Sunderland move on up out of drop-zone with home win
Roy Keane saw his Sunderland side overturn one of their relegation rivals
Tuesday, 29, Jan 2008 10:13
Sunderland moved clear of the Premier League relegation zone with a 2-0 win over Birmingham at the Stadium of Light.
Roy Keane's side took the lead after 14 minutes as Daryl Murphy diverted a flick-on from Kenwyne Jones beyond Maik Taylor and into the top corner.
Cameron Jerome could have levelled for the Blues on the brink of half time but he could only shoot weakly at the legs of the onrushing Craig Gordon.
Rade Prica doubled the Black Cats' lead on 65 minutes with a cute chipped finish after siezing on a feeble header from Liam Ridgewell.
The Swede almost had a second but referee Mark Halsey was right to disallow the effort after spotting a handball.
A late push from Birmingham failed to engineer a way back into the match and the hosts were able to coast to victory in the final quarter.
Bolton and Fulham fought out a dour stalemate at the Reebok to earn Cottagers manager Roy Hodgson the first Premier League point of his reign.
The visitors had the better of the first half and had chances through Clint Dempsey and new signing Leon Andreasen.
But, after failing to take those opportunities, Fulham could have lost when defender Lubomir Michalik squandered the best opening of the game for the Trotters.
The Slovakian showed his lack of experience in front of goal, nudging the ball wide as the back of the net beckoned.