MANCHESTER CITY: (4-2-3-1) Caballero 6; Zabaleta 6, Mangala 5, Demichelis 5, Clichy 6.5; Fernandinho 6.5, Toure 7; Navas 6.5, Silva 7(Milner 89, 6), Nasri 6.5 (Kolarov 84, 6); Jovetic 6.5 (Lampard 70, 6.5)
SUNDERLAND: (4-1-4-1) Pantilimon 7; Vergini 6 (Coates 77, 6), O’Shea 7, Brown 7, Jones 7; Rodwell 7; Johnson 6.5, Gomez 6 (Giaccherini 57, 6), Larsson 6, Buckley 5.5 (Alvarez 65, 5); Wickham 6
Overview:
Frank James Lampard or Frank Lampard was again on target as the ex Chelsea man helped Manchester City win all three points after a unconvincing second half performance.
Manchester City closed the three point gap between themselves and table toppers Chelsea who had a stumble at the White Hart Lane.
With Sunderland manager opting to play 10 behind the ball and with a sole striker, the first half ended as 0-0. With City trying to go beyond Sunderland defense.
Manchester City who played kicked off earlier than Chelsea, wanted to close the gap on the leaders.
The second half started with City showing intent, as they probed and tried. Before Yaya Toure hit a blinder to beat former Manchester City keeper Pantalimon.
With the opening goal scored, Sunderland tried to equilize with space opening up on the left for Clichy who bombed forward at every opportunity.
A Jovetic goal made 2-0 for City, but just like in the last game against Burnley, City conceded twice as Jack Rodwell scored of a set piece and Adam Johnson of a penalty.
With City losing two goal leads twice in a week, it looked as if Sunderland had a chance for the third. But substitute Frank Lampard who had joined in just a couple of minutes early, scored of a Clichy's cross due to a slip from Brown to put the game beyond Sunderland's reach.
Lampard's goal gave City all three points as his current side closed to gap to zero points to his former.
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