Ireland gives Man City the win

Stephen Ireland scored a crucial second-half strike to give Man City another impressive three points as they continue their rollercoaster start to the season. The victory keeps Man City's 100 percent home record on track.

The first-half was a pretty uneventful affair with neither goalkeeper having to take too much care of their respective goals as both sides displayed some pretty woeful finishing.

Sunderland 'keeper Craig Gordon had to be smart to save from veteran Belgian international striker Emile Mpenza and Blumer Elano in the first half-hour while his counterpart Joe Hart did not have one save to make with Grant Leadbitter's long range effort going wide and Danny Collins heading over the bar.

The second-half promised little more from either side and it was only Sunderland who showed some initiative with Kenwyne Jones forcing Hart into a save and Nyron Nosworthy shooting wide from long range.

However, it was to be City who thankfully broke the deadlock as Ireland fired home an unstoppable volley from inside the box after receiving the ball from former England international Darius Vassell, who had been sent on by Eriksson at the beginning of the second-half.

The Black Cats tried to hit back but Dickson Etuhu shot wide and then City's unsettled striker Rolando Bianchi headed over in what could be one of his last appearances for the club as he is believed to want a move back to Italy in the January transfer window.