EPL: Sunderland reduces Man City points

Manchester City were forced to come from
behind to earn a 2-2 draw against Sunderland
at the Etihad Stadium, but the result put a dent
in their title chances and left Gus Poyet's
Black Cats six points from safety.
Fernandinho's second-minute strike was
cancelled out by a second-half brace from
Connor Wickham, before Samir Nasri earned a
late draw for the hosts.
City made their presence felt from the off and
when Lee Cattermole was caught in
possession, the hosts pounced to take
advantage.
Sergio Aguero raced to the edge of the
Sunderland box, before a sliding a ball into the
path of Fernandinho, who fired into the roof of
Vito Mannone's goal.
Sunderland captain John O'Shea spurned two
headed chances and Fabio Borini shot wide of
the target having found space in the City box
as the visitors failed to seize their
opportunities to draw level.
Despite City dominating possession
throughout the second half, it was Sunderland
who snatched the second goal.
Emanuele Giaccherini broke down the left
before beating Joe Hart with his cross, leaving
Wickham to tap home from close range.
Wickham doubled his tally soon after
following a quick break from Borini, which left
the Sunderland striker to fire to the right of
Hart.
City responded with desperation and earned a
point when Nasri's shot from inside the box
was pushed into the corner of his own goal by
a flailing Mannone.
After playing their part to the full in Sunday's
thriller at Anfield, City looked content to settle
for a dour, low-scoring win: the Liverpool
match no doubt underlining that verve and
elan may win you admirers, but not the title.
When, however, Fernandinho fired them into
the lead after just one minute and 54 seconds
it seemed that had banished the pain of
Sunday, yet City never really built on that early
platform.
It was a well-worked goal too, though it owed
much to Cattermole's brain not having got
into gear. The Sunderland midfielder was
robbed by Alvaro Negredo who fed Aguero,
and when the return pass came the Spanish
striker stepped over the ball leaving
Fernandinho free to plant his shot past
Mannone at the near post.
The groans from the travelling Sunderland
fans were almost audible, and their frustration
grew as the visitors responded by forcing
chance after chance only to see them go
begging.
O'Shea was the leading culprit, putting two
clear headers wide, while Borini dragged his
shot wide of the far post when put through to
face Hart one-on-one.
Fernandinho attempted to redress the balance
for City but skied an equally-good opening
after Mannone had only managed to parry
Aguero's fierce strike.
Aleksandar Kolarov struck wide after a stirring
run down the left as the first half ended with
City looking to have fended off Sunderland's
best thrust, and Gus Poyet wondering what
might have been.
City's malaise continued in the second half as
Sunderland's performance continued to
impress.
Negredo and Aguero had half chances before
Pellegrini sent on Stevan Jovetic in place of
the Argentinian.
Jovetic looked impressive but could not add
to City's single goal and instead it was
Sunderland who made the breakthrough.
Poyet looked furious when Jack Colback failed
to capitalise on a one-on-one chance by Hart,
but that turned to delight when Emanuele
Giaccherini burst down the felt and floated a
beautiful cross for Wickham to thump home
with glee.
Edin Dzeko held his head after missing the
target, then came a dream moment for
Sunderland fans as Giaccherini broke from his
home half, delivered an excellent pass to
Wickham who did not break stride as he
buried his shot past Hart.
Humiliation was looming for City but in a
frenetic finish Nasri forced an equaliser - the
ball trickling agonisingly over the line after
Mannone had got his fingers to it.
The Frenchman could have won it at the death
too - but his shot went up in smoke and so
too did City's title hopes.