Premier League Preview: Birmingham Vs Sunderland

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Birmingham's residence fans at the St Andrews Ground, will get to celebrate Premier league match time when Sunderland come visiting in match week 33 on Saturday, April 16, in the second of a two-legged contest.

The initially, hosted by Sunderland on August 14, 2010, ended in a 2-2 stalemate. It was a come-from-behind win for Birmingham, right after Sunderland went ahead, via Bent's penalty on 24 minutes, and Carr's own goal helped raise the lead, 12 minutes after the interval.

Dann decreased the margin on 77 minutes, and Ridgewell brought the Blues level with barely two minutes of regulation time to go. Birmingham's trigger was helped by the sending off of Sunderland skipper Lee Cattermole, on the stroke of half-time.

Referee Taylor gave Sunderland sufficient trigger for grievance when he booked Cattermole for a non-offence. Minutes later, Cattermole expended his anger with a rough tackle on Bowyer, whose histrionic capacity came to the fore, as he lay writhing, ankle firmly clutched. The misguided tackle brought Cattermole his second yellow card, and his consequent sending off.

Though Mignolet, Richardson and Bent had absolutely nothing to write household about, on the day, other Sunderland players such as Mensah, Campbell and Henderson gave a amazing account of themselves, when Onuoha had a brilliant debut game.

Whilst Birmingham lacked width and speed they compensated with tenacity and spirit, and that made the distinction, ultimately, as Alex McLeish's wards slavaged a point from a game that looked nicely and really lost, at 2- down.

Head to head, Birmingham and have won 6 games every single of the last 17 league games played among the sides, with the remaining 5 matches drawn.

In their last 10 league games, Birmingham have registered four wins, three draws and three losses Sunderland have won just one of their last 10, although drawing 2 and losing the remaining 7. Of their 16 house games this season, Birmingham have won 5, drawn 7 and lost 4, whilst Sunderland have won 3 of their 17 games on the road, even though losing 7 and drawing the remaining 6.

In match week 32, Birmingham drew 1-1 away at Blackburn, though Sunderland lost three-two at household against West Brom.

Birmingham are barely above the relegation zone, and Sunderland are just 3 points adrift of them. Both teams are likely to view Saturday's game as an opportunity to safeguard themselves further, from relegation. Expect a difficult-fought game, with Birmingham enjoying dwelling benefit.

Birmingham's starting eleven against Blackburn had the following players: Foster, Carr, Johnson, Parnaby, Ridewell, Larsson, Gardner, Ferguson, Bowyer, Jerome and Phillips. Davies featured as a substitute.

Sunderland had the following men in their starting eleven against West Brom: Mignolet, Onuoha, Mensah, Turner, Bardsley, Elmohamady, Malbranque, Cattermole, Richardson, Wellbeck and Gyan. Zenden, Sessegnon and Ferdinand were utilised as substitutes.