HT Sunderland 2-0 Birmingham - Bent brace puts Black Cats in front

Striker Darren Bent smashed through the 20-goal barrier as Sunderland took command of their Barclays Premier League clash with Birmingham.

The £10million man struck after five minutes before adding a second six minutes later to take his tally for the season to 21.

City keeper Joe Hart also had to make an important save to deny Fraizer Campbell a third, but opposite number Craig Gordon tipped Christian Benitez's 30th-minute header on to the bar as the visitors responded.

Kenwyne Jones was forced to sit out this afternoon's game through injury.

The Black Cats were handed a boost earlier this week when scans revealed the Trinidad and Tobago international's hip flexor problem was not as serious as was first thought, but he was unable to shake it off in time to retain his place in the team.

Jones was replaced by loan signing Benjani Mwaruwari, who was handed his first start for the club.

Birmingham boss Alec McLeish also made a single change with Spaniard Michel coming in for Lee Bowyer, who was named among the substitutes.

Sunderland, playing their fourth successive game at the Stadium of Light, started slowly on a rain-soaked pitch as Benjani attempted to forge a partnership with leading scorer Darren Bent.

But the home side needed just five minutes to get their noses in front as Bent took his tally for the season to 20.

David Meyler picked out Richardson just outside the box and he in turn fed Campbell, who played the ball in to Benjani inside the penalty area.

The Zimbabwean's shot was blocked, but Bent pounced on the rebound to beat keeper Joe Hart with ease from close range.

Hart needed to be alert to pluck Bent's near-post cross out of the air before Benjani could pounce five minutes later with the Black Cats increasing their tempo.

They made the pressure count within a minute when Steed Malbranque cut inside from the left and picked out Bent, who tricked his way past defender Scott Dann before smashing a low shot home.

The £10million man needed treatment after a collision with Liam Ridgewell, and full-back Alan Hutton saw a well-struck 15th-minute effort deflected wide by Barry Ferguson.

Bent returned seconds later, but it was Fraizer Campbell who went close to a third when he forced Hart into a solid save from 12 yards.

But home keeper Craig Gordon was called upon twice within a minute to keep out Keith Fahey efforts as Birmingham belatedly made an impression.

However, Steve Bruce's men continued to enjoy the better part of the possession and looked a threat whenever they entered enemy territory.

The visitors went on the attack once again with 28 minutes gone as striker Cameron Jerome found space down the right.

But his cross towards strike-partner Christian Benitez was calmly chested back to Gordon by skipper-for-the-day Michael Turner.

Benitez did get his chance two minutes later when he met Stephen Carr's right-wing cross with a firm header, but Gordon managed to tip the ball on to the crossbar.

In an end-to-end contest, Campbell was just inches away from meeting Hutton's driven cross in front of goal seconds later.

The home side were presented with a promising opportunity once again 11 minutes before the break when Ferguson headed Meyler's cross out for a corner, only for Kieran Richardson to deliver the set-piece straight into Hart's waiting arms.

Richardson did far better four minutes later when he forced another good save from Hart with a curling shot, and Steed Malbranque fired high over from the rebound.

The Frenchman went much closer from distance with three minutes of the half remaining with hart relieved to see his skidding shot fly just wide.

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