Manchester City Title Hopes Fade After Disappointing Sunderland Draw

By on April 17, 2014

Manchester City’s fading hopes of taking the Barclays Premier League title took another hit on Wednesday night after dropping two points at home with a draw against battling bottom club Sunderland.  Connor Wickham scored twice to cancel out Fernandinho’s early opener, but a mistake from goalkeeper Vito Mannone allowed Samir Nasri to grab an equalizer with two minutes of normal time remaining. The result means City are now six points behind leaders Liverpool and four behind Chelsea, with a game in hand over both of the top two. It was a welcome boost to Sunderland’s aspirations of Premier League survival as well, but they remain six points from safety with some crucial relegation six-pointers against Cardiff, Swansea and West Brom to come.

There seemed to be troubling times ahead for the Black Cats from their opening two minutes, when an early goal for the hosts threatened to open the Etihad floodgates as had happened so many times already this season. Alvaro Negredo’s clever dummy over the returning Sergio Aguero’s pass found Fernandinho in space in the penalty area and he was able to beat Mannone with a powerful near-post shot, but City seemed to have their devastating defeat to Liverpool still on their minds as they played without their usual fluency. The visitors were overly physical at times with Wes Brown threatening to add to Aguero’s lengthy injury list for the season with a forceful challenge, but it was Sunderland who were creating more early in the first half. John O’Shea and Liverpool loanee Fabio Borini both had chances to square the game up before the halfway mark, yet once again Gus Poyet’s men were left ruing chances missed at the interval. However, it could have been worse for them, as a deflected Aguero shot almost found its way past Mannone, one of this season’s key performers.

The introduction of former Juventus man Emanuele Giaccherini with 20 minutes to go proved to be a decisive turning point in the game, as the 28 year old Italian had a hand in both of Sunderland’s goals. After only five minutes on the pitch, his perfectly-placed cross from the left allowed Wickham to sidefoot in a powerful volley past the outstretched Joe Hart. Wickham, who has spent much of this season on loan in the Championship at Sheffield Wednesday and Leeds United, was in dreamland ten minutes later on a breakaway attack as he was once more found by a slide-rule pass from Giaccherini. City’s defense was slow to get back and the young Englishman fired past Hart at his near post – Sunderland seemed to be heading for another famous victory over the Citizens, who class Sunderland as something of a bogey team.

But it was not to be, as with 88 minutes on the clock the ball was pulled back to Nasri, who unleashed a powerful low shot straight at Mannone.  Yet the Italian keeper fumbled the ball and could only try to throw himself back into the net as it sneaked across the line. He was on the ground with his head in his hands but City had the wind firmly in their sails and pressed for a winner which would have been devastating for the visitors. Nasri’s effort just a minute or so later flew harmlessly over the bar, though, and Sunderland held on for the draw.

Manuel Pellegrini can only now hope that both Liverpool and Chelsea slip up (though the two will play each other in two weeks time) if they are to have any chance of winning a title for which they were made firm favorites at the start of the campaign. They themselves still have to face an impressive Everton and travel to Selhurst Park to play Tony Pulis’ resurgent Crystal Palace, but with Aguero and Negredo reunited up front, they should be looking at every game as a realistic win. Sunderland, meanwhile, face further trips to Old Trafford and Stamford Bridge amongst their final five matches, although home ties against Cardiff, West Brom and Swansea – all in the relegation mix – could mean that survival is not the impossible job it once seemed.

About Sam France

17-year-old aspiring sports journalist and Middlesbrough fan. Check out my personal football blog at sjfootball97.blogspot.com! *warning* Some posts may include mild sarcasm.