“We have to believe. We know the last two or three months are the most important part of season. We’re in a good moment”, David Silva – 05/03/2017.
Goals: ;Agüero (42'minutes), Sané (59'minutes)
Line Up (4-2-3-1) (match ratings in brackets);
Caballero (7)
Sagna (6.5)
Stones (6.5)
Kolorov (7)
Clichy (6)
Fernandinho (7)
Sterling (8), (Nolito 82' (5.5))
Silva (8.5)
Toure (7.5), (De Bruyne 78' (6))
Sané (8.5), (Delph 89' (5.5))
Agüero (8)
Caballero (7)
Sagna (6.5)
Stones (6.5)
Kolorov (7)
Clichy (6)
Fernandinho (7)
Sterling (8), (Nolito 82' (5.5))
Silva (8.5)
Toure (7.5), (De Bruyne 78' (6))
Sané (8.5), (Delph 89' (5.5))
Agüero (8)
Referee; Martin Atkinson (5)
Stats;Possession, 29%/71%; Shots, 11(3)/14(7); Corners, 6/4; Fouls, 11/4
Attendance; 42,425
A quite different approach at the Stadium of Light, but something hinted at by Pep after the Bournemouth game, when he spoke of "passing the game to death". And that's exactly what City did, especially having gained the advantage with Agüero's goal just before half time, making over 300 more passes in the game than their opponents.
In all honesty, this was not a bad display from Sunderland, who surprised everyone by starting with two up top, with Borini and Defoe employed to close down the City defence with help from Ndong and Larrson. For long periods of the first half, the tactic looked to be paying dividends; though Cabellero and City's much maligned defence never looked panicked. Sunderland did make half chances; the best perhaps a limp header wide from Borini on 20' after Defoe had hit a stunning twenty yard strike against the left post.
However, for every half chance from Sunderland, City were weaving patterns towards the Sunderland goal, and when the goal did come, it was from City breaking the tactic which looked to be keeping Sunderland in the game. Toure was literally screaming for the ball, when the high press had left him free in midfield, and Caballero spotted and got the ball to him ... just. The big Ivorian stretching and starting the move which moved down the right through Silva, and onto Sterling to cross low into the six yard box, where Agüero slipped between the two Sunderland centre halves to dink the ball over the keeper. It was quick intricate stuff, and carved Sunderland apart, 0-1, and Sergio's 50th away goal in the Premier League. Two minutes later it could (should?) have been two when Agüero turned provider sliding the ball to Silva to slot home, but the linesman raised the flag on Sterling, who though in an offside position had no part in the move.
The second half started as the first had finished, and slowly but surely the energy in the legs of the Sunderland players just dissipated. The passing remained the same from City, as did the energy to get the ball back when losing possession. The second goal when it came was a cracker. The City attack visibly stepped up a gear on regainig possession in the center circle, with Sterling finding Silva, and a lightning run from Sane being spotted immediately with Silva playing the ball and Sane leaving the Sunderland right back for dead before cracking the ball in off the right post to score his sixth of the season, 0-2.
There could have been more, but City looked content to keep Sunderland at bay through denying them possession. It was very effective football, bringing City their tenth win on the road of the campaign, a feat not achieved since they last won the League, and their fifth consecutive clean sheet away from home in all competitions.
@l0ngwayfr0mh0me
