Kevin Phillips kept Sunderland's promotion drive on track by equalling a
68-year club record.
He scored his 17th of the season, including seven in his last seven games - a feat last achieved back in 1930 when Bob Gurney achieved seven on the trot for the
Wearsiders.
It was a great day for the ex-City contingent in the Sunderland camp - boss
Peter Reid, striker Niall Quinn and winger Nicky Summerbee, returning to their
old club and achieving a vital victory.
City lost their star turn Georgi Kinkladze at half-time and, although they
worked hard, were not in the same class as their visitors.
Quinn tormented his old club with a display of aerial power. The giant Irish
striker, back at City for the first time since he played in the game that saw
the home side relegated from the Premiership two years ago, was a constant
threat.
He got a magnificent reception from his old City fans, while Nicky Summerbee
was booed every time he touched the ball...the home support leaving no doubt
about their feelings towards the son of their former wing legend, Mike.
Sunderland dominated early on with Lee Clark and Alex Rae in midfield looking
an impressive pairing while Kinkladze - playing despite missing training for two
days with severe toothache - found space hard to find.
Richard Edghill was booked after four minutes for a foul on Allan Johnston,
and City fought for long spells to contain a free-flowing Sunderland.
After just seven minutes, Quinn climbed above Kit Symons to power in a header
that Tommy Wright pulled down from under the bar.
City did break out when Craig Russell - also paying against his old club -
raced from midfield and found Paul Dickov in the box. The little Scot hit a shot
on the turn, but Lionel Perez was out swiftly to save at his feet.
City did start getting their act together with a Kinkladze curling free kick
that flashed inches over, and then a stunning Uwe Rosler diving header which
Perez somehow deflected onto a post.
Kinkladze failed to emerge for the second half, young striker Barry Conlon
coming on, and City had two players, Gerard Wiekens and then Murtaz Shelia,
carried off in a gruelling match. Seven bookings summed up the bitter
confrontation.
The key goal came five minutes into the second half when Summerbee crossed
from the right and Phillips got in among tall defenders to force his header past
Wright, his tenth in those seven games.
City battled to force their way back into the game after that, but Sunderland
always looked the better organised, more composed team - particularly with the
studs flying.
Referee Matt Messias didn't help with an inconsistent display, and could
easily have sent off Rosler and Rae for an nasty exchange as Wiekens lay on the
floor waiting to be carried away.
Teams
Man City: Wright, Brightwell, Shelia (Van Blerk 82), Brown,
Symons, Edghill, Wiekens (Brannan 67), Russell, Dickov,
Kinkladze (Conlon 46), Rosler.
Booked: Brown, Edghill, Rosler.
Sunderland: Perez, Holloway, Gray, Clark, Craddock,
Williams (Makin 79), Summerbee, Rae, Quinn, Phillips, Johnston.
Subs Not Used: Ball, Smith.
Booked: Holloway, Craddock, Rae.
Goals: Phillips 55.
Att: 31,715
Ref: M D Messias (York).
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