Manchester City 4-1 Sunderland: Black Cats Hammered Again

Sunderland lost at the Etihad as goals from Sterling, Toure, Bony and De Bruyne ensured Sunderland stay five points adrift of safety as their Premier League status continues to look in doubt.

City broke the deadlock on 13 minutes after Sterling nodded home at the back post. De Bruyne was allowed far too much time to cross as Van Aanholt just jogged out to him and Sterling out jumped Billy Jones to head home.

City predictably doubled their lead soon after through Yaya Toure on 17 minutes. Gomez kept backing off Toure allowing the Ivorian to shoot from the edge of the box into the bottom corner. Yet again the Black Cats keep conceding goals from schoolboy defending.

Sunderland should have pulled a goal back on 20 minutes when Borini’s cross found Graham but the striker powered his free header just over the bar.

It was getting embarrassing for Sunderland now as no player seemed to care about defending as City went three nil up on 22 minutes. A De Bruyne free kick was met by the head of Bony who found the bottom corner.

Sunderland worked a free kick well on 35 minutes as Van Aanholt played Borini in on goal but his shot was kept out at the near post.

It was nearly four nil three minutes after the break as the Sunderland defence watched City thread the ball through them, setting up Silva who was only denied by the fingertips of Mannone.

It was four nil on 53 minutes after De Bruyne’s pass to Bony was cut out by Jones only to fall straight back to De Bruyne who slid the ball past Mannone.

Sunderland got a goal back on 59 minutes after Borini stabbed home at the second attempt. Cattermole played the ball back into the box where he found Borini who saw his initial effort saved but he was able to score the rebound.

City missed the chance to score a fifth on 68 minutes as Bony shot high and wide from the spot. Coates lazily brought down Silva on the edge of the box and the referee pointed to the spot but Bony missed the target.

The game petered out towards the end as City knocked the ball around content with the four goals as Sunderland look like they’re getting worse every game. Even the most optimistic Sunderland fan has to be thinking the worst now as Sunderland’s position looks precarious.

Manchester City (4-2-3-1): Hart, Sagna, Otamendi (Kompany 62’(Demichelis 71’)), Mangala, Kolarov, Fernandinho, Toure (C) (Delph 62’), De Bruyne, Silva, Sterling, Bony.

Subs: Caballero, Kompany, Clichy, Demichelis, Navas, Delph, Aguero.

Goals: Sterling (13’) Toure (17’) Bony (22’) De Bruyne (53’)

Sunderland (4-3-3): Mannone, Jones, O’Shea (C), Coates, Van Aanholt, M’Vila (Cattermole 56’), Gomez, Johnson, Borini, Graham, Fletcher (Lens 62’).

Subs: Pantilimon, Brown, Cattermole, Lens, Defoe, Toivonen, Watmore.

Goals: Borini (59’)