Andy Munro sees Blues go down to Sunderland.

This was a banana skin waiting to happen and Blues predictably slipped on it. Two sloppy goals, tellingly down Emmanuel Longelo’s left-hand side, cost the Blues and Harlee Dean’s absence was yet again noticeable with no real organisation at the back.

In fairness, if Troy Deeney’s attempt had gone in instead of hitting the bar or Scott Hogan had put away a one on one, the result might have been different. Yet Sunderland probably deserved their first half lead but things changed on the hour with John Eustace taking off young Jobe Bellingham, who seemed a bit overawed on what was effectively his starting debut. He also took off Hannibal Mejbri, who had struggled a bit, as well as Krystian Beilik, who looked to be carrying a knock.

The subs worked well, with Tahith Chong showing the talent that we all know he has, George Hall getting involved in the heart of things and the Juke putting himself about, fully deserving his goal. In truth, we deserved an equaliser but it wasn’t to be with Sunderland hanging on for dear life, so we go again after the World Cup break.