adminon 53 minutes to see Roberto Mancini’s men suffer their first league defeat on the road this season.
The winner was not without controversy however, with the visitors adamant they should have been awarded a free-kick for a foul on Pablo Zabaleta during the build-up.
City’s performance was poor though and their failure to return from the North East with any points means rivals United have now extended their lead at the top of the table to seven points. If Johnson was the hero in front of a Boxing Day crowd of 42 190 at the Stadium of Light, keeper Simon Mignolet deserved equal praise.
The Belgian denied Yaya Toure and David Silva before the break and Sergio Aguero after it to claim a precious clean sheet and make a huge contribution towards the win. City arrived determined not to complete an unwanted hat-trick of 1-0 league defeats on Wearside and, after a lacklustre start, eased themselves into the game.
They might have been ahead with just eight minutes gone, but Vincent Kompany’s header came back off the crossbar and Yaya Toure’s goalbound follow-up was hacked away by Mignolet, who reacted instantly to deny the visitors an early lead.
Mignolet had to be at his best once again with 24 minutes gone after Carlos Tevez and Aguero combined to put Silva in on goal, only for the Belgian to block his effort at close range.
But seconds later Hart had to dive to his right to turn away Fletcher’s rasping left-foot drive and the Black Cats, buoyed after weathering the early storm, started to force their way into the game. Johnson was enjoying the better of his individual battle with Zabaleta, who played much of the half with a heavily bandaged head after suffering a cut, and as James McClean took up the theme, Martin O’Neill’s men upped their tempo.
It was Sunderland who took the lead with eight minutes of the half played.
City boss Mancini and Zabaleta were left appealing in vain for a free-kick for Gardner’s challenge on the full-back. But Johnson picked up possession and cut inside before blasting in a dipping shot which caught Hart flat-footed at his near post and squirmed into the bottom corner. — The Sun.
Online Reporter