Clarke’s calamity gifts Blues victory

Sunderland 0 Birmingham 1

Defender Clarke, who joined the Black Cats from West Ham on Tuesday in a swap deal involving George McCartney, entered the fray as a 30th-minute substitute for the injured Steve Caldwell.

And within 10 minutes, Clarke’s mistake cost Sunderland dear as his reckless lunge on City skipper Damien Johnson led to a penalty which Mikael Forssell coolly converted.