Phil Bardsley netted the only goal of
the game as Sunderland shocked
Manchester City to secure a surprise
1-0 win at the Stadium of Light.
On three previous occasions the hosts
had won this fixture by one goal, and that
proved to be the case again thanks to
Bardsley's 21st-minute strike.
Latching onto Wes Brown's clever through
ball, the full-back shrugged off James
Milner inside of the area before calmly
slotting past the onrushing Costel
Pantilimon, much to the delight of the
home crowd.
Best of the Match:
Man of the Match:
Wes Brown. Who would have known
the former Manchester United
defender was making his first Premier
League appearance in 22 months?
Without any signs of rustiness, he
remained formidable throughout and
put his body on the line on numerous
occasions. As good as a new signing.
Moment of the Match:
Phil Bardsley's first-half strike proved
to be the difference between the two
sides and what a well-taken goal it
was. The full-back stormed down the
left before Brown picked him out and
he duly applied the finish.
Save of the Match:
Vito Mannone was superb between
the sticks for Sunderland, commanding
his game confidently all game. He did
well to deny Dzeko, but the pick of his
saves came when he thwarted Aguero,
flying across his line to tip the striker's
effort wide.
Talking point:
City just cannot seem to get it right
away from home. It is now three
defeats from their last four Premier
League games on the road and if they
are to mount a title challenge, that is
something they will need to address.
City came close to equalising via the in-
form Sergio Aguero when he headed wide
from Aleksandr Kolarov's first-time cross,
but Manuel Pellegrini's side endured a
majorly frustrating first-half with clear-cut
chances limited.
Jesus Navas was introduced for the
second-half and the winger almost made
an immediate impact when his goal-
bound effort was blocked on the line by
Ki Sun-Yeung.
Aguero and substitute Edin Dzeko both
tested Vito Mannone as the visitors piled
on the pressure, but Sunderland held on
to secure Gus Poyet's third win since
taking charge.
For Pellegrini's men, it was a fourth
defeat in six league outings away from
the Etihad Stadium this summer, and a
return of just four points from a possible
18 on the road is severely hampering
their title chances.
They arrived at the Stadium of Light
having scored 14 goals in their past three
games in all competitions, but as
Sunderland defended as if their lives
depended on it, they were unable to find
a way past Vito Mannone.
It was just a second league victory of the
season for the home side, and it served
to boost their survival hopes and once
again justify manager Poyet's approach in
front of a crowd of 40,137.
The visitors started positively and
Bardsley had to make an important
header to deny Alvaro Negredo a
seventh-minute header at goal from
Kolarov's cross, and Mannone plucked
James Milner's long-range drive out of the
air seconds later.
However, the home side might have gone
ahead when Sebastian Larsson picked out
lone striker Fletcher with an inviting
right-wing cross, but the Scotland
international mistimed his header and
sent it well wide.
Larsson was perhaps fortunate to escape
further punishment for a late challenge on
Javi Garcia, and the City man's mood was
not improved when Mr Dean cautioned
him for a later challenge on Fletcher. But
by that point, the Black Cats were ahead.
Wes Brown, starting his first Barclays
Premier League game since January 21,
floated the ball over the top for Bardsley
to shake off Milner before cutting inside
and curling a shot across Pantilimon, once
again preferred to England international
Joe Hart.
City's response was tepid and Sunderland
created a series of half-chances to
increase their lead, although Ki Sung-
yueng overhit a through-ball to the
unmarked Fletcher and defender Martin
Demichelis got to Emanuele Giaccherini's
36th-minute cross marginally ahead of
the Scot.
But Mannone did not have any further
saves of note to make as Poyet's 4-1-4-1
formation and instructions to keep
possession paid off handsomely.
Navas might have equalised within five
minutes of his arrival when Aguero out-
paced John O'Shea and pulled the ball
back to him, but Bardsley made a vital
block.
The Spain international steered a 54th-
minute cross along Mannone's goal, but it
was Ki who came closest at the other end
four minutes later when he blasted a
right-foot shot just wide.
The goalkeeper then had to palm away
Aguero's dipping effort three minutes
later and as time ran down, Pellegrini
replaced Negredo with Dzeko and
Richards with Pablo Zabaleta.
Dzeko almost did the trick within seconds
when he forced a flying save from
Mannone with Aguero unable to make
the most of the rebound.
Poyet's men were forced to weather a
relentless assault as the final whistle
approach, but with Brown marshalling his
forces outstandingly at the back there was
simply no way through for City.
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