Black Cats' luck runs out as Dugarry scores at last

Birmingham City 2 Sunderland

Sunderland have known relegation was inevitable for weeks, if not months, but when it was confirmed here at about 4.50pm yesterday that did not necessarily make it any easier for the men from the North-east.

The Black Cats – in a season with 21 defeats they must feel like they have run over a few – have had a firm grip on the bottom of the Premiership for quite some time. Their four-year stint dining at English football's top table effectively ended without much dignity either, as Marcus Stewart was shown a red card four minutes from time for a tackle from behind on Stern John.

Yet they have been living off scraps for well over a year, such has been the poor quality of their football, and a clear-out is likely.

By contrast Birmingham eased their own relegation fears with a comfortable victory, although you would not have guessed the outcome from the way they played for the first 45 minutes of this encounter. Remarkably devoid of passion and not aware that three points were as good as theirs for the taking, the Blues were barely able to string two or three meaningful passes together.

The Frenchman Christophe Dugarry, who eventually scored his first goal in a Birmingham shirt, was the main culprit, opting for flicks and tricks rather than the intelligent football of which he is capable. But at least the World Cup winner was involved when the Blues had their first chance. With 19 minutes gone, Dugarry headed down from Stan Lazaridis' corner but from a yard out Stephen Clemence let the ball go under his foot.

Undeservedly, Birmingham went into the break a goal up. Two minutes before the interval, Lazaridis sent in a cross and Mart Poom, on his debut for Sunderland, could only punch the ball as far as Bryan Hughes. The midfielder then marked his first league appearance since December by coolly lobbing Poom from 20 yards out.

Although it is late in the season, it was an auspicious day for Hughes, as the midfielder's left-footed strike was his first goal of the campaign and also his first Premiership goal. He has been hit hard by injuries in this campaign, but when fit he has also been ignored by the manager, Steve Bruce, in favour of the super-combative Robbie Savage and Aliou Cissé.

On a good day for Birmingham, as their relegation rivals Bolton lost and West Ham drew, Dugarry then notched up his first goal for the Blues. Sunderland failed to clear the penalty area and the former Milan forward dinked a header inside Poom's post, which was the cue for much celebration for the long-haired striker.

A relieved Bruce said: "The first half was woeful, but we've now won four out of six games and should have got something last week too. However, Easter also sorts a few things out at the bottom."

But Mick McCarthy, his Sunderland counterpart, had the final word. "It is a sad day because it is final," he acknowledged. "We all knew it was happening but, now that it has, we can be more open about it. After the second goal we were nowhere in the game and were unlikely ever to get back."

Birmingham City 2 Sunderland 0
Hughes 43, Dugarry 60

Half-time: 1-0 Attendance: 29,132