SUNDERLAND 0, MANCHESTER CITY 2
- Jermain Defoe hits the woodwork for Sunderland
- Goals by Sergio Aguero and Leroy Sane
- Goals by David Silva and Defoe disallowed for offside
Manchester City eased to a 2-0 win at Sunderland, their fourth win in a row in the Premier League – without ever needing to hit top gear as they went back to third place in the table – eight points behind leaders Chelsea.
Goals by Sergio Aguero and Leroy Sane either side of half time saw off a dogged Black Cats side who pressed City in packs until their resistance was broken just before half time by Aguero’s goal.
Pep Guardiola opted for five changes to the side that thrashed Huddersfield Town in the FA Cup replay last Wednesday, with Willy Caballero, Bacary Sagna, Alexandar Kolarov, David Silva and Yaya Toure replacing Claudio Bravo, Pablo Zabaleta, Nicolas Otamendi, Kevin De Bruyne and Aleix Garcia.
Both sides had goals ruled out for offside during the game but Sunderland could have taken an early lead against City as a reward for frustrating Pep Guardiola’s side during the first half at the Stadium of Light.
City had found themselves frustrated by the Black Cats who could have taken a 19th minute lead after Jermain Defoe’s long shot not come back off the post with the rebound headed wide by Fabio Borini.
Billy Jones tested Caballero with a header from Adnan Januzaj’s corner and also headed wide during some shaky moments for City.
Those were arguably Sunderland’s best chances of the game, and they came to regret not taking advantage of City’s slow start.
The City goal, when it came, was provided by Raheem Sterling who was released by Yaya Toure after he rescued some poor distribution by Willy Caballero in the 42nd minute.
Sterling’s cross took a deflection but the Argentine striker gambled and found himself in the right spot to lift the ball over Jordan Pickford.
It was Aguero’s 23rd strike of the season, his fifth goal in three games, his 50th league goal at away grounds, and yet another ripost to the doomsayers who claimed he wasn’t doing enough to contribute to the team effort after stats suggested he had beaten his own record for sprints (81) and distance covered (10.5km) in a Premier League game.
Once the Sunderland defence had been breached it was just a matter of time before City extended their lead although David Silva thought he had doubled the lead just before half time but his goal was ruled out with Sterling adjudged to have interfered with play from an offside position.
David Silva wins the second half midfield battle
City won the midfield battle in the second half with Silva handed plenty of time and space to pick his passes against the demoralised Black Cats with a deadly front three to aim at.
One such pass, in the 59th minute, didn’t require Leroy Sane to break his stride and his shot was lashed in off the inside of the post from nine yards out.
It was the German’s 6th City goal from just eight shots on target, and seemingly the start of a long evacuation of the Stadium of Light by hundreds of disgruntled Sunderland fans who subsequently missed Caballero saves from Lamine Kone and Seb Larsson and an offside goal by Defoe after City stepped up.
It was a sign that City, despite their continuing weakness from set pieces, appear to be improving in defensive situations and they earned their fifth clean sheet in a row away from home in all competitions for the first time ever.
Sunderland’s young goalkeeper Jordan Pickford, who has been linked to City, did his best to keep the score down with a couple of late saves from Aguero but the result was never in doubt after City had scored.
A home win against Stoke this Wednesday would bring City back into second place, still some distance behind league leaders Chelsea but in the best place to challenge for the title should the Blues slip up.