City’s Title Hopes Dented With Sunderland Draw

Manchester City suffered a serious blow to their Premier League title ambitions after they were held to a draw by bottom club Sunderland.

City gained a second-minute lead with Fernandinho’s powerful effort, but went behind as Connor Wickham scored twice in quick succession after the break.

With two minutes left, Black Cats goalkeeper Vito Mannone fumbled Samir Nasri’s fierce strike into his own net.

City are six points behind leaders Liverpool and four behind Chelsea with a game in hand.

Sergio Aguero Tries to Nick Home His Shot Against Sunderland. Getty Image.
Sergio Aguero Tries to Nick Home His Shot Against Sunderland. Getty Image.

They could have been even further adrift of the top two because Manuel Pellegrini’s team were fortunate to earn their late equaliser, as Mannone agonisingly let Nasri’s shot slip out of his grasp.

Nasri then went close to snatching a winner in the 90th minute, but his anguished reaction showed how his team’s prospects have now changed.

City’s hopes of repeating their Premier League success of 2012 now rely on both Liverpool and Chelsea slipping up during the final weeks of the season.

The draw was just as unsatisfactory for Sunderland, who were the better team for large periods of the game, and missed out on a chance to further close the gap on their relegation rivals.

Gus Poyet’s side are six points from safety with a game in hand on the three teams above them – Cardiff, Fulham and Norwich – and the Sunderland boss will curse the way his team let victory slip.

Source: The BBC Sport