BIRMINGHAM sub Ivan Sunjic endured an FA Cup nightmare as he gave away a penalty and was sent off just 160 SECONDS after coming on.
The Croatian midfielder, 23, replaced Gary Gardner for the Blues with 58 minutes on the clock in their third-round clash against Blackburn.
Ivan Sunjic gave away a penalty and was sent off after tussling with Sam Gallagher in the FA Cup clash between Birmingham and Blackburn
Referee Oliver Langford showed the red card to Sunjic who had come on as a sub just two minutes earlier
But by the hour mark he was heading back for an early bath at St Andrew’s after a horror moment.
Sunjic dawdled on the ball deep in his own half and was dispossessed by Blackburn striker Sam Gallagher.
The pair tussled as they headed into the box before Gallagher went down.
Referee Oliver Langford immediately pointed to the spot and pulled the red card out of his back pocket.
Sunjic stayed down, clutching his shoulder for a few moments, before turning around to see he had been dismissed.
The sending off was the fastest any player has been sent off after coming off the bench in the FA Cup Proper since Jack Baldwin for Peterborough against Burton in November 2015 (129 secs).
Adam Armstrong took the spot kick and smashed it high into the back of the net to bring his side level.
Despite going down to ten men, though, Birmingham battled and booked their spot in the FA Cup fourth round.
Jeremie Bela came in off the right wing, waited and waited before his side-footed effort crept under Jason Leutwiler in the 90th minute to spare his team-mate’s blushes.
Sunjic signed for the Blues last summer on a five-year deal from Dinamo Zagreb and has played a key role sitting in midfield throughout the season.
The Croatian – who has one cap – will be suspended for Birmingham’s trip to Championship strugglers Luton on January 11.
The Birmingham Twitter account updated followers with the action as they lost a key player
When is the FA Cup 4th round draw? Live stream, start time and TV channel
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
