Sunderland V Manchester City Betting: Sunday, 14th March (Sky Sports)

Sunderland V Manchester City

Sunday, 14^th March – 16:00 GMT

TV Coverage: Sky Sports 1

Sunderland

League Position: 13th

Recent Form: DDLDW

Sunderland fans, players and staff were all breathing a collective sigh of relief as the club finally ended their baron run of fourteen games without a win with victory over Bolton. Their opponents maybe struggling right now with their relegation problems, but the win was so craved that it does not matter how the win came about or even who against, just that this morale sapping winless run of theirs is over. Steve Bruce can now start plotting a serious charge away from the drop zone after that elusive victory, but will his players fall back into their familiar slumber or will they respond positively with another vital win?

You got fourteen league games without winning then BAM, you go and smash Bolton Wanderers 4-0 at The Stadium of Light. Come the end, Sunderland were emphatic and could of scored more. However, despite Frazier Campbell opening the scoring after just a minute, Sunderland made a shaky start to proceedings, one so bad that Bolton have a good two or three decent chances to equalise. For once though, luck was on Sunderland’s side as they whether the mini Bolton onslaughts only to reap the rewards later on with three second half goals, Sunderland’s first four goal haul in over five months.

A big performance from Sunderland was well overdue after a superb start to the season which had fans and pundits alike predicting a possible European finish. However, perhaps some arrogance, or even inexperience, kicked in as Sunderland started to race downhill from about October onwards, with their spiral of disappointing results leaving them in such a precarious position that relegation was, and still is, a genuine possibility, although that much needed win over Bolton on Tuesday did help their cause greatly, with the Black Cats enforcing a a healthy six point gap between them and the relegation zone.

Sunderland may have won the battle but the the war isn’t over as the fans never anticipated their campaign ending in a relegation avoiding push. Far from it in fact, so it’s now down to the management and playing staff to continue where they left off on Tuesday, winning games whilst actually scoring. A mid-table finish is the least the Sunderland fans expect after seeing millions shelled out during the summer, but that winning result is still just a drop in the ocean in comparison to the long list of terrible results gone before it, so this making up act of theirs to the fans is still ongoing.

Manchester City

League Position: 5th

Recent Form: LWDDW

Man City’s hopes of ending the season in that elusive fourth spot were boosted by the defeat of Liverpool in midweek, with this race for fourth now looking a three horse race between themselves, Aston Villa and Tottenham, although the bookies have made City the favourites to clinch fourth position, with Champions League football the reward for the winner. However, for City to justify the favouritism shown in them by bookmakers around the country, they would need to start winning games on a more consistent basis. Their sensational 4-2 win at Chelsea is certainly an ideal platform to build from, but City have been known to nod off after important wins, so will they fall into a familiar slumber when they travel to The Stadium of Light on Sunday? 

With City not in action over the weekend due to it being FA Cup week, and City no longer involved in that competition, although not without the want of trying, Mancini’s men should be the fresher of the two sets of players especially as their opponents, Sunderland, were involved in Premiership action only last Tuesday. After a stunning victory at Stamford Bridge, the City players probably needed a good week or so off just to digest what they had actually achieved against Chelsea; becoming the first team in something like 36 games to dethrone Chelsea on their own patch… emphatically, it has to be said.

While the final result was extremely pleasing, and the manner in which they finished Chelsea off was ruthless, City didn’t start the clash at all well, barely spending any time on the ball let alone troubling an exposed Hilario in the Chelsea goal. However, some resolute play and determination from Tevez, who else, changed the complex of the game as his scruffy opener just before the break turned the game completely on it’s head, and in City’s favour. City were domineering in the second period, whilst clinical on the break, especially with Bellamy’s pace down the left. However, the difference for us was Carlos Tevez as his hunger and drive at Stamford Bridge was second to none, and it was his somewhat controversial antics which geed up the rest of the City team, much to the annoyance of the Chelsea fans and players.

For us, Carlos Tevez is now at a similar level to that of Wayne Rooney or a Steven Gerrard in that without a Carlos Tevez in the starting line up, City look toothless and deprived of ideas. There is no doubting the fact City have a host of quality players but very few would stand out in a crowd when times are rough, and we couldn’t pinpoint a single one whom would continue to fight on for the City cause regardless of the current score, and City now have that in Tevez, and even Bellamy as well in some respect. When these two play, and they haven’t been doing so of late for whatever reason, City are a more dangerous outfit, with Bellamy’s pace and persistence down the flank and Tevez’s reluctance to stop running and being an ever present pest. The pair make City what they are at present; a dangerous opponent with a lethal cutting edge to them, while the last time Sunderland clashed with the pair of them was back at The City of Manchester Stadium last December, when both Tevez and Bellamy got on the score sheet. Deja vu, perhaps?

Match Verdict: Draw – 3.40 Bet365

This fixture is so difficult to weigh up after Sunderland’s recent revival act at home to Bolton. Had Sunderland continued in their winless rut then City would have been almost a shoo-in in our eyes, although perhaps their inconsistent away past could come into affect now that we need to start looking for negatives for both sides, instead of a quickie punt on Man City to win. That win for Sunderland over Bolton does throw a spanner ij the words as it should breathe some confidence into the players after some previously lacklustre efforts in their league games. City, though, make the relatively short trip top Tyneside off the back of a morale boosting win at Stamford Bridge and will surely be on top of the world in the knowledge that they can beat absolutely anyone on their day, plus Liverpool lost on Monday so it’s been the perfect two week spell for the blues from Manchester.

These two played out a thriller in the reverse meeting at The City of Manchester, with City edging that entertaining encounter 4-3. That game focused on two lousy defences, but that really shouldn’t be the case the second time around, at least from City’s perspective as while their back four is far from impenetrable, it has improved since they conceded three at home to Steve Bruce’s Black Cats. Then again, all four of the previous clashes at The Stadium of Light have ended with three or more goals in them, so don’t listen to us and get on the goals.

Match Odds:

Sunderland – 3.75 Boylesports

Draw – 3.40 Bet365

Manchester City – 2.20 SkyBet

SoccerBetting Value Pick: Both teams to score (YES) – 1.91 WilliamHill