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Plays of the Day: Wheels falling off for Man City

Mario Balotelli wasn't the only man to argue with his team-mates on Saturday © PA Photos

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All going wrong for Man City
The alarm bells are truly ringing at the Etihad Stadium after Saturday's 3-3 draw with Sunderland. The flawless home record has gone, their star of the season David Silva was hauled off with the score at 3-1, and Mario Balotelli is becoming a bigger problem by the day. The Italian launched into a visible argument with Aleksandar Kolarov over the taking of a second-half free-kick, prompting Kolarov to push him away.

In the end Kolarov took the kick and sent his effort wide, while Balotelli netted two of City's three goals. Maybe Balotelli isn't the problem?

Something to get in a Paddy about
Patrick Vieira claimed earlier in the week that Manchester United get the rub of the green when it comes to penalty decisions... which is an interesting claim given that City were awarded their eighth of the season at home this season against Sunderland. That figure is more than any other team, and it's fair to say City were extremely lucky to get their spot-kick after Edin Dzeko seemingly fell without contact.

You could say Vieira's mind games worked... at least on referee Phil Dowd.

The luck of the Black Cats
Not since December 2010 had Manchester City trailed at half-time on their own patch in the Premier League. Who knew that two former Arsenal players, Nicklas Bendtner and Sebastian Larsson, would spoil that record?

Good things come to those who wait
How often does football stick to a very obvious script? Adel Taarabt, former Tottenham man, plays against Arsenal. Therefore Adel Taarabt, former Tottenham man, scores against Arsenal. The enigmatic QPR attacker had taken 68 previous shots at goal in the Premier League without scoring, but managed to end that run against the Gunners in QPR's 2-1 victory.

You literally could write it.

There was chaos in the Wolves defence against Bolton © PA Photos

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£50 million well spent
A total of 1035 minutes was how long Fernando Torres went without scoring a goal in the Premier League, but that spell finally ended in Chelsea's 4-2 win at Aston Villa. It was vintage Torres (if such a thing still exists), latching onto a slide-rule pass to slot beyond the keeper.

Coming of age
We all remember the prolific figure that was Derby County and Wolves "hero" Dean Sturridge, a relative goal machine in his day who could teach the likes of Torres and Didier Drogba a thing or two about the art of finishing.

Well, Dean's nephew Daniel is following in the same footsteps, carving out a career as a top-flight striker, and Saturday's goal at Aston Villa was the first time he has scored 10 league goals in a season.

Still, he can't claim to be better than his uncle until he plays for Harchester United.

Dream team
If you had to pick your Premier League dream team, you would have to have Clint Dempsey in your XI, wouldn't you? Only Wayne Rooney and Robin van Persie have scored more league goals in 2012, after Dempsey netted in Fulham's 2-1 win against Norwich. If Andy Carroll costs £35 million...

Anything Balotelli can do...
Manchester City's sulky Italian wasn't the only one to argue with his team-mates on Saturday, with Wolves' Roger Johnson picking his own fight with Wayne Hennessey. To be honest, Johnson really didn't show much of a backbone... if there's one man you might pick on it is probably Wolves' floppy-haired Westlife-styled goalkeeper.

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