Wednesday's MCFC Transfer News

Álvaro Negredo has finally broken the silence on his 14-match goal drought and has revealed the real reason behind the barren spell that has cost him his place in Manuel Pellegrini's side. In an interview with the Daily Star, the 28-year-old blamed a shoulder injury he picked up against West Ham United in January as the main reason for his slump in form.

"I settled in right from the word go although initially my time on the pitch was limited.

"But I continued to work hard and when I got the chance I started to score goals. I was able to bring something to the party in terms of my performances.

"I then picked up a shoulder injury which affected things. We were struggling up front, suffering from injuries and needed all the support we could get.


(Negredo was forced to wear a sling after acquiring a shoulder injury in the second leg of the Capital One Cup semi-final)

"I was playing games when I wasn't fully fit - but things have turned around now and I am fit again.

"I am not featuring as regularly as before, but I turned it around earlier in the season so I have got to have the same mentality to turn things around once again.

"I did that by working hard on the training field and scoring goals when I got my chance. Hopefully that's what will happen again."

The Telegraph believe that Manchester City could be forced into fielding a depleted squad in next year's Champions League which would see millions of pounds of their player investment wasted. The blues were found guilty of breaching Uefa's financial fair play rules this week, but have been offered a settlement.


(Manchester City's player recruitment could be affected by FFP sanctions according to the Telegraph)

According to Forza Italian Football, AS Roma are interested in signing Manchester City full-back Aleksandar Kolarov. The Serbian has just one year left remaining on his contract but has impressed under new manager Manuel Pellegrini this season. Kolarov is believed to be attracting interest from a number of Italian clubs and the blues will have to act quickly if they want to keep the 28-year-old.


(Aleksandar Kolarov's current deal expires in 2015)

Football Direct News have been focusing their most recent journalism on Manchester City and have linked the blues to no less than two players this morning. Athletic Bilbao's 19-year-old prodigy Aymeric Laporte and Malaga's 32-year-old stopper Willy Caballero have both been linked with Spanish giants Barcelona in recent weeks, but Football Direct News believe Manuel Pellegrini will rival any bid made by the Catalan side for the duo.


(Laporte has been tipped as La Liga's next best defender)

In Other News
In other news, Talk Sport's Adrian Durham has criticised a banner shown by Crystal Palace fans on Sunday which he believed insulted Manchester City. Writing in his column for the Daily Mail, Durham labelled the banner, which read 'You Got The Money, We Got The Soul' as 'embarrassing' and called on Palace fans to research their opponents before making such laughable gestures.


(Crystal Palace fans mock their opponents with a banner on Sunday afternoon)

"I laughed out loud at this nonsense, thought up by someone who has no idea about - and didn’t bother to research - the amount of incredible work in the community Manchester City Football Club’s owners have done, and what a fantastic facility they are creating for locals to use in and around the Etihad Stadium.

"The logic that says a club with money can’t possibly have a soul is flawed everywhere you look – are you telling me Real Madrid have no soul?

"The Man City fans who were on the away terrace at York’s Bootham Crescent ground in December 1998 and saw their team lose 2-1 probably still go to the Etihad today.

"They know about the soul of a football club. And everything is relative of course.

"So when Palace offered to shovel a shedload more money than any other club into Bosman striker Glenn Murray’s bank account to secure his services back in 2011, was that the Eagles losing their soul?

"It seems with songs and banners some fans have lost their way in the Premier League this season."

Tuesday's MCFC Transfer News

If Manchester City fans thought last week's events couldn't possibly acquire an even thicker layer of icing, think again.

According to Goal, David Silva will return to training today after being stretchered off the field of play against West Bromwich Albion last Monday. Initial reports suggested the Spaniard would face a three week lay-off which would have seen the blues face Crystal Palace, Everton and Aston Villa without their star man, however, the latest news could arrange a mouthwatering reunion between the 28-year-old and Yaya Touré who returned to power his side past Palace on Sunday.

The Guardian aso believe Silva could make an early return to the side, but suggest Manuel Pellegrini could rest the midfielder for City's last two home games. The Chilean is to decide whether 'Merlin' would be best used against Everton on Saturday evening or whether his creativity would serve his side better in their last two fixtures against Aston Villa and West Ham.

The Telegraph report that deals for FC Porto pair Eliaquim Mangala and Fernando are 'well advanced'. The duo were close to joining the blues on the last day of the January transfer window but negotiations hit a stumbling block in the final hours. However, numerous reports believe Manuel Pellegrini has finally got his men.


(Reports suggest the blues have finally landed the FC Porto duo)

The Telegraph also believe English quartet Joleon Lescott, Micah Richards, Jack Rodwell and Scott Sinclair are set to leave the Etihad Stadium. The inevitable departure of Richards would mean a lack of cover for the everpresent Argentine Pablo Zabaleta, and Arsenal's Bacary Sagna has emerged as the 25-year-old's most likely replacement.


(Bacary Sagna has reportedly rejected a new three-year-deal at Arsenal)

Another defender who could be on his way to Manchester this summer is Diego Godin. The Atletico Madrid centre back has helped form a sturdy back line for Diego Simeone this season as Los Colchoneros approach their first La Liga title in eighteen years. With just 22 goals conceded in the league this term, Atletico boast the second best defensive record in Europe's top five leagues just behind AS Roma (19).


(Diego Godin has been a central figure in Atletico's impenetrable defence this campaign)

In Other News
Manchester City have been found guilty of breaching Uefa's financial fair play rules. Fewer than 20 clubs are understood to have failed to meet key criteria, but the blues have been offered a settlement ahead of a meeting with the footballing body on Thursday. The club must now decide whether to accept the offer made to them or to try and negotiate a lesser punishment which could vary from a fine to European squad restrictions next season.

Under FFP, losses are limited to £37m (45m euros) over the last two years.

City posted combined losses of £149m for the last two seasons - £97m in 2012 and £51.6m in 2013.

Paris Saint Germain are also facing sanctions.

Monday's MCFC Transfer News

What a weekend for Manchester City. On a day where Liverpool could have all but secured their first Premier League title in fifteen years, José Mourinho and Manuel Pellegrini teamed up to slap Brendan Rodgers across the face with one massive warning. Chelsea's 2-0 victory over Brendan Rodgers' side at Anfield ended Liverpool's 11-game winning streak and encouraged an efficient performance from Manchester City against an in form Crystal Palace side. The day's events saw the blues reclaim an advantage in the title race and a win in their game in hand against Aston Villa could send them to the top of the table on goal difference - however, one gets the feeling that even more twists and turns will present themselves before the 2013/2014 campaign grinds to a halt on May 11th.

Edin Džeko insists he and his teammates will continue to fight for the title until the final day of the season after initiating the impressive victory with a fourth-minute header on Sunday. The Bosnian's 12th league goal of the season signaled his side's intent and helped to ease any nerves that may have been circulating around his fellow players on Sunday evening and the 28-year-old took to Twitter to express his delight.



(Edin Džeko rallies the troops on Twitter)

Džeko also had some words for the Manchester Evening News and said his team will give 'everything' to win the title.

"It could come down to goal difference again," the Manchester Evening News quotes Dzeko as saying. "I don't care how, we just need to do everything to win it again.

"That's the English Premier League! Everything can change in just one game."

According to Daniel Taylor of the Guardian, Manchester United are keen on signing FC Porto's 23-year-old defender Eliaquim Mangala, but have reluctantly accepted that 'he's almost certainly' set to become a Manchester City player this season. The blues are believed to have agreed a £20m deal for the Frenchman who has impressed for the Portuguese outfit this season.


(Eliaquim Mangala is set to become a Manchester City player)

In Other News
Manchester City captain Vincent Kompany says that his side are "very calm" after putting themselves in the driving seat for the Premier League title.

"It is difficult to predict the outcome of this league.

"You would be crazy to think it is over but obviously we did our job. It's in our own hands and you can't do more than that.


(Vincent Kompany (right) says his team are 'calm' as they approach the end of the season)

"There have been so many swaps and changes over the season, we are still very calm.

"By definition, I think we are the team in the league that can't ever give up - especially after the year we won it.

"We just kept our heads down. We knew we didn't play too well and had to change it - the last two games have been good.

"Ultimately it's about the last straight and we seem to pick it up at the right time."

Tuesday's MCFC Transfer News

Delight swamped the stands last night as the Etihad Stadium welcomed back David Silva after a week out with an ankle injury, but their ecstasy soon turned to despair as they watched the Spaniard get stretchered off the field on the 75 minute mark after falling awkwardly. Manuel Pellegrini admitted 'El Magico' had been playing with an ankle injury, but insisted the 28-year-old needed only three days to recover.

But the Chilean's risk taking was punished last night as City's most influential player immediately signaled to the bench after appearing to twist his injured ankle. Early reports from AS in Spain suggest the midfielder could be out for up to three weeks, but an official scan will take place today.

Sergio Agüero also featured and scored in last night's victory, which means the rumours are back! Yes, the papers have been longing for their monthly Agüero story, and with Barcelona unable to sign players for the next two years, there's no prizes for guessing who is supposedly leading the race for the Argentine. According to the Mirror,Real Madrid are ready to sell Paris Saint Germain target Karim Benzema for a fee of around £35m to help fund a huge move for Agüero this summer.


(Sergio Agüero scored his 16th league goal of the season last night)

It's been said before, and it'll be said again. Hands off.

According to reports in Italy, Arsenal full-back Bacary Sagna has entered negotiations with Manchester City which have intensified in recent days. TMW believe the Frenchman is extremely interested in joining up with Manuel Pellegrini's side and would be played in rotation with Pablo Zabaleta. Sagna's contract expires at the end of this season meaning the blues would be able to direct transfer funds at other possible targets and City look to be the only side willing to pay the 31-year-old's wages.


(Bacary Sagna could be added to the substantial list of Arsenal players who have joined Manchester City in the last five years)

In Other News
In other news, Vincent Kompany has refused to give up hope on the title. The Belgian says Manchester City's last gasp title win in 2012 is providing his side with hope as they approach the end of the season and insisted that the blues can only focus on winning their last four games. Speaking to Sky Sports News, City's captain urged the team to return to the form they reached at the start of the season.


(Kompany believes his side will take motivation from their dramatic title win back in 2012)

"It's job done and we had some good spells in the game. We'll take it with us in the final four games," he told SkySports.

"We can still remember what happened for us two years ago. We take motivation out of it but the most important thing is that we get back to the form we had at the beginning of the season.

"It looked like we were better against West Brom and if we take that into the next four games anything can happen."

Manchester City v West Bromwich Albion

                                                             

Preview
2014 title tales continue - can Manuel cause Pepe hell?


As the tales of the 2014 title race continue to disentangle, one rather unlikely protagonist has arrived on the scene. Gus Poyet's Premier League pit-dwellers aimed a virulent arrow into the softening skin of Manchester City's injury-plagued platoon on Wednesday night - but their incredible assault on the league's elite continued into the weekend with a mammoth away victory at Stamford Bridge on Saturday. With José's 77-Premier League game unbeaten home run now dwelling in the Black Cat litter tray, the sky blues have hope - and it would only take a Chelsea win at Anfield this weekend to write another chapter in Manchester City's bid for the title. 

It's been a difficult week for Manuel Pellegrini who has finally been force-fed a spoonful of the hostility of the British media. One week you're a saint, one week you're a sinner - and the Chilean has certainly been designated as the tabloid's verbal victim this month. Although the South-American's first season naivety has been unveiled through a lack of squad rotation, the footballing world seems to have forgotten the scalding attacking football that Pellegrini has imposed on English football in his first year at the club. The blues have scored 88 goals this season, and although Liverpool may lead the scoring charts by eight goals, they have had the benefit of two extra Premier League games, a striking partnership largely unaffected by the claws of injury and no European competition to ply their trade in. Brendan Rodgers deserves his credit, but it would be interesting to see where Liverpool would be if they had actually secured European football last term. 


(Brendan Rodgers' side have been spared the fatigue European football has imposed on Manchester City, Chelsea and Arsenal this season)

In truth, the 'depth' in Manchester City's squad is a myth. Realistically, the blues have four world class players in their ranks in Vincent Kompany, Yaya Touré, David Silva and Sergio Agüero - but their replacements are players that are consistently linked with summer moves away from the club throughout the season. For Kompany City have Lescott - a 31-year-old leaving on a free transfer this summer; for Touré they have Garcia - a calming influence that offers no real power or pace; for Silva Pellegrini could summon Jovetić - an exciting talent that has missed three months with ongoing injuries; and for Agüero they play Džeko - a proven goalscorer, but a player who lacks consistency. Pellegrini has class available to him, but only when injury decides to overlook his squad. 

The Chilean's Monday night adversary is a man he knows all too well from his days in the Spanish La Liga, and one he has backed to succeed in English football. Former Real Betis manager Pepe Mel has managed only two wins in 13 games with his new side as the Baggies continue to wrestle with the league's relegation fighters, but Manuel Pellegrini believes the Spaniard will settle at the club.


(Pepe Mel has made a leisurely start to life at West Brom)

“I think he is a very good manager," Pellegrini is quoted as saying by the Guardian.

"He is a manager that wants his teams to play attractive football – he always tries to make it so that his team will play with a lot of possession of the ball and make a very offensive game.”

Asked if he could see Mel being successful in the Premier League, Pellegrini replied: “Yes, of course, because I repeat – I think he is a very good manager and he worked very well in Spain. I am sure that here in England when he settles, he will be a very good manager also.”

Liverpool may be in pole position for their first title in 15 years, but the lifeline handed to Pellegrini's side by Chelsea on Saturday has supplied a faint glimmer of hope. The blues must resurrect the energy that characterised their early march in the title race and pick up an Etihad atmosphere that has been lacking in recent weeks. It's been said before, but the blues can not afford to lose a single game from here until the 11th May - only this time, there's no other option. 

Prediction: 3-0

Line-Ups

David Silva and Jesus Navas are unlikely to feature as they continue to recover from niggling ankle injuries whilst Yaya Touré and Matija Nastasić remain unavailable.

Pellegrini is likely to make changes to the side that whimpered against Sunderland last Wednesday and the addition of Stevan Jovetić would certainly infuse the side with the spark they need to continue pushing for the title. The Montenegrin excited a subdued crowd with a glittering cameo last Wednesday, and should be handed a start for his efforts in such difficult circumstances.

(Stevan Jovetić could provide the energy Manchester City crave this evening)

Jack Rodwell could be preferred to Javi García who failed to supply any sort of pace in the midfield last week whilst James Milner is likely to keep his place on the right in the absence of Navas. 

Jonas Olsson and James Morrison face late fitness tests for the Baggies.

Head to Head Stats

• West Brom have never won at the Etihad Stadium
• In their last five home fixtures against the Baggies, Manchester City have been victorious on four occasions scoring 12 goals in the process
• City's last home loss to West Brom came in February 2003 when goals from Neil Clement and Darren Moore handed the Baggies a 2-1 win at Maine Road
• The blues have won four out of their last five fixtures against Mel's side

Premier League stats

• Manchester City (88) have scored 44 more goals than West Brom (40) this season
• The Baggies (51) have conceded 17 more goals than the blues (34) 
• Manchester City (86%) have completed 8% more of their passes than Pepe Mel's side (78%)
• Manchester City (449) have created 142 more chances than West Brom (307)

Monday's MCFC Transfer News

Football pundit Jamie Redknapp has turned Chief Scout this morning by suggesting Manchester City should consider offering John Terry a contract this summer. In his column in the Daily Mail, the former Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur midfielder proposed the 33-year-old as a potential and cheap remedy to Manuel Pellegrini's defensive conundrums - however unlikely he presumes a deal may be.

Redknapp writes: “Terry, 33, can leave on a free transfer at the end of the season and Chelsea have only offered him a one-year deal, in line with club policy for senior players.

“I wonder if Manchester City would consider a daring raid. If they could pull it off, they get to weaken one of their rivals and they end up with Terry and Vincent Kompany in a mighty partnership.

“It would take a minimum two-year contract to drag Terry from Stamford Bridge, where you can imagine he would ideally like to finish his career as a one-club player. I can’t see him leaving, but I can see City — who have tried to sign him before — enjoying the mischief.”

The Guardian report that Manuel Pellegrini believes Samir Nasri can provide Manchester City with the impetus they need to stay in the title race in the absence of star man David Silva. The Spaniard, who propelled City into the thick of the title race with a number of magical performances in March and April, missed Wednesday night's draw with Sunderland due to a niggling ankle problem, and his Chilean boss believes his French partner can step up in his absence.


(Samir Nasri has contributed 6 goals and 5 assists to City's topsy-turvy season)

"At the moment I think Nasri is doing very well with or without Silva. I think it's very important to play both of them together. Maybe when we play with just one of them the team has less play than when they play together," said Pellegrini.

The City manager said "the doctor has some hopes" of Silva facing West Bromwich. "He worked [on Friday] with the physio, maybe [over the weekend] he can work part of the session with the squad, so maybe he can be [fit] on Monday. But it's not sure at the moment."

In Other News
In other news, Manuel Pellegrini has dismissed claims that his lack of squad rotation has cost his side the Premier League title. The Express report that the Chilean has used only 23 players this season - the lowest number in the league - and that injuries to high profile players such as Sergio Agüero and David Silva should have necessitated more rotation.


(Manuel Pellegrini has been criticised for the lack of players he has used this season)

However, Pellegrini swatted away the allegations by claiming he had played the same team only once this season.

"I don't agree because we made a lot of rotations during the season. I think I have kept the same team only once. After the Liverpool game we made five changes for Sunderland. It was a fresh team but they just played badly. And when you play badly it is normal to think you are tired.

"We have played 13 games more than Liverpool but the squad was big enough to try and win four trophies. The problem has not been the amount or quality of the players.

"Rodwell and Richards didn't play more because a lot of the time they were injured so it was very difficult to pick them. We didn't know they would be injured so much and maybe Barry would have played some games.


(Micah Richards and Jack Rodwell have missed most of the season through long-standing injuries)

"But it is important to understand that the decision about Barry was made at the start of the season when we had five players for two positions. That was too many.

"Rodwell was 22, Barry was 32 and in the final season of his contract so the decision had to be Rodwell."

Sunday's MCFC Transfer News

According to Goal.com, Manchester City are preparing a £15m bid for Athletic Bilbao winger Iker Muniain. The 21-year-old has characterised Bilbao's exciting play this season as the club look to secure a Champions League place for next term, but with a number of top sides sniffing round the Spanish talent, Ernesto Valverde could be set to lose his key man. City have been told by the Spanish network that the winger, whose contract expires in 2015, could be available for as little as £15m, however, Bilbao are relatively confident of tying the player down to a new deal with the insertion of a £40m buy-out clause.

Another Spanish wide-man who could be on his way to Manchester this summer is Pedro. The Barcelona man has been forced to compete with Neymar and Alexis Sanchez for a startin place in Gerardo Martino's side, and despite making 32 appearances in which he has netted 14 goals and contributed 8 assists this season, the player's agent has suggested that he could be sold. The Daily Star believe Manchester City and Manchester United will attempt to take advantage of the situation.


(Barcelona winger Pedro is said to be unsettled at the club and could seek an exit this summer)

Goal.com understand that Manuel Pellegrini is considering a move for Sampdoria centre-back Shkodran Mustafi. The 22 year-old German has won 53% of his duels in the Serie A this campaign and was released by David Moyes at Everton back in 2012.


(Mustafi could be seen as a cheaper option to Eliaquim Mangala)

In Other News
In other news, the Mirror report that Manchester City chiefs are set for talks with Manuel Pellegrini, Ferran Soriano and Txiki Begiristain to review their positions and conduct this season. The Chilean will be asked questions about his squad selection, whilst the roles of Soriano and Begiristain will also come under scrutiny if the blues fail to win the title in May. However, the report insists that there is no indication City's Abu Dhabi owners are ready to make any changes at the top.


(Begiristain and Soriano will the subjects of an inquest by City owners at the end of the season)

And finally, Gareth Barry believes Manchester City made a huge mistake by loaning him out at the start of this term. In an interview with the Expres the midfielder, who has made a significant impact at Everton this year, explained how he told Pellegrini he was confident he had made the wrong decision.


(Barry has been an important player for the Toffees in their push for the Champions League)

“I told the manager at the time that I was confident and that he was making a wrong decision.

“I still feel I can compete with the players at City. When somebody tells you they don’t think you’re good enough, that your face doesn’t fit, you don’t just roll over. I had a few conversations but the manager’s mind was made up.

“I presume he had watched previous games and made his mind up on that. Any rejection hurts in life.

Saturday's MCFC Transfer News

According to Football Direct News, Paris Saint Germain could make a move for Yaya Touré this summer if they fail in a bid to sign Juventus midfielder Paul Pogba. The 21-year-old, who has established himself as one of Europe's most exciting talents this season, is believed to be Laurent Blanc's number one target, however, with the Italian giants unlikely to sell, Manchester City's Ivorian powerhouse is believed to be seen as their next best option.

Touré opened the door to a potential move to France in January when he publicly lauded the French champions in an interview with ESPN. However since then, the midfielder has made no further comments on where he future may lie.

The Messi rumours have made an inevitable return, but Barcelona's worrying decline in recent weeks have made the whispers a percentile louder. The Manchester Evening News report that Manchester City are preparing an extraordinary £250m bid for the Argentinian wizard who has reportedly become disillusioned with life at the Catalan club. Barcelona have endured a month to forget after crashing out of the Champions League and watching their bitter rivals Real Madrid lift the Copa del Rey, and not even the brilliance of Lionel Messi has been able to resurrect his side.


(Lionel Messi could seek an exit from Barcelona this summer)

One Argentine unlikely to walk through the doors of the Etihad Stadium this summer isSan Lorenzo's Ángel Correa. The 19-year-old striker, described as 'the next Agüero', was heavily linked with a switch to the blues last month, but Diego Simeone's Atlético Madrid is believed to be his most likely destination.


(The 19-year-old wonderkid is likely to snub a move to the blues)

And the rumours don't stop there! Football Direct News believe Manchester City will go head to head with Arsenal for the signature of Athletic Bilbao winger Markel Susaeta. The 26-year-old has contributed 5 goals and 11 assists to his side's impressive season which is likely to hand them Champions League football next term.


(Markel Susaeta could be the second Spanish winger to join up with the blues in two years)

In Other News
In other news, one admiring fan had the courage to plant a sloppy one on Manuel Pellegrini's cheek in this week's episode of 'Inside City'! Take a look here: 

Manchester City 2 - 2 Sunderland

MANCHESTER CITY 2 - 2 SUNDERLAND
Fernandinho 2', Nasri 88'                                      Wickham 73', 83'


City stick title where the Sun doesn't shine.

No Silva, no spark; No Touré, no title. A troubling tale of over-reliance was narrated by Manuel Pellegrini on Wednesday night as his men fell at the feet of fatigue, Sunderland fight, and a farcical lack of flair in the absence of his trusty twosome. With six points and just one game in hand separating the blues from league leaders Liverpool, City no longer command the fate of the Premier League title, and the legendary 'spirit of 2012' that navigated Roberto Mancini's side to a nectarous title win two years ago seems to have followed the Italian out of the club.

In a remarkably capricious affair, it was perhaps Manchester City's blistering start that made the final result so inconceivable. Álvaro Negredo, returning to the starting line up after three weeks on the bench, treated the Etihad to a glimmer of his undisputed quality with a shrewd dummy which allowed Fernandinho to fire in his fifth goal of the season in the second minute.


(Fernandinho's strike hands City an early lead)

But not even the reunion of the 'Beauty and the Beast' partnership that savaged the Premier League roster earlier in the season could maintain City's early momentum. The predatory partnership that contributed to 39% of City's 54 league goals before January have seen injury and confidence assault their relationship, and the duo were tamed with relative ease on Wednesday night by a defence that have conceded 56 goals this term.

City's timidity in the air, which allowed Martin Skrtel to head Liverpool to a 2-0 lead on Sunday, continued to unnerve the blue back line, and seductive set-piece deliveries from Adam Johnson and Sebastian Larsson presented John O'Shea with two mouthwatering chances to grab his side a deserved equaliser. The pace of the Black Cats' counter attacking play continued to swipe at City's soft underbelly in the absence of Yaya Touré's power and David Silva's ingenuity, and despite his success in comfortably controlling the midfield, Javi García's relaxed approach deprived the blues of any urgency when going forward.


(Javi García martialled the midfield with ease, but couldn't provide his side with the pace they needed to attack Sunderland)

Teams fighting for their lives at the bottom of the table are often the most dangerous opponents, but Pellegrini's complacent comrades exhibited a criminal ignorance of that fact as the game descended into a pounding headache for Manchester City fans. The introduction of Stevan Jovetić failed to inject any sort of impetus into the home side, but Gus Poyet's decision to summon Emanuele Giaccherini from the bench inspired City's guests to a warranted equaliser with just seventeen minutes left to play. The Italian's teasing ball into the box found the unmarked Connor Wickham who tapped in to an empty net in front of a rapturous Sunderland following.


(Connor Wickham volleys in a deserved equaliser for his side)

And it was Giaccherini and Wickham who combined yet again to stun a depleted Etihad crowd in the 83rd minute. A languorous City attack was customarily repelled by the solidity of Sunderland's back line, and the 28-year-old Italian found the former Ipswich striker in acres of space to fire past Joe Hart at his near post.


(The 21-year-old striker celebrates his crucial late goal)

The goal issued the blues with a fitting punishment for their hideous display, and Gus Poyet's hopes of lifting his side off the the bottom of the table entered the realm of possibility in the most unlikely of environments. Sunderland had never won a game at the Etihad Stadium in their history, but with the prospect of another year in England's top flight propelling their brilliance, that record looked set to be smashed.

But even on a night where the 2011/2012 champions look unable to complete a single pass, they were able to summon at least a percentage of the resolve that magically won them the title just two years ago. With just two minutes left to play, Samir Nasri's tame effort was comically fumbled by Vito Mannone who allowed the effort to trickle into the far corner. Another goal would have been repugnantly cruel on the guests, and the Frenchman's calamatous miss in the dying seconds prevented an even more theatrical Poyet breakdown.


(Samir Nasri races back to the halfway line after securing a late equaliser for his side)

The spirit of 2012 has certainly followed Roberto Mancini out of the doors of the Etihad Stadium and across the Mediterranean, and a renewed reliance on individual brilliance this season proved fruitless in the absence of Yaya Touré and David Silva. Complacency has become a crippling issue for the blues who still wear the scars inflicted by losses to relegation battlers Cardiff City, Aston Villa and their Wednesday night rivals Sunderland, and their conduct against the Premier League's pit dwellers has ultimately sealed their fate in the 2013/2014 title race. Yes, there's still hope, but without spirt, that hope continues to fade.

Player RatingsJoe Hart 6 - Made a great stop to deny Colback, but was easily beaten by Wickham at his near post.
Pablo Zabaleta 7 - Typically dogged display from the Argentine who assumed the responsibilty of driving City forward.
Vincent Kompany 6 - Another out of sorts performance with no real leadership. Doesn't look fit.
Martin Demichelis 7 - Solid display and once again assumed control of the defence.
Aleksandar Kolarov 6 - Bombed up and down the line and angled in a number of crosses into the box, but was forced back as Sunderland drove on in the second half.
James Milner 5 - Unable to keep up the performance levels he offered to the game on Sunday and his passing was shocking.
Javi García 6 - Had no trouble in the centre of midfield, but his lack of pace characterised a languid City display.
Fernandinho 6 - Grabbed the early goal but like many of his team mates, he tired.
Samir Nasri 5 - Ineffective in a game where City craved his creativity. Scored the equaliser and missed a sitter in the dying moments.
Sergio Agüero 6 - Lively in the opening stages but wasn't fit enough to see out the game.
Álvaro Negredo 5 - A few fancy touches, but the Spaniard has dropped off the pace worryingly and his poor passing sparked a number of Sunderland's dangerous attacks.

Substitutes
Stevan Jovetić 7 - Showed invention and almost scored a wonderful overhead kick. Should be given a chance next Monday.

Edin Džeko 5 - Unable to affect proceedings.

Jack Rodwell - no time to mark.

Match Stats
Shots on target: Manchester City 4 - 3 Sunderland

Shots off target: Manchester City 9 - 8 Sunderland

Blocked shots: Manchester City 3 - 0 Sunderland

Corners: Manchester City 3 - 6 Sunderland

Fouls: Manchester City 14 - 10 Sunderland

Pass Completion: Manchester City 89% - 83% Sunderland

Tackle Success: Manchester City 49% - 44% Sunderland

Possession: Manchester City 54% - 46% Sunderland