Sunderland left in relegation mire as Birmingham City take giant step towards Premier League safety
As the movable feast that is the Premier League’s relegation places enters its final course, an appetite for survival should be pivotal. On this evidence, Steve Bruce may be advised to introduce raw meat at weekends.
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Back of the net: Birmingham City's Craig Gardner got himself on the scoresheet against Sunderland Photo: ACTION IMAGES
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Singing the blues: Sebastian Larsson scored for Birmingham City just before half time in their 2-0 defeat of Sunderland at St Andrew's on Saturday Photo: ACTION IMAGES
By David McVay at St Andrew's 6:50AM BST 18 Apr 2011
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The dip in form suffered by Sunderland has plunged them into the relegation equation along with a raft of teams, 10 according to Bruce, who has suggested that the safety target this season is 41 points.
Given that his team have taken just one from their last nine matches, it perhaps does not augur well for the remaining five games.
Wigan, Wolves and West Ham United are forthcoming opponents who might offer encouragement to Bruce, who claimed with some justification that his side were unfortunate to suffer an eighth defeat in nine games on Saturday.
“My players are intelligent enough to know they don’t have enough points,” Bruce said. “It’s quite incredible what has happened to us but we have to arrest this decline.”
Birmingham City appear finally to have recovered from the shock factor of beating Arsenal to secure the Carling Cup.
Often outplayed, they found Simon Mignolet’s generosity irresistible, the Belgian goalkeeper’s hesitation inviting Sebastian Larsson to open the scoring before failing to prevent Craig Gardner’s routine shot doubling the advantage.
While Birmingham moved above the visitors on goal difference, manager Alex McLeish accepts their fate remains in the balance with trips to Chelsea and Liverpool in the coming week before the ‘respite’ of a derby against Wolves.
“I think we are 50 per cent there and, one more game, and we should be OK,” claimed Alexander Hleb, the on-loan Barcelona playmaker whose late appearance as a substitute signalled a return from an injury sustained in the FA Cup tie against Sheffield Wednesday in February.
“Things can change very quickly in the Premier League. We need to fight and concentrate. But the players will be more relaxed [after this victory].”
The midfielder confirmed his pedigree during a brief cameo, creating a late chance that Matt Derbyshire squandered. The former Arsenal player also confirmed his intention to remain in the Premier League.
“English football is the best and everyone gives their all for this club,” Hleb said.
“If we want to progress, we need to learn. It is difficult to play here, not like Arsenal or Barcelona. Here you need to fight and run, not too much passing, and this for me is something new.”
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