Birmingham victory sends Sunderland down to second-bottom spot

Sunderland boss Simon Grayson will take his side to former club Preston on Saturday in 23rd place

Simon Grayson’s Black Cats, thumped at Ipswich on Tuesday night, have picked up just six points from their first 10 games back in the second tier for the first time in more than a decade.

Birmingham edged home 1-0 against Sheffield Wednesday at St Andrew’s to clamber above Sunderland into third-bottom spot.

They are two points ahead of the Wearsiders but remain in the drop zone thanks to Brentford and Barnsley’s superior goal difference.

Substitute Isaac Vassell’s goal secured the victory for Birmingham, giving caretaker manager Lee Carsley his first win in charge as the hosts won their first game in nine outings.

A low-quality game looked destined to end goalless, especially when Gary Hooper’s close-range strike for Wednesday was disallowed for offside, before Vassell grabbed the 76th-minute winner.

His first goal for Birmingham since his summer move from Luton won it when he fired in Jacques Maghoma’s cross at the far post.

Sunderland are back in action with Saturday’s trip to Preston, with only Bolton, on two points, below them in the table.