Manchester City 1 - 0 Sunderland

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Monday Nov 05 2007 08:00

Stephen Ireland produced one moment of magic to help Manchester City create a post-war record.

The midfield player's spectacular winner against Sunderland made it seven successive home league victories for City, their best start to a season since 1902.

Ireland's strike midway through the second half finally broke the stalemate on what was an otherwise frustrating night for Sven-Goran Eriksson's side which struggled to break through a stubborn Sunderland defence.

Indeed, it looked for three-quarters of the match as though the Black Cats would pick up a valuable point in their battle against relegation.

City's goal followed their best move of a lack-lustre display in which they looked to be still suffering a reaction from their 6-0 defeat at Chelsea.Martin Petrov sent a raking crossfield pass to Javier Garrido on the left and he released substitute Darius Vassell whose cross from the left side of the penalty area was volleyed home by Ireland from a tight angle.

There had been few Bonfire Night fireworks until that point in a match which must have been a turn-off for the live television viewers.

Sunderland had a great chance to snatch the lead in the opening period when Anthony Stokes headed narrowly wide from Grant Leadbitter's cross.

Yet late in the half City almost took the lead when Vedran Corluka's header from Petrov's corner beat keeper Craig Gordon only for Daryl Murphy to save the day with a goal-line clearance.

Eriksson brought on Vassell in place of Michael Johnson for the restart to try and inject more bite into their attack.

And it eventually paid dividends when Vassell helped set up Ireland's match-winning goal, his first of the season.

The goal provoked an immediate response from Sunderland who had their best spell of the match.

Leadbitter stole in at the far post and his shot beat keeper Joe Hart only to luckily strike captain Richard Dunne who was covering on the line.Ross Wallace then delivered a superb low cross from the left which Kenwyne Jones, sliding in at the far post, narrowly failed to reach, as City endured some nervous moments defensively.

And though City were far from their best, they still secured a win which maintains their fine start to the season.

Live Commentary

90
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
Michael Ball comes on for Elano as City make another change, looking to protect the 1-0 lead it seems

80
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
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
And Murphy is also off now, Ross Wallace is on in his place

58
Sunderland boss Roy Keane makes a double change - Stokes goes off for Michael Chopra

57
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
Johnson has gone off for City at half-time, Darius Vassell replacing him

45
The second 45 minutes gets underway

45
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

0
The action begins at Eastlands

0
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

Statistics

Manchester City

Shots on target	3
Shots off target	4
Shots off bar/post	0
Fouls	11
Offsides	0
Corners	2

Sunderland

Shots on target	2
Shots off target	6
Shots off bar/post	0
Fouls	14
Offsides	2
Corners	3

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