Home defeat for the Black Cats

5:16pm Saturday 12th April 2008

Darius Vassell came off the bench to snatch a rare away victory for Manchester City in a dramatic finish at Sunderland.

A game which remained goalless for 79 minutes exploded into life when referee Mike Riley awarded a penalty for Nyron Nosworthy's challenge on substitute Daniel Sturridge and Elano calmly converted from the spot.

But that was only the beginning of the fireworks as Dean Whitehead levelled with a sweet 82nd-minute volley to set the stage for a grand finale.

However, while late goals have become a feature of Sunderland's season, it was the visitors who snatched all three points at the death when Vassell scuffed the ball past Craig Gordon with just three minutes remaining to end the Black Cats three-game winning run and claim just his sides second victory in eight attempts.

DEAN WHITEHEAD doesn't usually score goals; in fact he hadn't scored this season - until now. But having pulled Sunderland level with an exceptional first time volley eight minutes from time, Whitehead and the rest of his team-mates will be frustrated after conceding another late on. And, with results for Bolton and Fulham also going against the Black Cats, perhaps this relegation fight is not won just yet. Manager Roy Keane will be privately seething tonight, after watching his players dominate most of a Premier League fixture with City yet end up losing. There will be three elements to that. Firstly he will be annoyed by his side's failure to convert the numerous chances they had in front of goal. Secondly he will be amazed by the incredibly poor refereeing display from Leeds official Mike Riley, who somehow awarded a City penalty when Daniel Sturridge tripped over his own legs in the area. And thirdly, Keane will be riled by the way Sunderland lost this game despite clawing themselves level courtesy of Whitehead's thunderbolt. Now, with a trip to Newcastle on the agenda next Sunday, perhaps Premier League safety is not assured just yet.

After an instantly forgettable first half, the Black Cats dominated in the second and looked the more likely winners.

But Rileys intervention sparked an eventful finish to the game to leave Roy Keane bemoaning one that got away.

On a day when Sunderland knew they could mathematically ensure their participation in next seasons top flight, a bumper crowd of 46,797 arrived in eager anticipation.

But as the home fans applauded their side off the field at the break, they did so having witnessed as dull a half of football as they have seen all season.

City arrived on Wearside having won only one of their last seven games and intent on not tasting defeat at the Stadium of Light.

To that end, they were content to pack their midfield and leave lone striker Benjani Mwaruwari to fend for himself with support from Martin Petrov and Elano.

However, that support materialised only fleetingly, and it was not until injury time at the end of the first half that the visitors managed to register a shot on goal with Petrov seeing his effort blocked and Stephen Ireland firing the rebound high over.

Keane's side were more positive, but could not quite find their rhythm as they attempted to rediscover the form which had brought them successive wins over Aston Villa, West Ham and Fulham.

Their best chance arrived with 23 minutes gone when Michael Chopra, once again lining up wide on the right, and Kieran Richardson combined to put Kenwyne Jones in on goal

The powerful striker held off the equally physical Richard Dunne to get his shot in, but keeper Joe Hart made an important save.

Thereafter, Dunne threw himself into the path of Chopra's 32nd-minute drive and Ireland blocked Andy Reid's free-kick two minutes before the break, but Sunderland simply could not find a way past the massed ranks of blue shirts.

Sven-Goran Eriksson would have been the happier manager as he headed for the dressing room, but there was little doubt that both sides would have to improve significantly if they were to stand a chance of collecting all three points.

Keane opted for change at the break when he sent on Grant Leadbitter for Richardson and pushed Andy Reid out to the left wing.

But it was Daryl Murphy who was presented with a good opportunity within four minutes of the restart when Reid's cross found him beyond the far post.

The Irishman controlled well and moved the ball on to his left foot, but then curled his shot high over the bar.

Reid was becoming increasingly influential as his side stepped up the pace with Chopra too putting the home defence under pressure.

Sunderland were finding more and more space as the game wore on, but were guilty of not using it to best effect on the hour when Reid and Murphy carved City apart, but could not put Hart under pressure.

Murphy saw a shot blocked behind by Dunne and Jonny Evans headed the resulting corner wide, and it was then that Keane decided the time had come to introduce winger Carlos Edwards, whose omission from the starting line-up had been the only change to the side which won at Fulham last weekend.

Phil Bardsley came to the rescue when the ball ricocheted into the path of Michael Johnson with 19 minutes remaining as Sunderland were almost caught on the counter.

But the home side fell behind with 11 minutes remaining when Sturridge went down under Nosworthy's challenge and Elano converted from the spot with ease.

Within three minutes, however, Sunderland were back on terms when Whitehead smashed Reid's cross past Hart, but the reprieve was short-lived as Vassell sent the travelling fans into raptures.

Watch the match highlights from Monday, April 14

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