Sport

Smith brace gives Birmingham the blues

FA Cup fifth round replay / Birmingham City 0 Sunderland 2: Sunderland are through to the quarter-finals of the FA Cup for the…

Thu Feb 26 2004 - 00:00

FA Cup fifth round replay / Birmingham City 0 Sunderland 2: Sunderland are through to the quarter-finals of the FA Cup for the first time in 12 years after substitute Tommy Smith's extra-time double earned them a shock victory over their Premiership opponents at St Andrews.

Smith broke the deadlock five 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, who will now have home advantage in their Division One quarter-final against Sheffield United on March 7th.

Birmingham manager Steve Bruce had been unhappy with his side's performance in the first game 11 days ago but City's display in the return encounter was also woeful for long periods and hardly that of an outfit challenging for a European place via a lofty placing in the top flight.

Sunderland looked more hungry for success and they hustled Birmingham out of their stride for long periods. But there was more to the performance of the Black Cats than sheer hard work, with John Oster a threat throughout in the centre of the park.

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Bruce kept faith with the side which finished Sunday's thrilling 2-2 draw at Aston Villa.

Clinton Morrison was restored to the starting 11 in place of the injured Christophe Dugarry while record signing David Dunn came in for Stephen Clemence, but had to go off with a hamstring injury.

Mick McCarthy made two alterations to the side which had been hammered 4-0 at Cardiff on Saturday. Skipper Jason McAteer was absent with an ear infection and replaced by Paul Thirlwell while Joachim Bjorklund - sent off at Ninian Park - stood down in favour of Phil Babb.

McCarthy made his first substitution after 62 minutes, bringing on Smith in place of Stewart.

Although Birmingham 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.

BIRMINGHAM CITY: Maik Taylor, Tebily (John 71), Cunningham, Purse, Kenna, Johnson, Savage, Hughes, Dunn (Clemence 10), Forssell, Morrison, Clemence (Carter 96). Subs Not Used: Bennett, Cisse.

SUNDERLAND: Poom, Wright, Babb, Breen, McCartney, Oster (Thornton 104), Thirlwell, Whitley, Arca, Kyle, Stewart (Tommy Smith 62). Subs Not Used: Ingham, Williams, Cooper. Goals: Tommy Smith 99, 115.

Referee: M Dean (Wirral).