City grind out win
Ireland's superb strike downed the Black Cats
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Monday, 05, Nov 2007 10:56
Manchester City dug out a determined 1-0 win over Sunderland to climb to third in the Premier League table after a dour match at Eastlands.
Although the clash was far from a classic, the deciding strike was an isolated moment of quality.
Stephen Ireland cracked a piledriver of a volley in between Craig Gordon's legs just after the hour mark to edge the hosts in front before they successfully held off the Black Cats' increasingly-dangerous attacks for the final third.
Just as they finished the match the stronger, Sunderland had City on the ropes in the opening stages as well.
Danny Collins and Anthony Stokes both headed decent chances wide before Grant Leadbitter rolled a tame shot off target after bursting through on Joe Hart's goal.
Sven Goran Eriksson side soon tightened up at the back and showed a glimmer of attacking flair at the other end with Brazilian Elano predictably to the fore.
However, with both sides looking far from incisive, it always seemed that it would require a special individual effort to break the deadlock.
The build-up to Ireland's goal saw Darius Vassell swapping passes with Elano before haring down the left flank and whipping in an inviting cross which the midfielder lashed home.
Sunderland mounted a spirited search for a point towards the end of the match with top-scorer Kenwyne Jones and Leadbitter both coming close to turning in crosses from Ross Wallace.
But the home side did an effective job of closing the game out and held on to make it seven win from seven home games this season.