SOBS V MAN CITY

The Lads, having dusted themselves off from Anfield, headed to Manchester (the blue bit), and Reg's birthday but were, for the first time this season, well and truly outclassed. While Ballard did a brilliant job on Haaland, that left other Blues free to pester us.

Which they did, and we can't really complain at the outcome as they brought hundreds of £millions of talent off the bench when they felt like it.

No doubt refreshed by Friday evening's presentation of the FIFA Peace award by Infantino to President Infantile of the USA and the hideously complicated draw that Rio Ferdinand somehow negotiated without messing up, our fans were on the road again in the usual numbers. No injuries or suspensions to worry about - but what about next Sunday? Tactical changes with that game in mind or the pragmatic approach of picking the best options to get a result against the Blues? The latter.

Unlike some unlucky others, I didn't receive the "you've been selected for a random spot check and your ticket has been deactivated… go to the ticket office" email. Bring back paper tickets now, we cried as the Liverpool team bus went the other way on the wet M62, with Isak still trying to get out of Big Dan's pocket. Bury was equally wet but thankfully dried up during our refreshment stop as the team news came in, with some changes from Wednesday, which is understandable

Roefs

Hume Alderete Mukiele Ballard Geertruida

Sadiki Xhaka (c)

Traore Isidor Le Fee

...and a bench of Patterson, Rigg, Brobbey, Mayenda, Mundle, O'Nien, Adringa, and Talbi.

No sign of Anfield's top man Reinaldo, which was a shame.

Never mind, we can cope with that and the inevitable Manchester rain. As the security person doing my search asked "feeling lucky?" I replied "born a Sunderland fan. Of course I do"

As we faced the far end, thankfully in the stripes, City set things away and the pattern for the damp afternoon was quickly set - they'd have lots of the ball and run into our solid back line- most of the time. With Hume at left back and Nordi on the right, we pretty much conceded a lot of space to them further up the field- which they found with monotonous regularity. While Big Dan was doing his job and I was wondering why Haaland wasn't demanding a transfer to a side who'd actually try crossing to a 6'5" centre forward, we were twice caught offside by immediately-raised flags- what happened to the now customary wait until the move had progressed?

Apart from that couple of unfortunately halted forays, the ball spent the majority of the opening period on our half, with City more than happy to pass it about and wait, or give it to Djoku who was obviously back in his instructed "just fanny about with it, but don't you dare put in a cross' mode that had so many of us screaming at MOTD last season.

Despite the very obvious fact that City were the better side, the ref seemed determined to give them a free at every opportunity, and passed up the chance to wave a yellow when they kicked the ball way when we did get a decision. Boo.

A minute after that, Enzo hit one into the side netting but we spent most of our time successfully keeping City away from Roefs. They scooped a cross from their left across our goal before Foden sliced it wide, and when we got it upfield from the goal kick Nordi fed Issy and he won a corner - the game's first, on twenty. Unfortunately, City are quite good at defending and got it away, and on the half hour Dias hit one from distance that nobody could have stopped.

Bah, and it got worse. Before we'd had time to give our heads the necessary collective shake, a corner on our left was firmly headed in by Gvardiol. No matter that they'd cleverly hoyed a potential marker out of they way - apparently that's allowed in the Prem and we need to learn to deal with it.

Game over, really, as despite our reputation for late heroics and comebacks, this did look a bridge too far against a side of City's quality.

There was a yellow for their second scorer as he ended our break on halfway - dark arts, Lads, learn them quickly - but no foul throw when their man's conveniently yellow boots were very obviously both on the pitch when taking a throw. Ha'way, linesman, you were quick enough to spot offsides!

Three added minutes took place, and they ended with a City corner being defended. Two down - a bit unlucky? Probably not, to be unbiased for a change.

No changes for the second half, and after we'd held tight for five minutes they went route one and launched one at Haaland - he gave it to Djoku, who hit the post and Foden's shot was blocked. Getting desperate, Lads.

We had a bit of a spell of pressure, with Issy having a shot well saved and Xhaka belting one off the post from our right after an Enzo corner on our left, and we swapped Traore for Talbi and Brobbey for Issy, but after Gerty got one off the line they simply popped it up for Foden to nod in.

Ah. Twenty five to go, what could we do?

After a Gerty shot over, on came Mundle and Adringa for Sadiki and Xhaka as we either a) went for bust down the flanks, or b) protected our central midfielders from a daft yellow.

I'll go for the latter, bearing in mind what's at stake next Sunday.

Mundle actually caused them a few problems, as did Adringa as they doubled up on our left, but the best we could muster was a Romaine shot way over.

On came Luke, four added minutes were announced, and his second contribution was a clatter on halfway that brought a yellow. Just to make things worse, the ref was called to the telly and upgraded/downgraded it to a red. Aye, right.

0-3, against by far the best side we've played this season - patient to the point of frustration (if I were a City fan, which I'm not) they just wait and wait then - bang! You're dead.

Mind, I did think their fans' chants of "where were you when you were sh##e" were more than a bit cheeky, considering we'd been there when they weren't and half of their North Stand seats were overed.

Success brings in the glory-hunters, doesn't it?

Man of the Match? As I said, Big Dan snuffed out Haaland and also managed set away a few of our attacks, so he gets my vote.

Let's reset and get ready.