Back to the Sunderland Newsfeed

Championship: Simms slots Sunderland in front at Birmingham

Football really is a funny old game.

Birmingham City have created the two clearest chances of the game, yet they trail to a goal scored by a striker who hadn't netted since August.

Also of concern to home boss John Eustace on the statistical front will be on-loan Man United midfielder Hannibal Mejbri's fourth booking in the last 11 games, for his challenge on Jack Clarke.

Eustace admitted he took him off early in the second half after he got booked here against QPR a fortnight ago to stop him getting sent off.

The spirited Tunisian was visibly fired up by Clarke's poor early challenge on Hannibal's Blues team-mate Juninho Bacuna - and he could again be on thin ice here if he is not careful after his own foul on Clarke.