Sunderland crashed out of the Capital One Cup tonight with a whimper as Manchester City ran out 4-1 winners at the Stadium of Light. The Black Cats were their own worst enemies again, with City winning 4-0 after 41 minutes first-half minutes. Sergio Aguero converted from the spot following a ridiculously clumsy challenge by the poor Patrick Van Aanholt, a few minutes later it was 2-0 when the lively Kevin De Bruyne beat Vito Mannone at his near post. Prior to the City second goal, Sunderland should have been level, but for the second time in as many matches, the goal was wrongly disallowed, Fabio Borini got the wrong side of Otamendi, who lost his footing before the Italian slotted past the City keeper.
A mistake from Mannone, who was making a rare appearance, led to City’s third goal, after he failed to clear a cross, Raheem Sterling slotted a shot off the post, which hit Mannone and trickled into the back of the net, Sterling added a fourth soon after. City were not finished there, Aguero should have made it 5 or 6 either side of half-time but was too casual with his chances. The Black Cats were okay second-half, with Ola Toivonen getting a consolation goal for the hosts, but the Black Cats will not be having cheesy chips on Wembley way this year, they weren’t even close. Here is how the SAFC players did tonight:
Vito Mannone – 4
Not the return to the team Mannone would have had in mind. He was poor all night in truth, he didn’t command his area well and was at fault for two of the goals.
DeAndre Yedlin – 5
Looked okay on his debut for Sunderland. He has blistering pace and some decent control on him, getting forward at every opportunity. He could have done better with handling the superb Raheem Sterling, but he can be forgiven for that.
John O’Shea – 6
Didn’t do an awful lot wrong, and was a strong figure at the back. By far Sunderland’s best defender at the club, which given his Black Cats career is a worrying thought.
Sebastian Coates – 3
Same as always from Coates, he just is not good at football, at all. He can time a tackle well every now and then but when it comes to playing with the ball you will do well to find a worse player.
Patrick Van Aanholt – 1
Pathetic. Played City on-side far too many times, he has no clue what he is doing and no clue what everyone around him is doing. It will be for the best if he stays out of the team for a while I think.
Yann M’Vila – 4
Passing was poor today and probably played his worst game so far for the club. He was outclassed by a far superior City midfield.
Jack Rodwell – 2
I forgot he was playing. Got booked in the first-half for a stupid foul and was replaced at the break.
Ola Toivonen – 6
Got a late consolation goal and his first for the club, and he could have had another in the first-half had he directed his header better.
Adam Johnson – 4
Given his opportunity to reclaim a starting space and he blew it. No attacking impetus from Johnson against his former club and looked lost as the game passed him by.
Jeremain Lens – 2
Gutless performance, many may call him a ‘flair player’, in the English game he is just a liability for a struggling team. He also has a terrible habit of going into childish strops on the field instead of fighting for the team, not good enough.
Fabio Borini – 6
Never stopped running for the team and had a good goal wrongly ruled out.
Substitutes:
Lee Cattermole – 7 (SAFC Man of the Match)
Brought on at half-time and made the difference in midfield. He should have played from the start to prevent the City counter attacks that we succumbed to in the first period.
