Having benefited from a freak goal against Liverpool, Sunderland were luckless and pretty much clueless as they went down 2-1 to Birmingham City.
The Black Cats started the brighter of the two sides, but it wasn't long before they were forced on t
o the back foot.
Having impressed in their two previous games against Liverpool and Manchester United, the Wearsiders were looking to build on their fine start to the season.
But the Blues had other ideas, and looked sharper and hungrier than the visitors for most of the encounter.
So there was no happy return for former City boss Steve Bruce, who made two changes to the side that faced Liverpool.
Youngster Jordan Henderson came in for the injured Lee Cattermole in the middle of park, while Kieran Richardson was preferred to George McCartney.
The visitors started the encounter on the front foot, but were lacking in ideas, and as the half wore on seemed to drift aimlessly.
That opened the door for Birmingham, who had the better of the chances in the first half.
Richardson did well to block a James McFadden effort on 27 minutes, while two minutes later Craig Gordon pulled off a top class save to deny Christian Benitez.
The warning signs weren't heeded and Bruce's men went behind just before the break.
A free-kick in by Sebastian Larsson getting the faintest of touches from Liam Ridgwell to put the home side in front.
Sunderland failed to get out the blocks at the start of the second half and just three minutes after the restart Birmingham were 2-0 up.
McFadden was allowed to turn on the edge of the area and fired past his Scotland team-mate Gordon to put the hosts firmly in the driving seat.
Still Sunderland struggled to get a foothold in the game, and Bruce decided on one last throw of the dice as he made a triple substitution on 68 minutes skipper Lorik Cana, Henderson and Steed Malbranque made way as Bolo Zended, Fraizer Campbell and McCartney entering the fray.
There was no immiediate change in the Black Cats approach, but a late flurry almost paid dividends.
The Wearsiders pulled a goal back on 82 minutes. Michael Turner headed towards goal, and Neil Dann's attempted clearance ended in own goal misery.
Two minutes later Campbell could have levelled matters, but headed over the bar.
Darren Bent also went close to making it all square, but his 88th minute shot went wide of the goal.
Sunderland continued to press, but it was too little too late from the Wearsiders who waited far too long before upping the tempo against the Blues.
