Vengeance on the Cards as Sunderland Visit City
- By A.D. Winn on April 2, 2011 11:21 GMT
Fresh after elimination from Europe and a league defeat to Chelsea, Roberto Mancini’s Manchester City will be hoping to bounce back to winning ways with a win against Steve Bruce’s Sunderland.
The sides have history; Sunderland grabbed a late winner in the reverse fixture back in August whilst it was City who grabbed a 90th minute goal in one of the fixtures last season. The Black Cats are yet to record a victory at City in six visits.
Both sets of managers have had distractions in the week leading up to this game: Mancini has once again had to defend Mario Balotelli, after the striker was spotted throwing a dart at a youth team player, and then later landed a rough challenge on teammate Carlos Tevez in training.
“Mario is a fantastic player,” Mancini announced this week. “He is a 20-year-old, so it is usual his behaviour is not good enough.”
“Everything Mario does is big news. I have spoken to him. I think his behaviour in the future will be good”
Steve Bruce has come out to deny racist claims after Argentinean defender Marcos Angeleri accused him of not selecting him for matches because he is not British.
“Of all things that have been thrown at me over the years that is the charge that hurts the most” Bruce admitted in his midweek press conference.
“'I have always tried to look further afield for players. It’s ridiculous to accuse me of being racist.”
His Sunderland side will travel to Manchester with club top goalscorer Asamoah Gyan lining up against City defender Joleon Lescott, who was at fault for Gyan’s goal in the midweek International fixture between England and Ghana. Bruce will have to do without Kieren Richardson, who is injured, and Nedum Onuoha, who is unable to play against his parent club.
City have doubts over Carlos Tevez, who despite recovering from fatigue, has complaints over a groin strain, whilst Micah Richards will miss this tie, and the upcoming FA Cup Semi Final against rivals Manchester United.
Form
All Competitions:
Man City: WLWWL (3 goals for, 4 against)
Sunderland: LLLDL (3 goals for, 9 against)
Premier League:
Man City: WLDWL (6 goals for, 5 against)
Sunderland: LLLDL (3 goals for, 9 against)
Premier League 09/10:
Man City 4-3 Sunderland
Sunderland 1-1 Man City
Premier League 10/11:
Sunderland 1-0 Man City
