Man City v Sunderland Oct 2012

At last we saw some Championship form from City. Despite having to make 7 changes from the mid week game City overwhelmed Sunderland who had done so well against us last season. Joe Hart having been so busy against Borussia Dortmund had little to do and in the second half we really showed how well we could dominate and the margin of victory could well have been higher .Injuries to Kompany and Nastasic meant that Richards and Lescott formed an unlikely central defence and they did well - Richards on his return from injury could have had a hat-trick from corners with a bit of luck! The midfield was far better with Barry and Milner working really hard and linking well with the forwards. Yaya Toure is always better playing more forward and Silva was back to his best and was unlucky not to score when his shot hit the bar. The only problem remains Balotelli who apparently took umbrage at being subbed so early and flew off to Italy! I think it's time he departed and I would welcome a certain Falcao from Athletico in exchange! We saw little of Adam Johnson who was back for the first time since his transfer and Sunderland top scorer Fletcher was kept quiet
Fullbacks Zabaleta and Kolarov were excellent and the latter screed a great free kick and made the second goal for Aguero. Yes City - this was more like it.

City made 7 changes - Richards returning from injury. Tevez and Balotelli were up front and Milner and Barry were in midfield

Sunderland fans filled the bottom half of the away section

Adam Johnson did have some early sight of the ball but he was rarely in the game later on and was substituted

After just three minutes Kolarov was brought down by Cuellar who was booked for the offence

Kolarov took the free kick himself and smashed it past Mignolet's near post into the net

It was a great start for City to be ahead so early in the game

Johnson ducks as Kolarov clears

Lescott and Fletcher clash

On 20 minutes Yaya Toure puts a great ball through to Zabaleta whose close range effort is well saved by the keeper

Less than a minute later a Tevez shot goes just wide of the post. City well on top!

Three minutes later and Balotelli is fouled by Gardner but the free kick taken by Kolarov is blocked

A cross from Milner caused some problems for the Sunderland defence

Carlos Tevez tries a shot

Yaya Toure and O'Shea ( who did he used to play for)

City started the second half attacking and looking for that important second goal

Four minutes after the break Yaya Toure had a good effort well saved by Mignolet

From the corner it looked like Richards was going to score but his shot......

.....was headed off the line with the keeper beaten

Kolarov make a great late tackle on Johnson

Shortly afterwards Kolarov put in a great cross which was missed by Balotelli and he was substituted shortly after. He walked straight down the tunnel ignoring everybody!!

On 57 minutes Richards had a good header at a corner well saved by Mignolet

Two minutes later and Silva fed Kolarov and his great cross was hit first time into the net by Aguero who had just come on for Balotelli

It was a cracking goal and much deserved by City who had dominated the play

The North stand had much to cheer about

Another effort by Tevez goes just past the far post

Tevez just thwarted again

After 69 minutes Silva got the ball just outside the area and shot....

... his effort hit the bar and rebounded to safety

At the other end Joe Hart had some action to contend with -but this ended with a free kick to City

At yet another corner for City Richards had a third chance to score but Mignolet foiled him once more

Tevez just fails to make contact

Yaya Toure breaks into the box

... and it looked as though he was brought down but no foul was given

There was a much more pleasant exchange when Tevez was subbed with 5 minutes to go!

On 87 minutes Kolarov was brought down by Gardner who was booked

Milner took the free kick and cracked it past the keeper to make it three nil to City

It was a well deserved win and with luck could have been much more. Their keeper played a blinder