Stern John rescued a late point for Sunderland at St Andrews' tonight, as our unbeaten start to the season continued.

Roy Keane made four changes to the side that started the 1-0 win over Spurs, keeping up his record of never having named the same XI for two games in a row. Greg Halford came in for his Sunderland debut at right back, with Kieran Richardson being dropped from the squad for Danny Collins to come in at left back, as Ross Wallace moved into midfield. Michael Chopra and David Connolly partnered each other up front, with Daryl Murphy and Anthony Stokes also failing to make the squad, as new signings Roy O'Donovan and Russell Anderson started on the bench.

Sunderland started brightly, as both sides fought to create chances, with Liam Ridgewell denying Chopra from having an early shot on goal after Carlos Edwards' cross had found the former Cardiff striker. Paul McShane then tried a long pass towards Edwards, which was overhit and ended up rolling into the arms of Colin Doyle, before a long range effort from Gary McSheffrey went well over Craig Gordon's bar on 13 minutes.

As the two sides battled for the advantage, Birmingham took the lead just before the half hour mark, with a goal that will most likely be credited to Paul McShane, who found the back of his own net, when Sebastian Larsson's free kick found Stephen Kelly, whose header deflected off of McShane and past the despairing Craig Gordon as the hosts got their noses in front against the run of play.

Sunderland fired back straight away, and they should have had a penalty when David Connolly was shoved down in the area by the on-loan Johan Djourou, before a corner kick from Ross Wallace was punched away under pressure from Doyle. Carlos Edwards almost ended the first half with a flourish, with a thunderous shot that just went over the bar as we went into the break a goal behind.

We made no changes at half time, but as we struggled to break down a dogged Birmingham defence, Roy Keane made the changes, with Liam Miller and Stern John coming on for Dean Whitehead and David Connolly, but things still weren't going to plan for us, as Halford's attempted right wing cross failed to beat the first man after he managed to retrive a cleared Ross Wallace free kick. Moments later, a free kick from Miller sailed past everyone as we brought on Roy O'Donovan for his Sunderland debut, going on the right wing as Carlos Edwards dropped to right back.

The changed did the trick, as Michael Chopra equalised for us with 15 minutes left, producing a neat finish after Liam Ridgewell had missed Dickson Etuhu's header forward into the box. Sunderland were buoyant after that equaliser, but it lasted for only six minutes before substitute Garry O'Connor scored on his debut, beating Craig Gordon from point blank range. We equalised almost immediately, when Etuhu smashed a shot off the bar following some good build-up work from Edwards and John. Edwards injured his hamstring in the run up to that, and we spent the final five minutes of the game with ten men, after having used all of our substitutes.

Sunderland nicked a point at the death, tucking in the ball from close range after Colin Doyle had made a brilliant save from Ross Wallace's deflected free kick, which Nyron Nosworthy headed towards Stern John who was left with the easiest of finishes to give us a deserved point.

Sunderland: Gordon, Halford (sub 70, O'Donovan), McShane, Nosworthy, Collins, Edwards, Whitehead (sub 58, Miller), Etuhu, Wallace, Connolly (sub 58, John), Chopra. Subs: Ward, Anderson.

Birmingham City: Doyle, Parnaby, Ridgewell, Kelly, Djourou, Larsson, Nafti, Muamba, Kapo, McSheffrey (sub 65, O'Connor), Forsell (sub 84, Gerome). Subs: Taylor, Jaidi, Vine.