Richard Wilford
BBC Radio WM

Blues, after a difficult opening 25 minutes, grew into the game and will be buoyed that they are going in level at half-time.

It's been a hectic opening half at the Stadium of Light.

Jobe Bellingham put Sunderland ahead against his former club and almost had a second - hitting the post for a second time for the Black Cats - before Koji Miyoshi levelled for Wayne Rooney's Birmingham City.

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Getty Images

We are into the final minute of added time and Trai Hume is the latest to go into the book.

It's another challenge on Juninho Bacuna, who really has been in the thick of things and fortunate to maybe not have a yellow card himself at this point.

Pierre Ekwah has Sunderland fans on their feet as he tries his luck from distance.

There wasn't much on as Birmingham City crowded the hosts out on the edge of the area.

There will be five minutes of added time to come. Both sides will probably fancy nicking a goal before they head back to the changing rooms.

Sunderland have lived dangerously when trying to play out in their own half.

Pierre Ekwah is the latest to give up possession, but he is able to recover before a shot can come in.

This is a huge missed opportunity for Birmingham City.

The quick thinking of Koji Miyoshi to send a no-look pass up for Oliver Burke to run on to has the Blues closing in on goal.

Burke has the space and time to shoot, but opts to try find Jay Stansfield. The pass isn't the best, and Sunderland's defence are able to scramble and shut him down at the top of the area.

Image source, PA Media

Patrick Roberts is shown a yellow card after tussling with Juninho Bacuna, and the Sunderland fans are not happy. The boos ring out around the ground.

This game has some spice in it.

Cody Drameh gets in a crucial clearing tackle ahead of Patrick Roberts in the area.

Jack Clarke did well to beat Dion Sanderson before sliding a dangerous ball across goal in search of Roberts.

We have definitely seen flashes of that 'no-fear football' that Wayne Rooney wants to introduce at Birmingham City.

Their high press and willingness to move the ball at pace has them creating a number of chances.

The latest falls for Ivan Sunjic, but he fails to connect after being found a few yards out by the excellent Koji Miyoshi.

Richard Wilford
BBC Radio WM

Excellent response from the Blues. They were just starting to ramp things up in the last few minutes.

The next 15 minutes is huge in this game.

Sunderland make a mess of their effort to play the ball out from the back. Anthony Patterson is scrambling to get back into goal when an effort from distance comes in.

Postpublished at 27 mins

27 mins

Sunderland 1-0 Birmingham City

Patrick Roberts is clattered by Juninho Bacuna, and there is pause in play as the Sunderland man gets some treatment.

Birmingham City have had their first big moment of the game and they come close to levelling.

Fortunate for Sunderland, Niall Huggins is back on the line to clear a scuffed shot from Jay Stansfield before it can creep over the line.

Sunderland and Jobe Bellingham come close to a second from another corner.

This effort comes off the inside of the post after the teenager's shot on the turn from the middle of the area.

How Birmingham City allowed him to dig that effort out is beyond me!

Richard Wilford
BBC Radio WM

What Wayne Rooney is seeing surely can't please him. Blues just aren't affecting this game.

They need to change things up otherwise there is a sense of inevitability about this game.

Image source, Rex Features

Sunderland deserve every bit of this lead against Birmingham City.

Wayne Rooney won't be happy with the way the Blues defended the corner, but the way Jack Clarke has influenced the game so far it's no surprise he had a big say in that goal.