Sunderland will go into the international break inside the top six in the EFL Championship on the back of a second successive 3-1 victory at the Stadium of Light.
Fresh from a home success over Norwich and an away draw at Swansea, the Black Cats hit the front early on against Wayne Rooney s Birmingham City with Jobe Bellingham netting against his former club.
Bellingham came close to a second before Birmingham drew level, with Koji Miyoshi turning in a cross from Jay Stansfield on the half hour to make it 1-1.
Dion Sanderson put through his own goal shortly before the hour mark to put Sunderland back in front and despite Birmingham s best efforts to try and draw level for a second time, it was the home side who instead wrapped up the win with a quarter of an hour to go.
Shortly after coming on the bench, Adil Aouchiche was on hand to turn in a cross from Jack Clarke to secure all three points.
An eighth league win of the campaign means Sunderland have reclaimed a top six placing going into the international break, with the next game coming against fellow Vertu Motors-backed side Plymouth on 25 November.