Source: Team_Talk
Bent keen to repeat City win
Darren Bent wants Sunderland to reproduce their form against the big guns when they face more modest opposition after claiming another scalp.[LNB] Bent's injury-time penalty put big-spending Manchester City to the sword as the Black Cats claimed their first league win of the season, their reward for a spirited fightback at the Stadium of Light yesterday.[LNB]The victory followed last season's home successes over Liverpool, Arsenal and Tottenham, and brought into sharper focus their failings on the road, where they have, manager Steve Bruce pointed out after the game, won only 10 times in 108 top-flight outings.[LNB]Sunderland head for Bruce's former club Wigan after the international break before embarking upon a run of fixtures in which they will face Arsenal, Liverpool and Manchester United in the space of three weeks.[LNB]Bent said: "We have Wigan away, and with our away form...and then it really starts with some of the big boys.[LNB]"But we have shown once again we are capable of playing against anyone and the main thing is we are all mentally switched on against those teams.[LNB]"But we need to translate that into playing against the teams around us. We always play well against the top teams, but the teams around us, we struggle."[LNB]The victory over City came after a gritty display which saw the Black Cats hanging on for dear life before the break before gradually forcing their way into the game to win it at the death.[LNB]Carlos Tevez was guilty of a glaring first-half miss with the goal at his mercy, and keeper Simon Mignolet pulled off vital saves from Yaya Toure before the break and substitute Emmanuel Adebayor 11 minutes from time to pave the way for Bent's last-gasp heroics.[LNB]It was he who won the decisive spot-kick three minutes into injury-time when he was hauled to the ground by Micah Richards as he tried to meet Ahmed Elmohamady's cross in front of goal.[LNB]Bent said: "All I can remember was [Vincent] Kompany stretching for it. He clipped it on and I was just about to head it into the net and all of a sudden, I felt all these arms go around me and drag me to the floor."[LNB]The 26-year-old's penalty was not his most sweetly-struck, but it ended up in the back of the net to give him a fourth goal of the campaign.[LNB]Two of those strikes have come in the league, both of them from 12 yards, and while he is desperate to register from open play, he will take his goals however they come.[LNB]Bent said: "Obviously, I'll take the goals I have got already, but at the same time, I would love one to fall to me that I could just smash into the empty net.[LNB]"But as long as they keep going in, however they go in, I'll keep taking them."[LNB]Bent was last night named in the England squad for the European Championships double-header against Bulgaria and Switzerland and will hope for a chance to erase his World Cup disappointment.[LNB]He said: "I know there are one or two injuries, but at the same time, if the door is back open again, I will relish it and if I can get a piece of the game, I will be absolutely delighted.[LNB]"Everyone wants to play for their country and whenever you play for your country, it is an honour.[LNB]"If I am able to do that this week, I will be over the moon."[LNB]By contrast, City boss Roberto Mancini will spend the international break reflecting on what might have been and unable to do a great deal about it with so many of his players away.[LNB]He said: "It's frustrating because now we have two weeks before we can start again.[LNB]"When you have a break, it is better to go with a win or a draw.[LNB]"After the first half, nobody would have thought we could lose this game."
