Manchester City climbed to second in
the Premier League, for a few hours at
least, and ended Sunderland's
unbeaten start to the season with a 3-0
romp at the Etihad Stadium.
Aleksandar Kolarov's 5th-minute free-
kick set City on their way but a string of
chances came and went before
substitute Sergio Aguero (60) sealed
only a second victory in seven, James
Milner adding late gloss to an
ultimately commanding display (89).
Roberto Mancini bemoaned the quick
turnaround following Wednesday's
draw with Dortmund but soon had
cause to celebrate, Carlos Cuellar's
lunge on Carlos Tevez on the edge of
the area costing more than just a
yellow card.
Pablo Zabaleta soon bustled into the
box, only to be thwarted by Simon
Mignolet's well-spread frame, and
Tevez dragged a shot across goal as
City's generous share of possession
failed to yield a second.
Martin O'Neill surely urged more
ambition from his side and they briefly
responded after the break, Steven
Fletcher unlucky on the volley and City
old boy Adam Johnson denied by a
last-ditch challenge.
But the game would have been up had
Yaya Toure and Micah Richards taken
the chances that came their way inside
a minute at the other end, Sunderland
now spent.
Aguero - on for an irked Mario Balotelli
- met a Kolarov cross to finally double
the lead and after David Silva clipped
the goalframe, Milner curled in for a
scoreline more befitting of his side's
dominance.
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