LFL: MAN CITY

It's always bad to lose but Manchester City's class proved too much for us today. Despite an improved second-half performance, we gave the ball away too often and  didn't manage to create enough scoring chances. 

BEFORE

City aren't the all-conquering team they were a few seasons back but they're still a formidable side and if we can get something from this afternoon's game, I'll be delighted. I just noticed that they've actually lost one more game than us so far this season and though they won their last two games, scoring eight goals in the process, Leeds managed two goals against them and Fulham got four. Fulham pulled back three goals in the last third of the match, which is of course when we've been strong lately. So, I think we can get a goal today but we'll have to fight really hard to keep their attackers at bay. As far as I know there are no injuries after Wednesday's stirring performance at Anfield so there shouldn't be any changes from the team that started there. Maybe we'll see O'Nien on again in the later stages? I'll just be listening to the game online and my match prediction is 1-1.

I got the team-news around 2.00 and there were in fact three changes in our starting line-up from Wednesday with Isidor, Traore and Geertruida replacing Brobbey, Talbi and Reinildo. Reinildo had a groin injury apparently but is expected to be back for next Sunday's game.   

THE MATCH

I couldn't get the commentary to work on the club site till five minutes into the game  so I had to rely on scraps from BBC Sport (there weren't any). It was still goalless when I finally tuned in and City seemed to be doing all the attacking. I could soon hear, “Sunderland take over...” coming across the ether. Bernardo Silva had a decent shot from the right side of the box that wasn't far wide in the eleventh minute. Commentator Benno said that it was important that we kept our shape and though we were under pressure, we seemed to be holding tight. In the sixteenth referee Andy Madley played the advantage and this resulted in a Le Fee shot hitting the side netting. The rain was coming down heavily and I had visions of our defenders slipping at crucial moments. City continued to attack relentlessly and we were guilty of giving the ball back to them on a number of occasions. Next thing City gave the ball away to us and we broke away and won the first corner of the game. Xhaka took it and after a touch from Donnarumma in goal, Gvardiol got the ball clear.     

As we approached the half-hour mark we were still keeping our discipline and defending solidly and the longer this went on, the more frustrated the home fans would get. I'd barely heard a mention of Haaland so far and that had to be a good thing. In contrast Cherki was at the centre of everything for them. In the thirty-first Dias put them ahead when we failed to close him down and he hit a powerful shot from twenty yards that gave Roefs no chance. City soon won their first corner of the match and when Foden took it, Gvardiol had a free header to put us two-down. Benno said, “Game on!” Gvardiol was soon yellow-carded for a foul on Mukiele, who had to receive treatment but was able to continue. We kept on giving the ball away and needed to be more accurate in our passing if we were to get back into the game. City won their second corner in added-time but we were awarded a free-kick and that was about it for the first period. It remained 2-0 as the half-time whistle went but if we could get the third goal of the game, then we could seize the momentum. I certainly wasn't giving up yet.

I'd wondered what changes Regis would make and when but when the teams emerged for the second period, none had been made. City won another corner in the fifty-second after Doku had hit a post and a Foden shot had been blocked but this time Xhaka got it clear. Next thing we had our best chance so far when Dias made a slip and Isidor smashed a shot on target but Donnarumma saved well. Just afterwards we won our second corner and a Xhaka shot rebounded off their right post. Things were definitely looking up and in the fifty-sixth Brobbey and Talbi came on for Isidor and Traore. Geertruida blocked a Haaland shot on the line and then we were up the other end winning a corner. Benno suggested that we'd take both Xhaka and Sadiki off before too long to save them from getting another yellow and then a ban. In the sixty-fifth City took what would likely be an unassailable lead when Cherki skilfully delivered an inch perfect pass to Foden who’s header came off the underside of the bar to make it 3-0.

Haaland was replaced by Marmoush and at least we'd prevented him from scoring. Foden and Gvardiol were also subbed at the same time. In the seventy-second we  brought on Mundle and Adingra for Sadiki and Xhaka so the latter pair would be available for the derby game. Roefs made a great save from the impressive Cherki and City had another corner, which we managed to clear. I'd wondered if Mundle might nick one back for us and he produced a shot that went high and wide... I was glad to hear that Cherki was being subbed as he'd been outstanding for them throughout. Eight minutes to go and perhaps we'd make a couple more changes? 

O'Nien came on for Hume in the eighty-eighth just before Talbi took another corner for us. We couldn't make anything of it and soon Roefs was making another great save from Doku to give City another corner. We got it clear just as four minutes of added-time were announced. O'Nien was pulled up for a bad foul on Nunes and after a VAR check he was given a red card. Luke was walking off before the decision. It ended 3-0.