MACKEM MISERY
City stars pile on the pain for Wearside
IF EVER proof was needed of the gulf in class between the top and bottom of the Premier League, then this was it. Leaders City were simply devastating. Sunderland, rock bottom and heading for the Championship, were disastrous.
For while this was a cup fixture, you felt you were watching relegation certainties versus champions-elect.
And to think these two teams contested the 2014 final of this competition when the valiant Black Cats led at half- time before eventually losing 3-1.
This time, the tie was over inside half an hour thanks to goals from Sergio Aguero and Kevin De Bruyne. By the interval the humiliation was complete, a Vito Mannone own goal and Raheem Sterling ensuringg the second half was a formality — they should have packed upp and gone home.
In fact, many of the homee crowd did just that, sparingg their sorry side what shouldd have been a deafening chorus off boos at full time.
Those who remained probablyy did so to enjoy the sight of De Bruyne, Sterling and Aguero terrorising their own petrified back line.
Sunderland boss Dick Advocaat — a former Belgium manager — had talked up De Bruyne before the game. His players, though, failed to heed the warning.
The 24-year- old, City’s record £55million signing, was outstanding as Manuel Pellegrini’s men ended their run of two straight defeats in emphatic fashion.
‘I think we needed to win tonight after those defeats (by Juventus and West Ham), even though I think we didn’t deserve to lose them,’ said Pellegrini.
‘We started so strongly. Kevin
has settled well in our team, as has Raheem. I always enjoy watching good players like that (De Bruyne, Sterling and Aguero), we will see at the end of the season if they are the best front three in the league.’
Advocaat added: ‘ De Bruyne was great, but he cost £55million . . . that is the cost of our stadium. But they have great players.’
Surprisingly, the 67-year-old was also upbeat when it came to assessing his own team, despite their first-half surrender.
‘I’m not negative and I’m not angry,’ he said. ‘The way we played the first 25 minutes was positive.
‘ You cannot make mistakes against a team like that. But at the moment everything is going against us.’
If City’s recent results were being talked of as a crisis, then Sunderland’s problems are catastrophic.
Advocaat said he would quit if he thought another man could do a better job — but on current evidence no-one could improve a team who have mastered the unfortunate art of turning attack into defence.
Not that they were expected to win against a side Advocaat called ‘one of the best in Europe’.
The total cost of City’s starting XI was £247.7m. Indeed, Sterling at £49m cost £4m more than the entire Sunderland team.
City’s opener was a gift, Patrick van Aanholt’s wild swing felling Jesus Navas just inside the area and Aguero tucked home for his first goal in six matches.
Sunderland were unlucky not to be level when Fabio Borini was judged to have pushed Nicolas Otamendi before rolling beneath Willy Caballero. It was a harsh decision.
Ola Toivonen shoulduld have righted the wrongng of that injustice whenhen Jeremain Lensns burned past Alek-ksandar Kolarovv down the right and landed a cross on his brow. The Swede, though, failed to direct his six- yard header beyond Caballeroo and the keeperer palmed over.
From the cornerner Caballero fisted clear and City broke for their sec-second. De Bruyne swapped passes with Sterling and the Belgian, accepting the invitation of a gap at Mannone’s near post, defied the narrowest of angles to slot home.
If Sunderland thought their deficit was unfortunate then two City goals in three minutes laid to rest that theory.
First, Bacary Sagna’s low cross was pushed clear by Mannone only for Sterling’s shot to crack the post and rebound off the back of the forlorn keeper and into the empty net. Sterling, though, soon had a goal of his own, curling around the brutally exposed Mannone after latching on to De Bruyne’s measured through-ball.
Toivonen stole a headed goal late on, but it was far too easy for City. They are the country’s best team withwith good re reason right now, just as Sunderland are justifiablyjustif the top flight’sfligh worst.
SUNDERLANDSUN (4-2-3-1): Mannone 2; Yedlin 3, CCoates 3, O’Shea 4, VVan Aanholt 3; M’Vila 4, Rodwell 3.5 (Cattermole 45min, 5); Lens 5, Toivonen 5, Johnson 4; Borini 4.
SubsS not used: Pantilimon, Brown, Larsson, Gomez, Defoe, FletFletcher.
Score Scorer: Toivonen 83. Booked Booked: Rodwell, Coates. MANCHESTER CITY (4-2-3-1): CaballeroCaballero 7;7; SagSagna 7, Otamendi 6, Demichelis 6, Kolarov 6.5; Toure 7 (Evans 89), Fernando 7; Navas 7.5 (Roberts 55, 6), De Bruyne 8.5, Sterling 8; Aguero 7.5
(Garcia Alonso 74, 6). Subs not used: Fernandinho, Wright, Maffeo, Barker.
Scorers: Aguero 9 pen, De Bruyne 25, Mannone 33 og, Sterling 36. Booked: Demichelis. Man of the match: Kevin De Bruyne. Referee: Roger East 7.