Sunderland 1, Man City 2
Best player for Man City?
Mike Riley, the referee. Opta should credit him with two assists. Not much more to say, really. City were not really interested, and will be delighted with the three points. They ought to cut out this going down like they’ve lost a limb business, though. At one point in the first half, their goalkeeper comes rushing out of his area, doesn’t get to the clearance, gets stranded, and so flops to the ground like he’s been shot. Old Mother Riley promptly blows for a freekick, and Hart is ‘treated’ and allowed to stay on the pitch. As usual, Kenwyne Jones got mounted and embraced by the City defence in a way which wasn’t suitable for small children to see, and got nothing.
The normally calm Nyron and Evans looked a bit flustered today, I thought. Both full-backs impressed, Bardsley’s been an instant success, and Collins is a different player to last season - and has obviously been told to get forward more. Reid was constantly trying, even if it didn’t always come off. Richardson was anonymous, and Murphy a waste of space. He’s got some real skill, but shouldn’t come back into the first team until he stops being scared of going for a challenge or the ball. Chopra worked like a madman and deserves a start up front, not out on the right. And Keane should make his peace with Miller, so he doesn’t have to bring Leadbitter on as a sub.
Good travelling support from City, sold out their allocation. Only noisy on occasions though, seemed a bit on and off.
Oh, and Martin Petrov? Gloves? It wasn’t even cold, man.
Tags: appalling referees I never want to see again, Football, man city, sunderland