Dion Sanderson on his Stadium of Light return and his own-goal as Sunderland beat Birmingham City

Birmingham City defender Dion Sanderson says he has nothing but good memories of his time at Sunderland - although his Wearside return this weekend ended in disappointment. Sanderson spent the 2020-21 campaign on loan from Wolverhampton Wanderers with the Black Cats and helped the club reach the League One play-offs, although they ultimately lost out to Lincoln City at the semi-final stage.

Sunderland won promotion the following season, while Sanderson went on to spend loan spells at Birmingham and QPR, before joining the Blues on a permanent basis last summer. He was back at the Stadium of Light for the first time this weekend as Sunderland ran out 3-1 winners, with Sanderson scoring an unfortunate own-goal just before the hour that helped the Black Cats to victory.

Sunderland took a short corner on the right and Patrick Roberts' deep cross was headed back across goal from beyond the far post by Trai Hume, where Nectar Triantis' presence forced a Blues defender Emanuel Aiwu into an awkward clearance that hit Sanderson at close range and rebounded into the net. Sunderland had earlier taken the lead through Jobe Bellingham before Koji Miyoshi levelled before half-time, and then after the own-goal substitute Adil Aouchiche made it 3-1.

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"It rebounded off me and went in, it happens, it's football," said Sanderson. "We are then 2-1 down and are trying to chase the game and they score again. It was just a lack of concentration."

Sanderson was a popular figure during his loan spell at Sunderland, and the Black Cats were linked with a permanent move for him last summer following their promotion to the Championship. He made 27 appearances for the Black Cats in all competitions, scoring one goal, although he was cup-tied which meant he did not figure in the EFL Trophy-winning side that season, and he was injured at the end of the campaign when Sunderland reached the play-offs.

With games played behind-closed-doors that season due to the Covid pandemic, Sanderson did not get the opportunity to play in front of the Sunderland fans but he still enjoyed his time at the club.

He said: "I have good memories here, apart from when I got injured, but it was good to see some familiar faces. Sunderland fans have always been class and there are a lot of them so I've got nothing but good memories here."