Birmingham City 2-1 Sunderland

Goals from Liam Ridgewell and James McFadden handed Birmingham a 2-1 win against Sunderland at St Andrews.

The Blues enjoyed the better of the first half and were rewarded with Ridgewell's effort from a set-piece, while McFadden looked to have killed the match early in the second half. However a late Scott Dann own goal gave Sunderland hope and they almost earned a share of the spoils.
Alex McLeish's men move up to 14th place on 10 points, while Sunderland are still in seventh position.
Sunderland started brightly but failed to really create any concrete scoring opportunities. Birmingham gradually got into the game and Christian Benitez had time and space in the area but fired high over the bar on 15 minutes.
McFadden looked certain to score on 27 minutes but Kieran Richardson got in a timely block to deflect his shot over the top. A minute later Benitez's drive was diverted round the post by the diving Craig Gordon as the Blues pressed.
The hosts were rewarded for their attacking endeavour on 37 minutes when Sebastian Larsson's free-kick into the Sunderland area was directed into the net by Ridgewell.
The Black Cats responded to going behind and enjoyed some late pressure in the first half but Birmingham stood firm.
The Blues went two-up on 48 minutes when Cameron Jerome flicked the ball through to McFadden, who then cut inside and placed his effort beyond Gordon.
Larsson's free kick on 52 minutes was saved at the second attempt by Gordon, before Benitez's deflected effort forced the Scotland international into a smart stop on 67 minutes.
The Black Cats pulled one back on 81 minutes when Michael Turner's header from Andy Reid's free kick bounced off Dann and past keeper Joe Hart.
Sunderland pressed for an equaliser in the closing stages with Fraizer Campbell heading over in the centre and Darren Bent's effort from an angle on 88 minutes shaved the outside of the post as the Blues held on.