Platt: Aguero strike calmed City

Manchester City assistant manager David Platt feels Sergio Aguero’s goal helped to settle his team in their victory over Sunderland.

Hosts City led courtesy of Aleksander Kolarov’s early free-kick in the English Premier League match at Etihad Stadium.

They had to wait until the 60th minute for substitute Sergio Aguero to double the advantage, with James Milner grabbing the third on 89 minutes.

According to Platt, opening up a two-goal buffer allowed the reigning champions to dictate terms in earnest.

“Sometimes when you change a game, I mean, when Sergio (Aguero) came on we got the second goal and I think that’s when the performance got better,” he said.

“When you’ve got a little bit of daylight, the fear factor of conceding goes which might be there when it’s 1-0 and I think we played with a bit more freedom when we got the second.”

Platt believes City’s comprehensive victory was in no small part a reaction from the players after they were outclassed and fortunate to draw 1-1 at home to Borussia Dortmund on Wednesday.

“To be honest with you games have gone for and against us this year but there wasn’t much difference today in terms of that,” he said.

“Whenever you come off the back of bad result, like we had in midweek, then you always get a reaction and that what we got here.”

Sunderland manager Martin O’Neill was disappointed with the meek manner of his team’s defeat after they weathered the storm early in Manchester.

“We were well beaten by a superior team. I have very little complaint,” he said.

“My complaint obviously is with us. When we had possession of the ball we gave it away too easily and when we came in at half-time we could have been in trouble, but we were still in with a chance.

“We attacked too infrequently and the second goal was a big moment because it allowed them to go and display all their ability without the concern of conceding a goal.

“They deserved to win. They were much, much better than us.”