Makeshift striker Don Hutchison fired Sunderland to their 50th victory in 75 games at the Stadium of Light to fend off Manchester City's determined challenge.

The former Everton midfielder struck with a quickly-taken free-kick just 19 minutes into a fiercely contested game which could have gone either way as both sides squandered chances.

City goalkeeper Nicky Weaver kept the visitors in it with a superb first-half save from Niall Quinn.

But at the other end Thomas Sorensen blocked a Paul Dickov effort and Shaun Wright-Phillips saw a late header come back off the woodwork.

Sunderland will be delighted to have got back to winning ways after two successive defeats, but Joe Royle's men left knowing that with a little more composure they could have got something out of the game.

The Wearsiders, as expected, made four changes to the side which went out of the Worthington Cup at Crystal Palace on Tuesday night.

Hutchison returned from injury in place of the suspended Kevin Phillips to partner Quinn, back in the starting line-up at the expense of Danny Dichio, up front.

Jody Craddock and Gavin McCann, who like Quinn were rested in midweek, were also handed recalls with Stanislav Varga and Stefan Schwarz making way.

Manchester City also reshuffled their pack as Steve Howey, Richard Dunne, Laurent Charvet and Mark Kennedy all returned in place of the suspended Andy Morrison, Spencer Prior, Gerard Wiekens and Paulo Wanchope, who failed to shake off a knee injury.

The visitors arrived determined to build on a win and a draw in their last two league outings and they began in positive mood despite playing five across midfield and leaving Shaun Goater to battle alone up front.

Goater almost got his side off to the perfect start as he whistled an eighth-minute shot just wide and it took a brave block by McCann to keep out Kennedy's drive five minutes later.

However, that incident proved to be something of a watershed in the game as the Irishman had to leave the field as a result, Dickov taking his place, and within six minutes the complexion of the game had altered radically.

Jeff Whitley was penalised for a foul on Hutchison after being out-foxed by Quinn's back-heel, and as the blue shirts gathered to form a defensive wall Hutchison dispatched the ball beyond the unprepared Weaver's despairing dive to open the scoring.

City skipper Alfie Haaland led the protests but referee David Elleray was unmoved and the goal stood.

It should have been 2-0 minutes later but McCann missed his kick at the far post with the goal at his mercy after Michael Gray had split the visitors' defence.

But Royle had his keeper to thank for keeping his side in contention 12 minutes before the break.

Sunderland-born Howey's header dropped nicely for Quinn 30 yards out and he controlled and volleyed the ball in one movement to draw a superb fingertip save from the England Under-21 international.

City rallied as the half drew to a close but their chances were further dented when Whitley limped off to be replaced by Ian Bishop.

If the first half had been anything but inspiring, there was much more on offer after the break as City pushed Dickov up alongside Goater and went for broke.

The game opened up as a result, Wright-Phillips sending a low drive wide and Dickov forcing a good save from Sorensen.

Goater looked certain to level on 55 minutes when Sorensen could only parry Danny Tiatto's shot but he could not get a touch at the far post, and Black Cats defender Emerson Thome was a little fortunate to see a mishit clearance just loop over his own crossbar.

In the meantime, however, the home side attempted to exploit the widening gaps in the Blues' defence, Hutchison wasting a good opportunity after linking well with Alex Rae and Quinn, and the Irishman firing wide after Arca and Gray had combined down the left.

Haaland fluffed his shot in front of goal on 72 minutes but the feeling that it was not going to be his side's day grew 10 minutes from time when the unmarked Wright-Phillips, the smallest man on the pitch, got his head to Dickov's cross only to see his effort come back off the post.

City continued to push forward as the minutes ticked away but Sunderland managed to hold on to secure the points.

Teams:

Sunderland: Sorensen, Gray, Thome, Williams, Craddock, Arca, Rae, Hutchison (Dichio 82), McCann, Kilbane (Makin 81), Quinn.

Subs Not Used: Macho, Varga, Schwarz.

Booked: McCann, Arca.

Goals: Hutchison 19.

Man City: Weaver, Dunne, Tiatto, Howey, Charvet, Horlock, Haaland, Whitley (Bishop 38), Wright-Phillips, Goater, Kennedy (Dickov 16).

Subs Not Used: Granville, Prior, Wright.

Booked: Whitley, Howey.

Att: 47,475

Ref: D Elleray (Harrow-on-the-Hill).