That was an enjoyable game and in particular, second half and a fine way to start our three days of action. Moments of quality, unstinting commitment and a tight finish - all classic elements of a Championship match.

Let's hope there will be plenty of them in the other 11 fixtures this weekend.

Thanks for your company this evening. Hope you can join us again tomorrow for all the 15:00 fixtures.

Both sides gave everything tonight as they have for the last three-and-a-bit months.

There looked a few weary bodies at the end. Good job they can now have a rest!

Sunderland have a break before flying off to the United Arab Emirates for some warm weather training ahead of their resumption at home to Millwall on 3 December.

Birmingham resume a week later, like the majority of the Championship, with a trip to Blackpool on 10 December.

To underline its importance, Sunderland have jumped up FIVE places into the top half with that win.

12th is a lot more respectable than 17th heading into the break.

Birmingham remain 10th, just one point above them.

Sunderland hang on for a very hard-earned three points.

Those two moments of quality from Ellis Simms, and Amad Diallo especially, prove just enough against a dogged Birmingham side, who battled to the end.

Emmanuel Longelo and Sunderland's Jack Clarke see late yellows.

Clarke hacks down George Hall as he tried to advance towards an empty Blues goal with everyone up for the corner.

Tahith Chong to take. John Ruddy is up. Sunderland somehow hack it clear.

Sunderland launch it out of play. It's launched back in and headed over. Corner.

Sunderland have the ball in the corner.

Blues captain Troy Deeney is trying to win it back. Cue some tasty attempts at tackling.

In a rare Black Cats attack, Jack Clarke advances into the box.

There is a coming together between him and Juninho Bacuna. Clarke goes down, wants a penalty and is left disappointed.

We are going to have SEVEN added minutes.

Plenty of time for a Birmingham equaliser. Lots more headers to win for Sunderland!

A great header from Scott Hogan but it is always glancing away from the far post even though Anthony Patterson makes a full length dive.

Another close shave for Birmingham.

Substitute Jay Matete, only just on for Alex Pritchard, is booked for kicking the ball away.

Needless!

Krystian Bielik comes off and Jordan James replaces him.

James is going to Qatar with Wales but is not in the squad. Think of it as work experience!

Ged Scott
BBC Sport at St Andrew's

Lukas Jutkiewicz had not scored in almost 12 months - since hitting the winner in a 1-0 victory over Blackpool on 27 November last year.

But that timely strike from the former Middlesbrough striker against his old Boro boss Tony Mowbray has given the stadium a massive lift.

They rescued a point here in a 2-2 draw with Swansea here on Tursday night Suddenly there is real belief that they could do it again as they pepper Anthony Patterson's goal.

Lukas Jutkiewicz - who else - wins another free kick.

It causes more chaos and from it Dion Sanderson is denied an equaliser by a goal-line block from Trai Hume and Blues player George Hall, before Anthony Patterson makes a good save from Sanderson's follow-up.

Sunderland survive. For now.

That triple change has worked for John Eustace and Birmingham are right back in the match.

Sunderland had been looking uncomfortable as Blues upped the pressure and now they have some work to do in these last few minutes.

For Blues, they have to get the ball in and around Jutkiewicz.

Blues number 10 Lukas Jutkiewicz is a magnet for the ball as his team launch crosses into the box.

The home crowd are appealing for a penalty as Jutkiewicz ends up on the floor but there is nothing given.

He's a big strong unit, Jutkiewicz, and he's certainly making his presence felt.

Corry Evans is booked for a bad foul on Tahith Chong.

Sunderland are not the tallest team around so you can expect them to face plenty of high balls in the last 20 minutes.

There is still plenty of work left for them before they can take those three points back to Wearside.

There is a fright as a neat Blues move ends with Lukas Jutkiewicz's lay-off being just out of reach of Scott Hogan.