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Match Report

Barclays Premier League

Wednesday, 3 December 2014,

Sunderland
1
-
Full Time
Live
-
4
Man City
  • Kickoff: 20:45 BST
  • Stadium: Stadium of Light
  • Referee: -
  • Stadium: Stadium of Light
  • Attendance: 41,152
  • 19' Connor Wickham
  • 21' Sergio Agüero
  • 39' Stevan Jovetic
  • 55' Pablo Zabaleta
  • 71' Sergio Agüero

Sunderland

Half time

Full time

Manchester City

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Poyet targets another major scalp

Sunderland boss Gus Poyet is convinced his side's mental strength can help them claim another major scalp when Manchester City visit the Stadium of Light on Wednesday night.

The Black Cats' big-time heroics played a huge part in last season's unlikely march to survival and Saturday's gutsy goalless draw with Chelsea once again underlined their preference for the big occasion.

Add in a recent record against City which has seen Sunderland win all four of their previous clashes on Wearside 1-0, and it is no surprise the Uruguayan is in bullish mood as his side look to stretch their unbeaten run to five games.

Poyet said: "There is a mentality sometimes that when you play against the top teams, before you start the game you accept that if you lose nothing will happen.

"I don't think that's right - I don't think you are playing to the maximum if you accept that before the game. I think you have to be clear that it is going to be more difficult, but you will have a chance.

"On those terms the players have been exceptional because we stayed up last year because of that, and we showed last Saturday we can do it and we can try to stop the other teams doing what they like."

Poyet is under no illusions about the size of his side's task against a City side who sprang back to form with a 3-0 win at Southampton on Sunday, but who the manager believes remain second best to Jose Mourinho's men.

He added: "I think Chelsea right now look stronger in every aspect of their game but it's a long season and when you play in so many competitions it becomes very difficult to stay in all of them.

"They have got quality everywhere - they are one of the top clubs in the world and we have got to deal with that. But that's why we fought so hard last year to be here."

Sunderland's recent upturn in fortunes has coincided with the promotion of goalkeeper Costel Pantilimon, who moved to Wearside on a free transfer from City in the summer.

Pantilimon pushed City's regular number one Joe Hart to the limit last season and since replacing former number one Vito Mannone he has excelled with two consecutive clean sheets.

Poyet said: "I think Costel had a great season last season over there - he proved he can play at that level so we are lucky to have him here.

"We've got two great goalkeepers and he knows he needs to perform or the manager won't hesitate to change him.

"He's come in and got clean sheets with the help of the rest of the players and let's hope he can maintain that level."

Poyet has no new injury concerns but may be tempted to freshen up his starting line-up with defender Sebastian Coates and midfielder Ricky Alvarez among those pushing to be included.

City manager Manuel Pellegrini is short of defensive options following the loss of Vincent Kompany to injury.

City's influential captain suffered a hamstring problem in the latter stages of the win at Southampton on Sunday and will not feature at the Stadium of Light.

That means Pellegrini will now have to field a different centre-back pairing as Eliaquim Mangala is suspended after his sending-off at St Mary's.

Right-back Bacary Sagna could therefore be pressed into action in the centre or fringe player Dedryck Boyata could be drafted in alongside Martin Demichelis.

Pellegrini said: "We have Dedryck Boyata, he is working very well, we have also Martin Demichelis, we have Bacary Sagna. So we have three options. We will see which two of them will play."

Matija Nastasic, who has been out of favour this season, might have been a possibility but Pellegrini revealed that he too is currently crocked.

The Chilean said: "Unfortunately for him, he is again injured. He has had two long injuries this season. He has a muscle injury in his thigh.

"I don't know if he will be able to work with the squad for one week more so he is not an option."

91'+3

Second Half ends, Sunderland 1, Manchester City 4.

91'+2

Attempt missed. James Milner (Manchester City) left footed shot from the left side of the box misses to the right. Assisted by Gaël Clichy.

91'+2

Gaël Clichy (Manchester City) Assists Shot at 93'

91'+1

Pablo Zabaleta (Manchester City) Throw In at 92'

91'

Attempt missed. Frank Lampard (Manchester City) right footed shot from outside the box is too high. Assisted by Gaël Clichy.

91'

Gaël Clichy (Manchester City) Assists Shot at 91'

89'

Lee Cattermole (Sunderland) Free Kick at 89'

89'

Jack Rodwell (Sunderland) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

89'

Gaël Clichy (Manchester City) Assists Shot at 89'

89'

Attempt missed. Jesús Navas (Manchester City) right footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the right. Assisted by Gaël Clichy.

87'

Santiago Vergini (Sunderland) Throw In at 87'

86'

Pablo Zabaleta (Manchester City) Throw In at 86'

85'

Anthony Reveillere (Sunderland) Throw In at 85'

84'

Santiago Vergini (Sunderland) Free Kick at 84'

84'

Santiago Vergini (Sunderland) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

83'

Santiago Vergini (Sunderland) Throw In at 83'

83'

Santiago Vergini (Sunderland) Throw In at 83'

83'

Substitution, Manchester City. Jose Pozo replaces Samir Nasri.

80'

Attempt blocked. Sebastián Coates (Sunderland) header from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Sebastian Larsson with a cross.

80'

Sebastian Larsson (Sunderland) Assists Shot at 80'

79'

Jozy Altidore (Sunderland) Corner Kick at 79'

79'

Corner, Sunderland. Conceded by Dedryck Boyata.

78'

Pablo Zabaleta (Manchester City) Throw In at 78'

76'

Anthony Reveillere (Sunderland) Throw In at 76'

76'

Jesús Navas (Manchester City) Blocked Pass at 76'

75'

Pablo Zabaleta (Manchester City) Throw In at 75'

74'

Dedryck Boyata (Manchester City) Free Kick at 74'

74'

Substitution, Manchester City. Frank Lampard replaces Sergio Agüero.

73'

Foul by Jozy Altidore (Sunderland).

71'

1 - 4

Goal! Sunderland 1, Manchester City 4. Sergio Agüero (Manchester City) right footed shot from the centre of the box to the bottom right corner. Assisted by James Milner.

71'

James Milner (Manchester City) Assists Shot at 71'

71'

Yaya Touré (Manchester City) Free Kick at 71'

71'

Lee Cattermole

70'

Jesús Navas (Manchester City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

67'

Santiago Vergini (Sunderland) Throw In at 67'

67'

Anthony Reveillere (Sunderland) Throw In at 67'

67'

Substitution, Sunderland. Ricardo Álvarez replaces Connor Wickham.

66'

Attempt blocked. Sebastian Larsson (Sunderland) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.

65'

Dedryck Boyata

65'

Foul by Dedryck Boyata (Manchester City).

64'

Sebastian Larsson (Sunderland) Free Kick at 64'

64'

Sebastián Coates (Sunderland) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

64'

Anthony Reveillere (Sunderland) Throw In at 64'

63'

Pablo Zabaleta (Manchester City) Blocked Pass at 63'

63'

Santiago Vergini (Sunderland) Throw In at 63'

62'

Gaël Clichy (Manchester City) Free Kick at 62'

62'

Jesús Navas (Manchester City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

61'

Pablo Zabaleta (Manchester City) Throw In at 61'

59'

Anthony Reveillere (Sunderland) Throw In at 59'

58'

Attempt missed. Jack Rodwell (Sunderland) left footed shot from outside the box misses to the right. Assisted by Anthony Réveillere.

58'

Anthony Reveillere (Sunderland) Assists Shot at 58'

58'

Anthony Reveillere (Sunderland) Throw In at 58'

57'

John O'Shea (Sunderland) Free Kick at 57'

56'

Offside, Manchester City. Yaya Touré tries a through ball, but Sergio Agüero is caught offside.

56'

Santiago Vergini (Sunderland) Throw In at 56'

56'

Substitution, Manchester City. James Milner replaces Stevan Jovetic because of an injury.

55'

Substitution, Sunderland. Jozy Altidore replaces Steven Fletcher because of an injury.

55'

1 - 3

Goal! Sunderland 1, Manchester City 3. Pablo Zabaleta (Manchester City) right footed shot from the right side of the six yard box to the bottom left corner. Assisted by Samir Nasri with a through ball.

55'

Samir Nasri (Manchester City) Assists Shot at 55'

54'

Attempt blocked. Stevan Jovetic (Manchester City) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Yaya Touré.

54'

Yaya Touré (Manchester City) Assists Shot at 54'

53'

Anthony Reveillere (Sunderland) Throw In at 53'

52'

Anthony Reveillere (Sunderland) Free Kick at 52'

50'

Steven Fletcher (Sunderland) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

48'

Attempt missed. Yaya Touré (Manchester City) right footed shot from outside the box is too high. Assisted by Samir Nasri.

48'

Samir Nasri (Manchester City) Assists Shot at 48'

47'

Pablo Zabaleta (Manchester City) Throw In at 47'

46'

Attempt saved. Sebastian Larsson (Sunderland) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the top centre of the goal.

46'

Start 2nd Half

46'+2

First Half ends, Sunderland 1, Manchester City 2.

46'+1

Gaël Clichy (Manchester City) Throw In at 47'

46'+1

Sebastian Larsson (Sunderland) Throw In at 47'

46'+1

Gaël Clichy (Manchester City) Blocked Pass at 47'

46'+1

Santiago Vergini (Sunderland) Throw In at 47'

46'

Attempt blocked. Jack Rodwell (Sunderland) header from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Sebastian Larsson with a cross.

46'

Sebastian Larsson (Sunderland) Assists Shot at 46'

46'

Lee Cattermole (Sunderland) Corner Kick at 46'

46'

Corner, Sunderland. Conceded by Stevan Jovetic.

42'

Attempt missed. Sergio Agüero (Manchester City) right footed shot from the right side of the box misses to the left. Assisted by Stevan Jovetic.

42'

Stevan Jovetic (Manchester City) Assists Shot at 42'

41'

Santiago Vergini (Sunderland) Throw In at 41'

41'

Attempt missed. Gaël Clichy (Manchester City) header from the centre of the box misses to the left. Assisted by Jesús Navas with a cross.

41'

Jesús Navas (Manchester City) Assists Shot at 41'

39'

1 - 2

Goal! Sunderland 1, Manchester City 2. Stevan Jovetic (Manchester City) left footed shot from the centre of the box to the centre of the goal. Assisted by Sergio Agüero.

39'

Sergio Agüero (Manchester City) Assists Shot at 39'

37'

Pablo Zabaleta (Manchester City) Throw In at 37'

36'

Costel Pantilimon (Sunderland) Free Kick at 36'

36'

Steven Fletcher (Sunderland) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

36'

Anthony Reveillere (Sunderland) Throw In at 36'

35'

Pablo Zabaleta (Manchester City) Throw In at 35'

35'

Fernandinho (Manchester City) Free Kick at 35'

34'

Foul by Steven Fletcher (Sunderland).

34'

Anthony Reveillere (Sunderland) Throw In at 34'

33'

Attempt missed. Sergio Agüero (Manchester City) right footed shot from the right side of the box misses to the left. Assisted by Jesús Navas.

33'

Jesús Navas (Manchester City) Assists Shot at 33'

32'

Yaya Touré (Manchester City) Free Kick at 32'

32'

Stevan Jovetic (Manchester City) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

31'

Santiago Vergini (Sunderland) Throw In at 31'

29'

Pablo Zabaleta (Manchester City) Throw In at 29'

28'

Pablo Zabaleta (Manchester City) Throw In at 28'

26'

Attempt missed. Samir Nasri (Manchester City) right footed shot from outside the box is too high. Assisted by Yaya Touré.

26'

Yaya Touré (Manchester City) Assists Shot at 26'

26'

Lee Cattermole (Sunderland) Blocked Pass at 26'

25'

Fernandinho (Manchester City) Free Kick at 25'

25'

Stevan Jovetic (Manchester City) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

24'

Attempt missed. Jesús Navas (Manchester City) right footed shot from the right side of the box misses to the left. Assisted by Samir Nasri.

24'

Samir Nasri (Manchester City) Assists Shot at 24'

23'

Anthony Reveillere (Sunderland) Blocked Pass at 23'

21'

1 - 1

Goal! Sunderland 1, Manchester City 1. Sergio Agüero (Manchester City) right footed shot from the right side of the box to the bottom right corner. Assisted by Stevan Jovetic.

21'

Stevan Jovetic (Manchester City) Assists Shot at 21'

19'

1 - 0

Goal! Sunderland 1, Manchester City 0. Connor Wickham (Sunderland) right footed shot from the centre of the box to the bottom right corner.

19'

Anthony Reveillere (Sunderland) Throw In at 19'

18'

Costel Pantilimon (Sunderland) Free Kick at 18'

17'

Foul by Stevan Jovetic (Manchester City).

15'

Fernandinho (Manchester City) Free Kick at 15'

15'

Sergio Agüero (Manchester City) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

15'

Dedryck Boyata (Manchester City) Blocked Pass at 14'

14'

Attempt missed. Sergio Agüero (Manchester City) left footed shot from outside the box is too high. Assisted by Jesús Navas.

14'

Jesús Navas (Manchester City) Assists Shot at 14'

14'

Sergio Agüero (Manchester City) Blocked Pass at 14'

14'

Gaël Clichy (Manchester City) Throw In at 13'

13'

Santiago Vergini (Sunderland) Throw In at 13'

13'

Gaël Clichy (Manchester City) Blocked Pass at 13'

13'

Joe Hart (Manchester City) Free Kick at 12'

12'

Offside, Sunderland. Sebastian Larsson tries a through ball, but William Buckley is caught offside.

11'

Santiago Vergini (Sunderland) Throw In at 11'

11'

Stevan Jovetic (Manchester City) Blocked Pass at 11'

11'

Anthony Reveillere (Sunderland) Throw In at 11'

10'

Fernandinho (Manchester City) Blocked Pass at 10'

9'

Santiago Vergini (Sunderland) Throw In at 9'

9'

Anthony Reveillere (Sunderland) Throw In at 9'

8'

Santiago Vergini (Sunderland) Throw In at 8'

8'

Fernandinho (Manchester City) Blocked Pass at 8'

7'

Samir Nasri (Manchester City) Free Kick at 7'

7'

Stevan Jovetic (Manchester City) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

7'

Gaël Clichy (Manchester City) Throw In at 7'

7'

Santiago Vergini (Sunderland) Throw In at 7'

6'

Attempt blocked. Jack Rodwell (Sunderland) left footed shot from the left side of the box is blocked.

6'

Attempt blocked. Jack Rodwell (Sunderland) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by William Buckley.

6'

William Buckley (Sunderland) Assists Shot at 6'

4'

Sebastian Larsson (Sunderland) Blocked Pass at 4'

4'

Samir Nasri (Manchester City) Free Kick at 4'

4'

Sergio Agüero (Manchester City) wins a free kick on the right wing.

3'

Pablo Zabaleta (Manchester City) Throw In at 3'

2'

Santiago Vergini (Sunderland) Throw In at 2'

2'

Sebastian Larsson (Sunderland) Free Kick at 2'

1'

William Buckley (Sunderland) wins a free kick on the left wing.

1'

Kickoff

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Possession

35%
65%
  • Sunderland
  • Manchester City

Shots

8
15

Shots on target

2
4

Fouls

9
8

Corners

2
0

Yellow Cards

1
1

Red Cards

0
0

Head to Head

Sunderland1 - 4Man City
Man City2 - 2Sunderland
Man City3 - 1Sunderland
Sunderland1 - 0Man City
Sunderland1 - 0Man City
Man City3 - 0Sunderland

Sunderland

  • 1Costel Pantilimon
  • 15Anthony Reveillere
  • 27Santiago Vergini
  • 16John O'Shea
  • 22Sebastián Coates
  • 10Connor Wickham
  • -> Ricardo Álvarez
  • 30William Buckley
  • 9Steven Fletcher
  • -> Jozy Altidore
  • 7Sebastian Larsson
  • 8Jack Rodwell
  • 6Lee Cattermole
  • Subs
  • 12Cabral
  • 4Liam Bridcutt
  • 14Jordi Gómez
  • 25Vito Mannone
  • 5Wes Brown

Man City

  • 1Joe Hart
  • 5Pablo Zabaleta
  • 38Dedryck Boyata
  • 22Gaël Clichy
  • 26Martín Demichelis
  • 15Jesús Navas
  • 35Stevan Jovetic
  • -> James Milner
  • 16Sergio Agüero
  • -> Frank Lampard
  • 8Samir Nasri
  • -> Jose Pozos
  • 42Yaya Touré
  • 25Fernandinho
  • Subs
  • 69Jose Angel Esmoris Tasende
  • 13Wilfredo Caballero
  • 3Bacary Sagna
  • 6Fernando

Aguero at the double in City romp

Sergio Aguero turned on the magic once more as Manchester City maintained the pressure on Barclays Premier League leaders Chelsea by cruising to a 4-1 win over Sunderland at the Stadium of Light.

Aguero rammed home his 18th goal of the season two minutes after Connor Wickham had given the hosts a shock early lead and scored again with 19 minutes remaining as City turned on the style to shatter a four-year hoodoo against the Black Cats.

City had been downed by Sunderland 1-0 in each of their four previous league visits to the north-east and a repeat performance might have been on the cards when Wickham got a fortunate deflection off Pablo Zabaleta's attempted clearance to put his side in front.

But Aguero quickly equalised, then played a delightful flick for Stevan Jovetic to put his side in front before the break - before second half strikes from Zabaleta and Aguero completed an impressive victory.

City looked like they meant business from the start with Jesus Navas sending in a cross which eluded Aguero's outstretched boot by inches with less than four minutes on the clock.

But utterly unfazed, the hosts sprang back within a minute when the recalled Will Buckley galloped into space on the right flank and crossed for former City man Jack Rodwell, who should have done better with two attempts which were both blocked by Zabaleta in the City box.

Sunderland grabbed a shock lead in the 19th minute when Sebastian Larsson threaded the ball towards Wickham. Despite Zabaleta getting his foot on the ball first, he could only deflect it into the net off the England Under-21 striker's foot.

But the lead lasted all of two minutes and Aguero's equaliser was as clinical as any of his previous 17 other goals this season as he ghosted past Black Cats debutant Sebastian Coates before lashing a rising effort past helpless home goalkeeper Costel Pantilimon.

Clearly becalmed after their early scare, the visitors turned down the pace and dominated the midfield for long periods before one more moment of Aguero brilliance gave them the lead six minutes from half-time.

Fed by an incisive through-ball from Toure on the edge of the box, Aguero played a neat flick into the path of Jovetic - who gratefully drilled his side's second under Pantilimon from close range.

Sunderland were struggling to create much in the City half but they still came close in first half injury time when a Larsson corner found the head of Rodwell and in the resulting melee the hosts had a penalty shout for handball against Fernandinho turned down.

City were in cruise control at the start of the first half, and after 10 minutes in which they passed the ball with aplomb and barely let the home side have a touch of it, they extended their lead with another well-worked goal in the 55th minute.

Samir Nasi picked up a short pass in the right side of the Sunderland box and fed Zabaleta, who produced a deft little chip to defy the onrushing John O'Shea and beat Pantilimon to put City 3-1 up.

Sunderland's problems had intensified in the run-up to the goal when Fletcher looked to have sustained a problem with his lower back and was replaced by Jozy Altidore for the restart.

As City sat back the hosts were given more of an opportunity to string together some moves but they consistently foundered in the final third as the City rearguard, which had shown signs of weakness in the early stages, casually mopped up the pressure.

And Aguero wrapped up a sensational individual performance in the 71st minute when he was picked out by City substitute James Milner and turned a deft shot past the helpless Pantilimon to complete the scoring.




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