Manchester City 1 - 0 Sunderland: Black Cats still stuck in mire

Published on Sunday 22 March 2009 21:53

SUNDERLAND remain in the thick of the desperate struggle to escape relegation from the Barclays Premier League after the bravery of their ten men went unrewarded at Manchester City.

Micah Richards' second-half header proved enough, with goalkeeper Marton Fulop – preferred again to Craig Gordon – preventing City increasing their advantage with a string of fine saves near the end in addition to a Robinho penalty save.

But try as Sunderland might, they were always in trouble once George McCartney had been red carded for a professional foul on Shaun Wright-Phillips after just 15 minutes. And, just three points above local rivals Newcastle, who occupy the uppermost relegation spot, the Black Cats are certainly in need of some good fortune.

City carried most of the attacking threat even if, aside from Robinho's penalty, they created nothing better against ten men than they had done when Wright-Phillips had ended a splendid one touch move by lobbing narrowly wide when Sunderland still had the full compliment on the field.

The onus was clearly on the hosts to attack and Richards decided it was time to take centre stage.

The young defender created missed opportunities for both Wright-Phillips and Elano, so it was just as well Richards found the net himself, rising to guide Elano's free kick over the line just before Robinho could prod home.