Sunderland head to the Etihad Stadium to take on Manchester City in the opening fixture of the 2016/17 season under new manager David Moyes. The Black Cats have had some decent trips to Manchester in the past, @JacobKirkbride takes a look at the Wearsiders’ three best visits to todays opponents.
3. Manchester city 4-3 Sunderland 19th December 2009
An incredible winter afternoon which saw seven goals, a red card, and a historical goal celebration. This clash also turned out to be Mark Hughes’s last as Manchester City manager with him been sacked not long after the final whistle. After Santa Cruz’s early things soon worsened for the black cats Carlos Tevez fired home a penalty just a few minutes later after a foul by Nyron Nosworthy. A lifeline was then handed to Steve Bruce’s team when John Mensah’s header found the back of the net out of absolutely nothing. Which lead to now current England international Jordan Henderson firing home which took goalkeeper Shay given totally by surprise. Ex-Newcastle United striker Craig Bellamy who had a man of the match performance popped up with city’s third curling a shot right into the bottom corner after some neat build up play with winger Shaun wright Philips. Sunderland surprisingly started the second half the better which soon payed off when Henderson’s cross found the head of Jones. The enjoyment though only lasted a few seconds though after a truly shocking goal celebration created more laughter than celebration for the Sunderland fans. Ecstasy became heartache when Santa Cruz’s tap in made 4-3 which lead to frustration for centre half Michael Turner as his elbow on Gareth Barry earned a straight red to top off a disappointing afternoon for the lads.
2. Manchester city 3-3 Sunderland 31st March 2012
Most Sunderland fans would now look back on this result as a record breaker as we went on to be the only team city failed to pick 3 points against that season which was the season they also went on to win the title for the first time. The start couldn’t have been more sweater with Seb Larsson finding the bottom corner which took England goalkeeper Joe Hart by surprise. Balotelli’s spot kick levelled it up with the frustration shown by the Sunderland players before hand surrounding referee Phil Dowd. A shock result looked like it was about to become reality when Bendtner headed home before half time and Larsson’s tapped home at the far post to send the sell out away crowd wild. It just didn’t look like it was going to be City’s day when Kolarov and Balotelli’s set piece frustration came to blows over who should be on free kick duty just outside the box. But they soon found there feet when one of Balotelli’s many efforts that afternoon eventually found the net with Simon Mignolet not knowing whats hit him. It felt like a defeat for the lads when Kolarov’s low drive caught Mignolet off guard 4 minutes into stoppage time to make it 3-3 to round off a frustrating but classic away day.
1. Manchester City 2-2 Sunderland 16th April 2014
In a season which was recognised as the greatest escape in premier league history ,it was this result at the Etihad which was one of many outstanding performances at that Sunderland fans will sure remember for a very long time. It got off to the worst possible start for the lads when Fernandinho found the net from a tight angle. It was a complete sucker punch by this stage when Sunderland fans wondered whether it was just gonna be another long trip after a heavy defeat. Something which happened at spurs a week or so earlier. Enter ladies and gentleman or lads and lasses as they say in the north east ”Connor Wickham”. His close range finish from a Giaccherini cross gave a sense of belief that no we don’t just want to play for a point we want to win this. It felt like a dream was coming true when Wickham latched onto another Giaccherini pass to fire home past Hart. By this point it was almost to tense to watch for all Sunderland fans. Then came the moment where we all just wanted to turn away and even offer a shoulder for goalkeeper Vito Mannone to cry on if we could. Samir Nasri’s shot from inside the box just wasn’t enough for the Italian to keep out as it agonisingly crept over the line to round off one of the best ever away days for Sunderland in the premier league.
