If this was a test of Sunderland's ability to put together a positive run of results, then they failed it in spectacular style.
All the talk of the past week has been about transfers, but it's what happens on the pitch which matters most.
And while the squad needs improving, the players Chris Coleman sent out at Birmingham were by and large the same as those who had picked up a crucial 1-0 home win over Hull City.
Kazenga Lua Lua (Image: Sunderland AFC)
Billy Jones and John O'Shea missed out with injury and illness respectively, but Adam Matthews and Lamine Kone's return hardly weakened the Black Cats side.
The signs were ominous early on as the visitors largely dominated, but typically they waited until Sunderland began to get a foothold in the game before taking the lead, Davis getting in behind Jake Clarke-Salter in the right-hand channel and firing his shot past Robbin Ruiter.
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The second followed soon after through Boga, with Kone lying injured, and the hosts wrapped up the points early in the second half when Sam Gallagher made it 3-0.
Sunderland did pull one back through Bryan Oviedo - and could even have added a second from Aiden McGeady or Lee Cattermole, but it would have been ill-deserved.
Did anyone impress? Here are James Hunter's player ratings.
Time Line
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Another poor performance. Should have done better with the first goal, and was left in no-man’s land for the third
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Didn’t have the greatest game, but was still the best of Sunderland’s central-defensive trio
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No surprise he looked rusty after three months out. Won plenty of headers but was nowhere near mobile enough
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Struggled against a physical side, just as he did at Cardiff, and it was no surprise he was hooked early
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Could not handle Boga, who ran him ragged all night. Put in a couple of decent crosses at least
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Looked miles off the pace and Birmingham won the midfield battle hands-down
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Worked hard in central midfield but got nowhere
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Hit the post, scored a goal, and made one brilliant challenge to deny Maghoma a tap-in. The pick of a very poor punch
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A couple of decent touches but Sunderland barely got going as an attacking force
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No lack of effort but was outmuscled and made little impact up front
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Anonymous until late in the game, when he at least provided the assist for Oviedo
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For Maja 60mins. Showed some skills in his half-hour run-out but this was not a great day to make your debut
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For Clarke-Salter 65mins. Forced Stockdale into a save from a free-kick late on, and also set up the chance which saw Oviedo hit the post
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For Asoro 85mins. Little time to make his mark
NOT USED: Steele, Love, Williams, Galloway
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Stockdale 6, Colin 6, Roberts 6, Dean 6, Grounds 6, Maghoma 8 (Jota 61, 6), Ndoye 6, Kieftenbeld 6, Boga 8, Davis 7 (Adams 81, 6), Gallagher 7 (Jutkiewicz 85, 6). Subs not used: Trueman, Morrison, Lowe, Gardner