19-12-09 Manchester City vs Sunderland

Draw specialists Man City will look to put their 3-0 drubbing to Tottenham behind them and take advantage of Sunderlands poor current form.

Manchester City have had a solid start to the season, losing only twice but picking up more ‘bore draws’ than any other team in the league. With money to burn and international class players they are doing as expected and hanging on to the top four’s coat tails. Losing 3-0 to Tottenham has indeed been a set back but with a squad free in the most part from injury and facing a Sunderland team with only one away win in seventeen Mark Hughes will be confident his boys can get back to winning ways. City will be looking to the likes of Adebayor, and the rejuvenated Carlos Teves to spearhead the attack and Sunderland will have to provide a stern defensive repost to get anything out of this game.

After a great start to the season, Sunderland now find themselves at the bottom the form league for the premiership – having only won only twice in the last nine games, albeit these wins came against the top opposition of Arsenal and Liverpool. Steve Bruce seems to have the uncanny knack of getting the best out of his players in the big games but he has yet to couple that with an away performance, apart from their admirable 2-2 draw with Manchester united at Old Trafford earlier in the season. Sunderland really need a similar sort of performance to that game, and they will welcome back long term injury victim Lee Cattermole with open arms. Youngster Daryl Henderson may still continue his run in the team with Lorik Cana missing out due to suspension. I think Sunderland have the capabilities to pull off a surprise result but I’m still siding with a Man City win here

Verdict: Home win Man City (1)
Odds: 4/9
Bookmaker: William Hill