Birmingham City

0-2

Sunderland

 

 

Smith, 99, 115

St Andrews
Wednesday 25 February 2004


Two extra-time strikes either side of the turn-around from substitute Tommy Smith sent Sunderland's Black Cats purring into Round Six as Birmingham crashed out of The FA Cup at St Andrews.

Smith broke the deadlock six minutes before the end of the first period of extra time - and it was no more than Mick McCarthy's side deserved. Then, with five minutes remaining, he made sure of victory for the Wearsiders guiding them into the Sixth Round for the first time in 12 years.

Sunderland made a positive start and they created the first opening of the game after only two minutes. A low cross from Kevin Kyle found strike partner Marcus Stewart in space eight yards out but he failed to make a clean contact with his left-footed shot and goalkeeper Maik Taylor was able to save comfortably.

Birmingham quickly responded and Clinton Morrison looked to have a 20-yard effort tipped over the crossbar by Sunderland keeper Mart Poom - but referee Mike Dean awarded a goal-kick.

In first half injury-time Birmingham created their best opening when Mikael Forssell played the ball into the path of Morrison - but Poom was able to block his low shot via his legs.

Stewart missed a golden opportunity to put Sunderland in front after 53 minutes. Oster sent over a right-wing centre which looked tailor-made for the former Ipswich striker - but he failed to make proper contact and his header glanced wide.

A shot from Clemence which flew well wide summed up Birmingham's second half performance and they were hanging on desperately to take the game into extra-time.

It needed a superb save from Taylor with seven minutes remaining to prevent the visitors from breaking the deadlock when Smith's 20-yard free-kick took a wicked deflection.

But although Blues did take the game into extra-time - they were undone by Smith's double and their bid to reach the quarter-finals for the first time since 1984 came unstuck again.

Sunderland's victory means that they will now have home advantage in their all-Division One tie against Sheffield United on March 7 and also ensures that two Nationwide League sides will make it to this season's last four.

Teams

Birmingham:
Maik Taylor, Tebily, Cunningham, Purse, Kenna, Johnson, Savage, Hughes, Dunn, Forssell, Morrison.
Subs: Bennett, Clemence, John, Cisse, Carter.

Sunderland:
Poom, Wright, Babb, Breen, McCartney, Oster, Thirlwell, Whitley, Arca, Kyle, Stewart.
Subs: Ingham, Smith, Thornton, Williams, Cooper.

Referee: M Dean (Wirral)