Birmingham City 2 Sunderland 2

ROY KEANE upset the wives and girlfriends of many footballers across the country this week and, after Sunderland came from behind twice to claim a last-minute draw, his old friend Steve Bruce was left reeling as well last night.

The Birmingham boss was left seething in the final stages of this encounter when former City striker Stern John snatched an equaliser in a largely uneventful fixture that only burst into life a quarter-of-an-hour from the end.

The Birmingham boss, along with his players, was furious that John's tap-in was allowed to stand amid claims goalkeeper Colin Doyle was infringed on the line.

The goal cancelled out a well-taken strike from Birmingham debutant Garry O'Connor nine minutes earlier that had looked like securing the points.

Keane had already watched his men claw themselves back from a goal down, which came courtesy of a Paul McShane own-goal in the first half, when Michael Chopra's piece of magic with the outside of left boot found the net.

Chopra's second goal in two games arrived on 75 minutes and it was only then that the temperature inside St Andrew's rose.

What preceded that highlighted why Keane is so desperate to find a powerful striker to compliment the £5m man.

It was ironically, John, a forward in that mould, who secured the point which ensures Sunderland already have four on the board in their first season back in the Premier League.

On their last sojourn to the top flight it took them until late September to gain that tally. Having to wait until January for a second win is equally unlikely.

Given that it was as far back as December 2001 that any Sunderland side have won consecutive matches in the Premier League, the mere fact the away contingent could consider such an outcome last night highlights the rise in expectancy levels.

An outlay of £27.5m, almost £14m more than the team that finished second in the Championship and still rising, on new faces has certainly contributed to the feelings on Wearside and that has enabled Keane to continue in the tinkering mood that heralded the Football League title.

He went through the whole of last season without keeping with the same team in successive fixtures and he could not resist the opportunity again, making four changes to the team that beat Tottenham.

Whether he will continue to make such major adjustments to his line-ups at this level after a largely below-par display could well be reconsidered.

Few could have argued with the selection of Saturday's goal-hero Chopra in a forward line with David Connolly. While Greg Halford made his first competitive start at right-back and Danny Collins was recalled on the opposite flank.

None of the four casualties, including £5.5m signing Kieran Richardson, even made the bench in what was a further indication of the ruthlessness of Keane's managerial approach.

There was the occasional neat interchange in passing, but there was a clear lack of impetus from both sets of players for the majority of the opening third of the game.

Neither goalkeeper had been asked a serious question until Birmingham gained the initiative just before the half-hour.

The appearance of Halford and McShane high in the Birmingham half for one Sunderland corner did spark panic in the home defence.

Once that was cleared, however, City gained the upperhand which stemmed from Nosworthy's foul on Mikael Forssell.

Larsson's free-kick from just inside the visitors' half was nodded across goal by Stephen Kelly. And, after bouncing off the chest of McShane, neither Gordon nor Gary McShefferey touched the knock down and the ball rolled over the line.

A scrappy first-half always looked like it was going to be decided by an unfashionable goal and that proved to be the case.

Sunderland striker Connolly did have a claim for a penalty waved away by referee Keith Stroud shortly after, when Kelly looked to have used too much force to push him to the floor. Keane was furious in the dug-out.

Last season in the title run-in there was very little between the two squads and, despite seven additions for Sunderland and eight for the Blues since May, the same could be said last night.

After the restart the pattern of play was very similar. Both teams struggled to retain possession for free-flowing moves and once again there was a dearth of goalscoring chances.

It was approaching 70 minutes before Birmingham keeper Doyle was tested; even then he only had to routinely gather a poor delivery from Edwards that floated towards goal.

But Doyle was powerless to prevent the equaliser. Chopra, after spinning around Liam Ridgewell, delivered a stunning left-foot strike on the bounce into the keeper's top corner.

Birmingham, despite John's header against the bar, were not downbeat. And, nine minutes from time, O'Connor's stunner at the far post regained their advantage.

Sunderland, however, were not to be outdone and John was on hand to claim a share of the points.

For two teams that suffered relegation from the top-flight in 2006, the same fate should not fall on them again this time around. There will, though, need to be major improvements, and Keane will know that.

Goals: McShane OG (28mins, 1-0); Chopra (75, 1-1); O'Connor (81, 2-1); John (90, 2-2)

Bookings: Etuhu (53, foul)

Sent off: None

Referee: Keith Stroud (Hants) 4

Attendance: 24,898

BIRMINGHAM CITY (4-4-2): Doyle 6; Parnaby 6, Djourou 5, Ridgewell 5, Kelly 6; Larsson 6, Muamba 6, Nafti 5, Kapo 5; McShefferey 5 (O'Connor 66, 5), FORSSELL 6 (Jerome 83). Subs (not used): M Taylor, Jaidi, Vine.

SUNDERLAND (4-4-2): Gordon 5; Halford 5 (R O'Donovan 71), Nosworthy 6, MCSHANE 6, Collins 6; Edwards 5, Etuhu 5, Whitehead 5 (Miller 59, 5), Wallace 5; Connolly 5 (John 59, 6), Chopra 6. Subs (not used): Ward, Anderson.

MAN OF THE MATCH: Paul McShane - unlucky to score an own goal, otherwise sound.