Gent 2 - 1 Sunderland

	Reid: That sinking feeling (AdamDavy/Empics)

Chants of 'Reid out' reverberated around the Jules Otten Stadium as the English Premiership side saw their unbeaten run in Belgium ended.

Striker Kevin Phillips passed a late fitness test on a groin injury to take his place in the starting line-up and there was also room for Republic of Ireland's Kevin Kilbane, starting his first game since returning from the World Cup.

But his return lasted only until the 53rd minute when he was quickly substituted by Reid after making a gesture at the travelling supporters, who jeered him when he put in a poor cross.

Sunderland started brightly and Thomas Butler was unlucky not to put them ahead when he struck the bar in the sixth minute and Phillips, out to impress England manager Sven-Goran Eriksson who was watching the game, came close in the 12th minute.

But it was the home side who got the early breakthrough in the 23rd minute thanks to an error by goalkeeper Thomas Myhre.

The Norwegian, making his Black Cats debut, came out to block Nasredine Kraouche's but Djima Oyawole beat him to the ball to head it home to give Gent a slender 1-0 half-time lead.

Butler wasted no time in the second half, shooting at Frederic Herpoel from outside the box.

But following the substitution of Kilbane and the introduction of Kevin Kyle for Phillips on the hour, not to mention a delay when Sunderland fans ran onto the pitch, it was the home side who scored, this time Patrick Dimbala finding the target.