Source: Northern_Echo
Cats lose seven goal thriller
SEVEN goals and Michael Turner's injury time sending off made this an unforgettable pre-Christmas thriller at Eastlands.[LNB] But it was more awayday woe for Steve Bruce's side who paid for some schoolboy-style defending against Manchester City's three-pronged attack.[LNB] Despite overseeing a win that put City into third place in the Premier League Mark Hughes was relieived of his duties before the game[LNB] Some truly dreadful defending by both sides ensured a feast of goals in a match played at breakneck pace in snowy conditions.[LNB] Roque Santa Cruz started the game in place of Emmanuel Adebayor and Santa delivered an early gift for the City fans with a close range strike after just five minutes.[LNB] Carlos Tevez doubled City's lead from the penalty spot after Nyron Nosworthy's clumsy challenge on the livewire Bellmay was judged to have been a foul.[LNB] But City seemed happy to rest on their two-goal cushion and Sunderland capitalised first with a Mensah header from Andy Reid's superbly-judged right wing cross and then a close range effort from Jordan Henderson.[LNB] But more sloppy defending allowed Shaun Wright-Phillips to cut a pass to Bellamy who restored the home side's lead.[LNB] Kenwyne Jones came on for the injured Steed Malbranque, enabling Sunderland to revert from a five man midfield to a 4-4-2 formation. And Jones headed his sixth goal of the season to level the scores following excellent work from Nosworthy and Henderson.[LNB] But the Sunderland back four were sleeping when Santa Cruz ghosted in to grab his second and take all three points.[LNB] Turner was dismissed in the second minute of injury time for elbowing Gareth Barry. His straight red card suggests Sunderland are becoming a marked team among Premier League referees.[LNB] Manchester City (4-3-3): Given;Richards (Zabaletta 22),Onuoha,Toure,Sylvinho;Ireland, Barry Wright-Phillips (Kompany 53);Tevez,Santa-Cruz,Bellamy.[LNB] Man City subs (not used): Taylor (gk), Robninho, Weiss, Adebayor, Petrov.[LNB] Sunderland (4-5-1): Fulop;Nosworthy,Mensah (Healy 89),Turner,McCartney;Malbranque (Jones 41), Henderson,Campbell (Richardson 60)Cattermole,Reid,Campbell;Bent.[LNB] Sunderland subs (not used): Carson(gk),Bardsley,Da Silva,Murphy.[LNB] Referee: Andre Marriner (Birmingham)[LNB] ***Read the full match report in The Northern Echo on Monday***[LNB]
