It's finished and City have claimed a narrow win thanks to Ireland's strike - but Sunderland will feel hard done by and deserved a point at least.
90
Chopra's volley from distance is well held by Hart
89
There will be three minutes of injury time at Eastlands
86
The visitors get another corner in quick succession but this time Dunne heads it away
86
City clear the corner easily and Sunderland waste another opportunity
85
Harte's free-kick from just outside the box is deflected over the bar by the head of Garrido
84
Time is running out for Sunderland now, they will feel they have done enough to get a point but look like losing
82
Substitution
Michael Ball comes on for Elano as City make another change, looking to protect the 1-0 lead it seems
80
Yellow Card
Nosworthy is booked for a poor challenge on Hamman
78
Another Vassell cross is cleared by Sunderland
76
Wallace's deep cross is aimed at Jones but he can't stretch enough to guide the ball home and another Sunderland chance goes begging
74
Petrov's cross is headed over by Bianchi
73
Dunne didn't know too much about that clearance but City survive and hold the lead
72
The score is quite harsh on Sunderland as Leadbitter wastes a great chance, Dunne clearing off the line
71
Chopra's cross at the other end is easily dealt with by the City defence
70
Ireland's cross misses the City strikers and Sunderland survive another attack
67
The goal has livened the home fans up - Ireland's strike going through the legs of Gordon after a great turn and cross from Vassell
66
Goal
Ireland puts City ahead with a fine volley from Vassell's excellent cross
65
Still a lack of clear-cut chances but it's been a better half than the first so far
63
Nosworthy commits a foul and Keane complains but the referee's decision appeared fair
61
Leadbiitter's cross is headed clear by Corluka
59
Chopra makes an immediate impact as his shot is blocked by Dunne
58
Substitution
And Murphy is also off now, Ross Wallace is on in his place
58
Substitution
Sunderland boss Roy Keane makes a double change - Stokes goes off for Michael Chopra
57
Substitution
Rolando Bianchi comes on for Mpenza
56
Elano wants a penalty after a challenge from Nosworthy, but it's a great sliding tackle
55
It's been a more competitive start to the second half, but both sides are squandering possession too easily
52
Jones breaks forward for Sunderland but his shot is well held by Hart
50
He's up though and defends well as City mount an attack
49
Nyron Nosworthy has been caught by an accidental elbow by Dietmar Hamann and goes down with a nasty-looking knock
47
Ireland tries to thread a difficult pass through when a shot would surely have been the better option
45
Substitution
Johnson has gone off for City at half-time, Darius Vassell replacing him
Second half
The second 45 minutes gets underway
Half time
After two minutes of injury time, it's half-time in what has been a poor game so far
44
Elano shoots from at least 40 yards from a free-kick but it's very ambitious and no bother for Gordon
43
Murphy fires over a dangerous cross but Hart gathers it well
42
Liam Miller's shot is weak and doesn't trouble Hart
41
Collins has been a rock at the back for Sunderland so far this evening
39
Garrido's low cross is cleared behind for a corner by Collins, which the visitors defend well
36
The game has livened up now after a slow first 25 minutes
34
Stokes and Leadbitter combine as Sunderland stretch City but the latter's shot is wide
33
Elano's shot from distance flies over, but City have improved in the last five minutes
32
Roy Keane makes his way into the technical area and the City fans react with a chorus of boos
30
Mpenza shoots again but Gordon is equal to it, suddenly the home side have woke up
29
Elano finds Mpenza but his shot is off-target, better from City though
27
Vedran Corluka has gone down with an injury and the game will be held up
26
Elano gets past Collins and fires a shot goalwards - but it's straight at Craig Gordon
24
Sunderland are working very hard to restrict the home side in midfield
22
Stephen Ireland's cross is easily cleared by Dickson Etuhu as City finally mount an attack
19
Stokes' header is wide from a well-delivered free-kick from Grant Leadbitter - a decent chance
18
Sunderland will be fairly pleased with their start tonight, City have been poor though
15
Murphy's cross is decent for Sunderland but City defend well
13
Jones appears to be OK and he gives away a foul for a City free-kick from which Collins eventually clears
11
Jones appears to have picked up a knock to his knee and will need treatment
9
Richard Dunne defends well to get to the ball ahead of Kenwyne Jones from a decent Stokes cross
8
City have been very lethargic early on and Sunderland look sharper at the minute
6
Another Harte cross from a free-kick is cleared by Emile Mpenza as Sunderland settle quicker
4
Sunderland win an early corner and Danny Collins gets his head on the delivery but it's harmlessly wide
3
Harte's free-kick is slightly overhit and goes behind for a City goal-kick
2
City enjoy the majority of the early possession
Kickoff
The action begins at Eastlands
Awaiting Kickoff
Joe Hart is back in goal for City in place of Andreas Isaksson while Sun Jihai and Martin Petrov also start, for Sunderland Ian Harte was handed his first start for the club and Daryl Murphy was recalled
Manchester City
Sunderland
Full time
It's finished and City have claimed a narrow win thanks to Ireland's strike - but Sunderland will feel hard done by and deserved a point at least.
Chopra's volley from distance is well held by Hart
There will be three minutes of injury time at Eastlands
The visitors get another corner in quick succession but this time Dunne heads it away
City clear the corner easily and Sunderland waste another opportunity
Harte's free-kick from just outside the box is deflected over the bar by the head of Garrido
Time is running out for Sunderland now, they will feel they have done enough to get a point but look like losing
Substitution
Michael Ball comes on for Elano as City make another change, looking to protect the 1-0 lead it seems
Yellow Card
Nosworthy is booked for a poor challenge on Hamman
Another Vassell cross is cleared by Sunderland
Wallace's deep cross is aimed at Jones but he can't stretch enough to guide the ball home and another Sunderland chance goes begging
Petrov's cross is headed over by Bianchi
Dunne didn't know too much about that clearance but City survive and hold the lead
The score is quite harsh on Sunderland as Leadbitter wastes a great chance, Dunne clearing off the line
Chopra's cross at the other end is easily dealt with by the City defence
Ireland's cross misses the City strikers and Sunderland survive another attack
The goal has livened the home fans up - Ireland's strike going through the legs of Gordon after a great turn and cross from Vassell
Goal
Ireland puts City ahead with a fine volley from Vassell's excellent cross
Still a lack of clear-cut chances but it's been a better half than the first so far
Nosworthy commits a foul and Keane complains but the referee's decision appeared fair
Leadbiitter's cross is headed clear by Corluka
Chopra makes an immediate impact as his shot is blocked by Dunne
Substitution
And Murphy is also off now, Ross Wallace is on in his place
Substitution
Sunderland boss Roy Keane makes a double change - Stokes goes off for Michael Chopra
Substitution
Rolando Bianchi comes on for Mpenza
Elano wants a penalty after a challenge from Nosworthy, but it's a great sliding tackle
It's been a more competitive start to the second half, but both sides are squandering possession too easily
Jones breaks forward for Sunderland but his shot is well held by Hart
He's up though and defends well as City mount an attack
Nyron Nosworthy has been caught by an accidental elbow by Dietmar Hamann and goes down with a nasty-looking knock
Ireland tries to thread a difficult pass through when a shot would surely have been the better option
Substitution
Johnson has gone off for City at half-time, Darius Vassell replacing him
Second half
The second 45 minutes gets underway
Half time
After two minutes of injury time, it's half-time in what has been a poor game so far
Elano shoots from at least 40 yards from a free-kick but it's very ambitious and no bother for Gordon
Murphy fires over a dangerous cross but Hart gathers it well
Liam Miller's shot is weak and doesn't trouble Hart
Collins has been a rock at the back for Sunderland so far this evening
Garrido's low cross is cleared behind for a corner by Collins, which the visitors defend well
The game has livened up now after a slow first 25 minutes
Stokes and Leadbitter combine as Sunderland stretch City but the latter's shot is wide
Elano's shot from distance flies over, but City have improved in the last five minutes
Roy Keane makes his way into the technical area and the City fans react with a chorus of boos
Mpenza shoots again but Gordon is equal to it, suddenly the home side have woke up
Elano finds Mpenza but his shot is off-target, better from City though
Vedran Corluka has gone down with an injury and the game will be held up
Elano gets past Collins and fires a shot goalwards - but it's straight at Craig Gordon
Sunderland are working very hard to restrict the home side in midfield
Stephen Ireland's cross is easily cleared by Dickson Etuhu as City finally mount an attack
Stokes' header is wide from a well-delivered free-kick from Grant Leadbitter - a decent chance
Sunderland will be fairly pleased with their start tonight, City have been poor though
Murphy's cross is decent for Sunderland but City defend well
Jones appears to be OK and he gives away a foul for a City free-kick from which Collins eventually clears
Jones appears to have picked up a knock to his knee and will need treatment
Richard Dunne defends well to get to the ball ahead of Kenwyne Jones from a decent Stokes cross
City have been very lethargic early on and Sunderland look sharper at the minute
Another Harte cross from a free-kick is cleared by Emile Mpenza as Sunderland settle quicker
Sunderland win an early corner and Danny Collins gets his head on the delivery but it's harmlessly wide
Harte's free-kick is slightly overhit and goes behind for a City goal-kick
City enjoy the majority of the early possession
Kickoff
The action begins at Eastlands
Awaiting Kickoff
Joe Hart is back in goal for City in place of Andreas Isaksson while Sun Jihai and Martin Petrov also start, for Sunderland Ian Harte was handed his first start for the club and Daryl Murphy was recalled