Hitman Sam sent off after early goal.
BLUES boss Steve Cotterill-labelled Sam Gallagher’s two yellow cards as “the softest you will see in your life’’.
The Birmingham scorer was harshly dismissed in the 67th minute, referee Oliver Langford punishing Gallagher for a foul on Sunderland striker James Vaughan after booking him 11 minutes earlier for diving when he went down in the box in a one-on-one with goalkeeper Robbin Ruiter.
Lewis Grabban’s 12th goal this season denied bottom club Birmingham the chance to climb above the Black Cats and claim their first away win this season.
And Cotterill said: “For a start, it was a foul on Cheikh Ndoye for Sunderland’s goal – and Sam Gallagher’s two bookings are the softest bookings you will see in your life.
“Sam is 100 per cent an honest boy. He hasn’t dived. When he gets that touch, if he steams into the goalkeeper, what would happen then? He has to go round him so, for me, that’s really, really harsh.
Denne historien er fra December 24, 2017-utgaven av The Football League Paper.
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Denne historien er fra December 24, 2017-utgaven av The Football League Paper.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
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I'd still want to keep Pat on side
Patrick Bamford has always been a player who divides opinion amongst Leeds supporters.
WHITES & THE BLADES SPEED ON
LEEDS and Sheffield United maintained their pace at the top of the table with comfortable home victories - but Sunderland slipped off the summit.
BAILEY: WE'LL GIVE POPPIES THE RESPECT THEY DESERVE
OWEN Bailey knows exactly how pumped up seventh-tier Kettering Town will be when Doncaster Rovers roll into ramshackle Latimer Park today.
TOWN EARN THEIR CORN!
HARROGATE mon Weaver breathed a sigh of relief after his side edged past Gainsborough Trinity at a rain-sodden Exercise Stadium.
OH MY JOSH - O'S KEEPER IS THE HERO!
RICHIE Wellens praised keeper Josh Keeley as Leyton Orient reached the third round following a dramatic win over National League Oldham.
'IT HASN'T BEEN MY WHOLE FOCUS AND THAT HELPED ME
SHAUN Barker never attempted to conceal the fact that he had no burning desire to play football.
MATT'S BOYS SHOW CLASS
WYCOMBE side-stepped a tricky second round fixture by defeating Wealdstone at Grosvenor Vale.
LUKE SEETHES OVER SLOPPY SWANS START
LUKE Williams admitted he gave his players the hairdryer treatment at half-time after seeing them come into the break trailing against bottom of the table Portsmouth.
UPSET FOR HARRIS AS TYLER HITS STUNNER
Neil Harris insisted the fact that Millwall were bitterly disappointed to claim only a point shows the progress his side have made over the past 10 months.
ANTE AT THE DOUBLE FOR ON-SONG CITY
NORWICH head coach Johannes Hoff Thorup paid tribute to the home fans after watching his side come through a tough test against Luton to win comfortably in the end.
