City continue fine home form
Micah Richards headed in a free-kick for the winner
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Sunday, 22, Mar 2009 09:50
Manchester City missed a penalty but still beat ten-man Sunderland 1-0 at Eastlands.
George McCartney was red-carded for the Black Cats early on, before Robinho's tame spot-kick was saved.
Micah Richards netted the winner in the second-half to move City into ninth place, while Sunderland slip to 14th.
The injury-prone Valeri Bojinov made a rare start for City and came close to setting up the opener when he sent Shaun-Wright Phillips through on goal, but the winger's clipped finish drifted inches wide.
Sunderland's hopes of victory were in tatters in a matter of minutes. First, McCartney was sent off on his 150th appearance for the club after tugging back Wright-Phillips.
Then, they conceded a penalty when Steed Malbranque brought down Richards on 19 minutes. But Robinho, who has not scored this year, continued his wretched form by stroking his spot-kick straight at keeper Marton Fulop.
City tried to capitalise on their man advantage with Robinho's diving header saved by Fulop while Bojinov headed over from Elano’s corner.
A similar pattern continued in the second-half with Hughes' men continuing to be wasteful in front of goal. Wright-Phillips was the latest to spurn a golden opportunity when he blazed over.
But their efforts were finally rewarded when Richards ghosted past his marker to head in Elano's free-kick into the corner on 56 minutes.
Sunderland boss Ricky Sbragia brought on Djibril Cisse and Andy Reid and the substitutes nearly combined to score the equaliser but were denied by a last-ditch challenge from Richard Dunne.
City came agonisingly close to sealing victory in the dying minutes with Elano dragging his effort wide when sent clear, but they held on to maintain their fine home form.