Sunderland: Birmingham City rallied from two goals down to draw 2-2 at 10-man Sunderland in the Premier League on Saturday.
Scott Dann scored in the 78th minute and Liam Ridgewell hit another 10 minutes later to rescue a point for Birmingham at the Stadium of Light.
Darren Bent gave the hosts the lead from the penalty spot in the 24th minute after Stephen Carr fouled Fraizer Campbell, and the veteran full-back headed the ball over his own keeper 11 minutes after half-time to put Sunderland two up.
Sunderland midfielder Lee Cattermole was sent off in the 44th for a second yellow card, but Carr scored an own goal 12 minutes later to give the hosts a 2-0 lead.
Sunderland boss Steve Bruce gave full debuts to keeper Simon Mignolet, defenders Nedum Onuoha and Titus Bramble and winger Ahmed El Mohamady while John Mensah also started after returning to the Stadium of Light on loan from Lyon for a second successive season.
Birmingham's side had a more familiar look about it, although there was a debut in goal for Ben Foster after he overcame a back problem that forced him out of England duty.
The home side had much the better of the opening quarter of an hour without troubling Foster, who was able to watch a Steed Malbranque shot sail past his near post from the best chance.
Birmingham boss Alex McLeish would have expected much more from his team and he responded by bringing on James McFadden.
Birmingham managed to get a foothold back in the game in the 77th minute, when debutant Titus Bramble gave away a cheap corner. Sunderland went to sleep as the Blues took it short and Dann headed the ball through Mignolet’s legs at the far post to bring Birmingham back into it: 2-1 to Sunderland.
Sunderland couldn’t hold out as their old defensive frailties came back to haunt them. Another free-kick was swung into the penalty area and Liam Ridgewell smashed it home after a flick on by Dann.
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