Sunderland Vs Manchester City
Nov 10, 2013 at 2.05pm (UK)
Stadium of Light
In what looks a regulation win for the Blues from Manchester, the Citizens travel to the Stadium of Light to face Sunderland, knowing that full three points will help them perch back into the top four by the end of the weekend. However Chilean manager Manuel Pellegrini will be without some of his key man, the most important of them being Spanish diminutive playmaker David Silva, who limped off in the 5-2 win over CSKA Moscow.
Sky Sports reports: The Spaniard played 66 minutes of City’s 5-2 Champions League win at home to CSKA Moscow on Tuesday night but is now facing a spell on the sidelines. “I don’t know how many weeks at the moment, but it could be three or four,” confirmed Pellegrini.
The Chilean is also currently without skipper Vincent Kompany and there are doubts over the availability of Fernandinho and Matija Nastasic for the game at Sunderland on Sunday.
“It (the Kompany injury) was diagnosed as being a five-week problem,” said Pellegrini. “That was three weeks ago, so he should be fine in another two weeks. “We hope if he continues this way he will be fine.” – skysports
Meanwhile Sunderland have will again be without their suspended duo Lee Cattermole and Andrea Dossena as they serve their second match in their three match suspension. Manager Gus Poyet will have to think reshuffle his back line following the suspensions and goal keeper Keiren Westwood should be available again after sitting out the 2-1 Capital One Cup victory over Southampton with a head injury, but he may face a battle to oust deputy Vito Mannone, while full-back Ondrej Celustka is fit despite hobbling off against the Saints.
It remains to be seen whether Joe Hart remains on the sidelines yet again, if Pellegrini opts for Pantilimon. Sergio Aguero will again be the main threat up front with Yaya Toure being the most vital cog in the wheel.
Match Facts:
- Sunderland have won each of their last three Barclays Premier League home games against Manchester City by one goal to nil.
- Man City have scored at least six goals more than any other Barclays Premier league team this season.
- Two of the goals in the three recent 1-0 Sunderland home wins against Man City have come in the 90th minute.
- Sunderland have hit only 24 shots on target all season; in contrast Man City have 28 goals (from 68 shots on target).
- Edin Dzeko (8) needs one more goal as a substitute away from home in the Premier League to equal the record (9; held by Hernandez and Defoe).
- Sunderland have conceded three of the six own goals in the Premier League this season.
Stats compiled from Yahoo Sport
Possible Starting Line-ups:
Sunderland: Westwood; Bardsley, O’Shea, Brown, Colback; Johnson, Ki, Gardner, Giaccherini; Altidore, Fletcher
Man City: Pantilimon; Zabaleta, Demichelis, Nastasic, Clichy; Nasri, Fernandinho, Toure, Milner; Aguero, Negredo
Predictions:
City should walk through this given they have scored a dozen goals in their last two matches. Gus Poyet would find it very difficult to inspire his side to get anything from this encounter.
Blast from the past: