Black Cats to cross Mancinis path. Lucky or not?

After a great start to the season and an all round phenomenal 2011 City now have to start 2012 with the same determination and intensity and that will be no easy task away to a revitalised Sunderland. Since the arrival of Irishman Martin O’Neill the Black Cats have won twice, drawn once and their only loss was away to a high flying Spurs side. 

Martin O’Neill played 13 games for City back in the early 1980’s and Niall Quinn of course will bring back memories for City fans, not least for his heroics in goal when Tony Coton was sent off for bringing down Dean Saunders in the area in a game against Derby County on April 20th 1991. That relegated Derby and helped us maintain our fifth place finish and with that end the season above Manchester United. 

Now City have played Sunderland in the League 120 times with City slightly edging the contest with 56 wins to Sunderlands 44. Our last defeat was early on last season, August 2010 saw City lose the away tie by a single goal, although we did then beat them 5-0 in the return fixture. Before that however you would have to go back to December 23rd 2000 for the last defeat before that. Although the fluctuation between leagues almost season by season makes that statistic seem far better than it is.

Significant times in Manchester City history do involve Sunderland though. The last win at Hyde Road and then 80 years later, the last home win at Maine Road were both against Sunderland. The latter was a 3-0 victory for City which saw Marc Vivien Foe score the last goal for City at Maine Road and as it turned out only a few months later, his last goals ever.

April 14th 1900 saw City lose 3-1 in a game against Sunderland with our goalkeeper scoring our goal that day. With the talent we have in attack today I do not foresee is relying on Joe Hart to step up to get our goals anytime soon! Another interesting game happened on Aug 29th 1953 when City were on the right side of a nine goal thriller, winning 5-4 away from Maine Road. 

Now City have faced Sunderland around the New Years Day time over the years with results spreading from a 5-2 win all the way to a 4-2 loss. Although the last game actually played on January 1st against Sunderland will be exactly 91 years ago. January 1st 1921 witnessed a 3-1 win for Manchester City but this game was at Hyde Road.

The upcoming game however sees City top of the table (although maybe not at kick off on Sunday) but facing a very tough upcoming fixture list. Two days after this game City host Liverpool in the League before the FA Cup tie against Manchester United. In fact the opening sixteen days of 2012 will see City play five games, including the first leg of the Carling Cup Semi Final. As a result Roberto Mancini’s team selection will have to be very shrewd in order to rotate the squad efficiently enough to keep in two cups and in contention for our first League title for 44 years.

PA Cityboy

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