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Sunderland scored three second-half goals to defeat Championship side Birmingham City and move into the third round of the Capital One Cup.

David Cotterill hit the post and Wes Thomas fired an effort wide as Blues came close to taking a first-half lead.

But their opponents took control late on as Jordi Gomez scored from 25 yards following Adam Johnson's square pass.

Johnson doubled the lead after good work from Jozy Altidore, before Connor Wickham's angled effort sealed the win.

Gus Poyet's team will now play fellow Premier League side Stoke City at home in the third round of the League Cup.

Sunderland have never won the competition, but lost in the 2013-14 final, when they were beaten 3-1 by Manchester City at Wembley.

Birmingham manager Lee Clark:

"I'm not speaking about the officials, I'd rather spend my hard-earned money on something else rather than a fine. I am going to go through the right channels, I will have some footage for them.

"It's not a true reflection of the game. We played well, the scoreline does not do my players justice. After the first goal the players started chasing the equaliser and Premier League players will pick you off.

"We were more than a match for a very good team."

Sunderland manager Gus Poyet:

"It was a strange game, it was a poor first half but somehow we got to half-time 0-0 but the second half was different.

"The same group of players got something at half-time and the first goal was key.

"It's not going to be perfect all the time, after we scored it was the best we have played this season. We played rubbish for 45 minutes but we finished the game on a high. It's the way the Cup goes."