Manchester City 2 Sunderland 1

AN own goal three minutes from time by new signing Paddy McNair saw Sunderland suffer a cruel defeat on the opening day of the season.

They were heading for a creditable 1-1 draw at Manchester City, a result which would have hurt the big-spending hosts on the day Pep Guardiola’s new era at the Etihad began.

Instead it was David Moyes’ tenure which started disappointingly.

McNair inadvertently headed into his own net just four minutes after coming on, handing Man City the points when attempting to cut out a Jesus Navas cross.

While the game ended in the worst manner possible for Moyes, it also started awfully, Sunderland falling 1-0 behind after only four minutes with Sergio Aguero scoring from the spot.

Left-back Van Aanholt conceded it, foolishly going to ground and tripping livewire Raheem Sterling, Aguero finishing with certainty and it turned into a torrid start for the Black Cats.

A blur of blue shirts invaded Sunderland’s half and a second goal appeared inevitable.

Aanholt spooned a cross over his own crossbar, Aguero saw snap-shot after a corner saved low down by Vito Mannone, and a Sterling effort was over the bar.

With Guardiola on the sidelines, complete in slim-fit grey suit, encouraging and gesticulating, City were in control but unable to add a second goal before the break.

Manuel Nolito, one of City’s summer signings, had the hosts’ next sight of goal, cutting in from the left and firing a shot wide of the far post, Sunderland had to weather the storm, building their way into the game.

With John O’Shea selected in deep midfield position intended to provide protection to a back-four featuring the wantaway Lamine Kone, the Black Cats regained some semblance of shape as the match’s pace slowed.

Tedium took over, but that will have suited Sunderland as they stemmed the tide and eventually saw sight of City’s goal.

Man City keeper Willy Caballero, who Guardiola had selected to replace the axed Joe Hart, raced out of his box to clear a through ball aimed for Jermain Defoe, who moments later felt he should have had a penalty.

Debutant John Stones barged into the diminutive striker, but referee Robert Madley played on.

Caballero’s best first-half moment, and Sunderland’s best chance, came when the keeper reacted quickly to save at close-range from Defoe.

There were few scoring opportunities at the beginning of the second half, the level of entertainment not being high, although Aguero was wide with a half-chance after Sterling went down the outside to get to the line.

With 25 minutes to go Moyes made a double substitution, Adnan Januzaj and Wahbi Khazri entering the fray. The new boss had to try and something, but City then had two glimpses of goal.

Mannone saved a Kevin De Bruyne free-kick, and then a Younes Kaboul header was claimed by the Cats goalkeeper just before substitute Navas got there.

Then came Jermain Defoe’s equaliser.

It was out of the blue, there had been little warning of Sunderland forcing a scoring chance, but in the 71st minute the frontman demonstrated his predatory instincts by scoring one of his few chances.

Fabio Borini had played the ball in-field to Jack Rodwell and his through-ball was turned home by veteran Defoe for his 144th Premier League goal.

With victory having seemingly slipped out of their grasp, City went on the attack, Sunderland were back under the cosh and Moyes reacted by sending on McNair for Defoe, the new signing taking up a position in midfield.

A City winner almost came when Sterling crossed into danger area after a Delph’s cross-field pass, but Kaboul intercepted.

But with three minutes to go came the fatal blow. McNair headed the ball into the net when attempting to cut out Navas’s right-wing cross, a hammer blow for the player on his debut on loan from Manchester United.

Goals: Aguero pen (4, 1-0); Defoe (71, 1-1); McNair og (87, 2-1)

Bookings: Gooch (42, dissent); Kolarov (90, foul)

Referee: Robert Madley

Manchester City (4-1-4-1): Caballero, Sagna, Stones, Kolarov, Clichy (Iheanacho 80), Fernandinho, Silva (Delph 64), Nolito (Navas 59), De Bruyne, Sterling, Aguero. Subs (not used): Hart (gk), Zabaleta, Fernando, Otamendi

Sunderland (4-4-1-1): Mannone, Love, Kaboul, Kone, O’Shea, van Aanholt, Rodwell, Gooch (Khazri 64), Watmore (Januzaj 64), Borini, Defoe (McNair 83). Subs (not used): Pickford (gk), Djilobodji, Lens, Asoro

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