesson. Keane's side manipulated the ball with ease, pulling Birmingham out of position and creating the space for Anthony Stokes and Edwards to wreak havoc on the flanks. Both were recruited in January and further evidence that Keane has spent wisely arrived when Edwards cut in from the right before spearing a wonderful left-footed shot into the top corner from 25 yards.
The breakthrough was overdue. David Connolly twice squandered chances to put Sunderland ahead in the 12th minute. His first shot, stabbed from the edge of the area, was superbly saved by Colin Doyle and from the corner that followed Connolly struck a close-range volley into the ground and over. Later in the half Stokes might have made it two but his 18-yard shot was too close to Doyle.
There was no let-up after the interval as Sunderland peppered the home penalty area, but gradually Birmingham were roused and belief had returned to their play by the time Campbell stole in to snatch a point.
Guardian Service
BIRMINGHAM CITY: Doyle, N'Gotty (Campbell 83), Jaidi, Martin Taylor, Sadler, Larsson, Muamba (Danns 75), Clemence, McSheffrey, Bendtner (Vine 75), Jerome. Subs not used: Maik Taylor, Nafti. Booked: N'Gotty, McSheffrey.
SUNDERLAND: Fulop, Simpson (Liam Miller 57), Evans, Nosworthy, Collins, Edwards, Whitehead, Yorke, Stokes (Leadbitter 85), John (Hysen 64), Connolly. Subs not used: Ward, Wallace. Booked: Evans.
Referee: M Halsey (Lancashire).
