England - Premier League
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Played
December 26, 2012 3:00 PM GMT
Stadium of Light — Sunderland
Referee:‬ K. Friend‎
Attendance:‬ 42190‎
 
53′ Adam Johnson
 

Sunderland - Manchester City Preview: Roberto Mancini's side look to end three-game winless run on Wearside

The Black Cats are hoping to improve on their dismal Boxing Day form against the Premier League champions who have the best away record in the top flight this season

By Simon Sinclair

More On :  Manchester City FC, Sunderland, Sunderland vs Manchester City FC
EPL, Manchester City v Newcastle United, Sergio Aguero,
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SUNDERLAND

Mignolet
Gardner, O'Shea, Cuellar, Rose
Johnson, Colback, Larsson, McClean
Sessegnon
Fletcher
MANCHESTER CITY

Hart
Zabaleta, Kompany, Nastasic, Clichy
Barry, Garcia
Silva, Toure, Tevez
Aguero

Sunderland boss Martin O’Neill may stick with the same side that beat Southampton 1-0 on Saturday. The 60-year-old has no new injury worries ahead of the visit of the Premier League champions as only long-term absentees Wes Brown and Lee Cattermole (both knee) are out.

Phil Bardsley may be brought back into the team with Adam Johnson (ankle) facing a late fitness test which would allow Craig Gardner to move back into midfield and Sebastian Larsson to start out wide.

Manchester City could be boosted by the return of captain Vincent Kompany (groin) for the trip to the Stadium Light. The defender has spent the past two games on the sidelines but is expected to be fit to face the Black Cats.

Mario Balotelli may also come into contention after recovering from an illness while Aleksander Kolarov and Gael Clichy are expected to overcome the knocks which kept them out of the clash against Reading, with the Frenchman set to start. Samir Nasri (groin), Jack Rodwell (hamstring) and Micah Richards (knee) will all miss out. 


  DID YOU KNOW?

  • Sunderland have won just one of their last eight games played on Boxing Day, drawing four times and losing three.

  • Manchester City have not won at the Stadium of Light since the 2008-09 season. In their last three trips to Wearside they have lost twice and drawn once.

  • The Black Cats were the only team that City did not beat last season when they won the Premier League title.

  • Steven Fletcher (pictured right) has opened the scoring six matches this season, which is more than any other player in the Premier League.

  • Martin O’Neill’s side have won just twice at home this season against Wigan and Reading.

  • Roberto Mancini’s men are unbeaten in their eight games away from the Etihad Stadium this campaign, the only team in the Premier League still to be so.

  • In the 14 games in which Carlos Tevez and Sergio Aguero have started together City have won every match.

  • Mancini’s side have scored 21 goals in the last 30 minutes of matches this season and have scored 11 in the last 15.

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Field Report
Reader's Predictions
Top 3 Predictions
  • Sunderland 1-3 Manchester City FC
    15.02 %
  • Sunderland 0-2 Manchester City FC
    10.91 %
  • Sunderland 0-3 Manchester City FC
    9.84 %
Head to Head
England - Premier League ‎(EPL)‎ Dec 26, 2012 Sunderland 1 - Manchester City FC 0
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England - Premier League ‎(EPL)‎ Oct 6, 2012 Manchester City FC 3 - Sunderland 0
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England - Premier League ‎(EPL)‎ Mar 31, 2012 Manchester City FC 3 - Sunderland 3
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England - Premier League ‎(EPL)‎ Jan 1, 2012 Sunderland 1 - Manchester City FC 0
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England - Premier League ‎(EPL)‎ Apr 3, 2011 Manchester City FC 5 - Sunderland 0
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Last Five Matches
Sunderland
May 12, 2013Sunderland 1 - Southampton 1EPL
May 6, 2013Sunderland 1 - Stoke 1EPL
Apr 29, 2013Aston Villa 6 - Sunderland 1EPL
Apr 20, 2013Sunderland 1 - Everton 0EPL
Apr 14, 2013Newcastle 0 - Sunderland 3EPL
Manchester City FC
May 14, 2013Reading 0 - Manchester City FC 2EPL
May 11, 2013Manchester City FC 0 - Wigan Athletic 1FA
May 7, 2013Manchester City FC 1 - West Bromwich Albion 0EPL
May 4, 2013Swansea 0 - Manchester City FC 0EPL
Apr 27, 2013Manchester City FC 2 - West Ham 1EPL
Odds
Returns: Sunderland £65.00 PaddyPower Sign up to Paddy Power for £250 in free bets
Returns: Draw £260.00 Bet365 Sign up with bet365 for a free bet up to £200
Returns: Manchester City £5010.00 Bet365 Sign up with bet365 for a free bet up to £200
Team News
Available Squads
22Simon MignoletGoalkeeper
27Matthew Kilgallon Defender
24Carlos Javier CuéllarDefender
25Danny RoseMidfielder
7Sebastian LarssonMidfielder
8Craig GardnerMidfielder
14Jack ColbackMidfielder
11Adam JohnsonMidfielder
23James McCleanMidfielder
28Stéphane SessegnonMidfielder
26Steven FletcherStriker
20Keiren WestwoodGoalkeeper
2Phil BardsleyDefender
19Titus BrambleDefender
15David VaughanMidfielder
25Fraizer CampbellStriker
10Connor WickhamStriker
16James McFaddenStriker
1Joe HartGoalkeeper
4Vincent KompanyDefender
5Pablo ZabaletaDefender
28Kolo ToureDefender
33Matija NastasicDefender
7James MilnerMidfielder
14Javi GarcíaMidfielder
21David SilvaStriker
42Yaya Touré Midfielder
16Sergio AgüeroStriker
32Carlos TévezStriker
30Costel PantilimonGoalkeeper
6Joleon LescottDefender
44Karim RekikDefender
11Scott Sinclair Midfielder
18Gareth BarryMidfielder
62Abdul RazakMidfielder
10Edin DzekoStriker
Players to Watch
Steven Fletcher
Steven Fletcher
Position: Striker
Squad Number: 26
Games Goals YC RC
28 11 3 0
The Scot proved his worth to the Black Cats once again at the weekend as he notched the winning goal over Southampton. His predatory instincts inside the box have seen him hit the back of the net eight times this season and whenever he has scored Sunderland haven’t lost. Needless to say if City stop the 25-year-old from finding the net there’s a good chance they’ll leave the north east with a positive result. However it’s easier said than done as Fletcher’s intelligence and movement in and around the box have caused a lot of problems for Premier League defences this season.
Sergio Agüero
Sergio Agüero
Position: Striker
Squad Number: 16
Games Goals YC RC
29 12 2 0
If City are to continue their title push and end their winless run on Wearside then the Argentine will need to be at his best. The 24-year-old has struggled in front of goal recently scoring just once in his last seven games but his pace and movement will trouble the slow Black Cats central defence. He’s proven over the last 18 months he needs only that one chance to get on the scoresheet and he may just have to do that once again on Wednesday. His link-up play with Carlos Tevez will be something to watch as they’ve shown when put together they’re almost unstoppable and the presence of his countryman may just open the space he thrives on in the final third of the pitch.
Prediction

The Black Cats have improved recently but City will have just too much for them on this occasion as they’ve proven their mental toughness over the season which will be enough to end their three-games winless run at the Stadium of Light. Expect big days for Yaya Toure and David Silva in the City midfield as they will look to overrun Sunderland in the middle of the park, as O’Neill’s side will miss the presence of skipper Lee Cattermole who was instrumental in last season’s win over the champions.

Editor's Prediction
Sunderland 1
Manchester City 2
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