The Independent
Sunderland fail to cash in after Carr's clangers
New season, same old Sunderland failings. Stadium of Light regulars lost count of the number of points frittered away last season courtesy of late capitulations, and another two slipped through the fingers in the final 13 minutes as Birmingham rallied to claim a deserved share of the spoils.
The Guardian
Ridgewell completes Birmingham comeback against 10-man Sunderland
Who needs Lee Cattermole? Who needs 11 men? Sunderland certainly did. Steve Bruce's side were coasting to victory when Cattermole, newly anointed as team captain, was controversially sent off on the verge of half-time, but ended the afternoon relieved to escape with a draw.
The Telegraph
Sunderland 2 Birmingham City 2
The rival skippers put on a collective display of real ineptitude in an error-strewn sub-plot as Birmingham City gamely battled back from a two-goal deficit to show up the kind of defensive frailties which Sunderland manager Steve Bruce no doubt hoped he had seen the back of..
The Mail
Lee Cattermole and Stephen Carr hit by captain's curse
At least Stephen Carr had the consolation of a late equaliser to spare his blushes in this sorry tale of two calamitous captains. For Lee Cattermole there was no such luxury. Sunderland manager Steve Bruce will be grateful his players ignored the example set by Cattermole, wearing the armband for the first time