Manchester City travelled to Sunderland in the Premier League on Boxing Day having not beaten the Black Cats at the Stadium of Light in four years.
There was yet more misery for Roberto Mancini's side on Wearside as Adam Johnson scored the decisive goal to see off his former club.
City's Christmas was made even worse with Manchester United coming from behind three times to beat Newcastle United 4-3 and extend their lead at the top of the table to seven points.
Read Sports Mole#s minute-by-minute report below to find out how the action unfolded in the North East.
Merry Christmas everyone and welcome to Sports Mole's live text commentary of this afternoon's Premier League encounter between Sunderland and Manchester City at the Stadium of Light.
So, how has your Christmas been so far? If you're a football fan then this is arguably the best time of the year as we have a full card of fixtures taking place across the leagues today.
We have some team news coming in...
MAN CITY: Hart; Maicon, Kompany, Kolo Toure, Zabaleta; Garcia, Milner; Yaya Toure; Silva, Aguero, Tevez
The big news for today's visitors is that captain Vincent Kompany returns to their starting lineup. The defender was on the bench for Saturday's victory over Reading with a hamstring injury. Meanwhile, Maicon comes into defence in place of Kerim Rekik.
SUNDERLAND: Mignolet; Gardner, Rose, Kilgallon, Cuellar, Larsson, Colback, Johnson, McClean, Sessegnon, Fletcher
There's just the one change for the Black Cats this afternoon as Matthew Kilgallon starts in place of John O'Shea.
SUNDERLAND SUBS: Westwood, Bardsley, Campbell, Wickham, McFadden, Vaughan, Bramble
MAN CITY SUBS: Pantilimon, Lescott, Rekik, Barry, Razak, Sinclair, Dzeko
Right, let's get down to business. Manchester City cut the gap at the top of the table down to four points on the weekend as they left it late to beat Reading 1-0 at the Etihad Stadium. Meanwhile, leaders Manchester United could only manage a 1-1 draw at Swansea City. If things go right for the champions today, they could find themselves just a point behind their nearest and dearest.
Sunderland gave themselves a big boost on Saturday as Steven Fletcher helped the grab a 1-0 win at Southampton, but their troubles are far from over. If results don't go their way, Martin O'Neill's men could be just a point from safety come 4.45pm.
When these two teams met back in October, City ran out comfortable 3-0 winners thanks to goals from Aleksandar Kolarov, Sergio Aguero and James Milner.
Of course, one former City player who will be facing his former club today is Adam Johnson. The winger struggled to get a look in at the Etihad following his move from Middlesbrough in February 2010, but he's looks to be enjoying his football far more since a £12m move to Sunderland over the summer.
The 25-year-old had some interesting words ahead of October's match between the two sides, warning younger players to think twice before they joined City. Maybe Scott Sinclair should have taken heed of Johnson's advice...
Anyway, I'm sure that Sunderland will be looking to Johnson to cause his former side plenty of problems out wide this afternoon. However, City's big concern should be Steven Fletcher in attack. The Scot scored his eighth goal of the season on Saturday to earn his team a 1-0 win at fellow strugglers Southampton. He may not be the most spectacular striker in the league, but he can be lethal in the box.
That said, goals have been hard to come by for Sunderland this season - six other players have chipped in with a total of 10 strikes between them in the league.
If the Black Cats have been struggling for goals then one defining feature of Manchester City's season is that players from all parts of the pitch have been popping up when it matters.
There was another great example of that on Saturday when Gareth Barry headed in a 92nd-minute winner against Reading. Granted, he was climbing all over Nicky Shorey, but still...
So, what about the history between these two teams? Well, Sunderland actually have a decent record at home against City, winning 36 of the 66 matches played. Today's visitors have won a previous 18 times in the North East.
The last time City DID win at Sunderland was a 3-0 triumph in August 2009. Since then they've taken just one point from a possible nine.
Who can forget last season's encounter at the Stadium of Light? You know the one: Ji Dong-Won's late winner on New Year's Day. Made all the more memorable for Martin Tyler's commentary for Sky Sports: "JIIIIIIIIIIIII!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"
Only 10 minutes until kickoff!
PREDICTION TIME: If Sunderland were to get anything from this match today then it'll rival any shock witnessed on last night's EastEnders. That said, they took four points off City last season and Roberto Mancini has yet to win a Premier League game at thew Stadium of Light. However, City are keeping the defence of their title ticking over nicely and they should come away with the spoils today. I'm plumping for a fairly routine 2-0 victory for the champions.
Here come the players out of the tunnel and the crowd seem pretty pumped up. The Stadium of Light looks to be reaching full capacity.
Here we go then, it'll be Sunderland to get us underway...
The home side threaten an early attack down the left with Fletcher, but the City defence clear the danger.
It's a very encouraging start from Sunderland here. They're keeping possession very well, making City work hard for the ball.
The hosts have a free kick on the right side after a foul on Johnson, but the winger's delivery is a very poor one indeed. A better ball there and City could have been in trouble.
SAVE! Close for City there! Kompany's header froma corner comes back off the crossbar and the hosts manage to hack away the danger.
City have a free kick fairly central on the edge of the box that Silva likes the look of. The Spaniard eventually tries to curl it into the near post, but he gets it all wrong and the ball flies well over.
James Milner is getting plenty of boos from the home fans when he's on the ball. They don't forget former Newcastle players here. Meanwhile, Yaya Toure has a crack at goal which Mignolet watches fly harmlessly over.
City build a decent attack coming forward, only for Silva to pass to no one, allowing Sunderland to surge forward. However, it comes to nothing.
CHANCE! Sunderland fail to clear a City corner and the ball is eventually threaded through to Kompany on the angle. The Belgian gets his low shot away early, but Cuellar slides in to block. That one looked like it was going in the far corner.
OH DEAR! Gardner and Larsson line up a free kick from about 30 yards out for the hosts and it's the former who hits it. High and wide.
Sunderland are starting to build some pressure now, especially through Johnson and Rose on the flanks.
SAVE! It's a wonderful stop from Mignolet. Aguero surges down the left and manages to square for Silva. The Spaniard flicks it towards goal first time, only for the Belgian to stick his leg out and save.
SAVE! It's all about the goalkeepers at the moment as Hart denies Gardner at the other end with a fabulous save. The shot was struck low and hard, but the England international did well to turn it away from goal.
The Sunderland fans enjoyed that. Milner received the ball from Tevez on the edge of the box before he launched the ball into the stands. Cue sarcastic cheers from the home supporters.
We've had half an hour played at the Stadium of Light and it remains goalless. City have had the better of the opening stages, but Sunderland are looking confident in attack.
PENALTY APPEAL! The Sunderland fans want a spot kick as Nastasic tussles with Fletcher in the box. However, their protests are waved away. That could have gone either way.
CLOSE! That's brilliant defending from Kompany as the City captain cuts out McClean's cross with Fletcher waiting in the middle. The Belgian had to time that perfectly and he did.
At the other end we see similar heroics from Sunderland midfielder McClean. Tevez thought that he'd created himself in the box to get a shot away, but McClean snuffs out the chance with a last-ditch challenge.
CHANCE! Sunderland break quickly up the pitch before the ball eventually falls to Johnson on the right side of the box. Larsson busts a lung to get into the middle and he's calling for the ball with no City shirts around him, but Johnson takes too long and his pass is cut out.
YELLOW CARD: referee Kevin Friend dishes out the first booking of the day as Kompany blocks Sessegnon with the forward running at goal.
YELLOW CARD: Yaya Toure goes into the book now for arguing with the referee. Silly boy.
CLOSE! Larsson takes the resulting free kick and smashes it into the wall. The ball comes back out to the Swede, who lashes the ball wide. One minute added time.
HALF TIME: Sunderland 0-0 Man City
The whistle goes and the Sunderland fans give their players a big ovation for their efforts in the first half. Manchester City had the better chances, particularly a Vincent Kompany header that came back off the crossbar, but the Black Cats are still very much in this one.
Of course there are six other Premier League matches currently taking place, so here come the half-time scores...
PREMIER LEAGUE HALF-TIME SCORES:
Everton 0-0 Wigan
Fulham 1-0 Southampton
Man Utd 1-2 Newcastle
Norwich 0-1 Chelsea
Reading 0-0 Swansea
You don't need me to tell you that the standout score from those games in Newcastle's 2-1 lead at Manchester United. What a day it could be for City if that stays the same and they go on to win at Sunderland.
So, what do City need to do in the second half to make tat elusive breakthrough? To be fair, they've produced some good link-up play in the final third, but they need to test Mignolet more in the Sunderland goal.
I should have mentioned that QPR vs. West Brom kicked off 15 minutes behind schedule this afternoon. The Baggies currently lead 1-0 through Chris Brunt's goal.
Sunderland's game plan wasn't overly flawed in that opening 45 minutes, but they'll need to keep their concentration in the second half with a probable City onslaught to come. As Reading found out to their disadvantage on Saturday - you have to stay focused until the final whistle against the champions.
Okay the, both sets of players are out for this second half. Neither side has made any changes at the break and it will be Manchester City to get us going again.
Sunderland have started this second half with some earlier pressure, but City manage to hack away a couple of crosses.
Sunderland have started this second half with some earlier pressure, but City manage to hack away a couple of crosses.
The Black Cats keep the pressure up well with a couple of corner kicks, though the deliveries aren't the greatest and City win a free kick following some shirt pulling in the area.
GOAL! Sunderland 1-0 Man City (Johnson)
We have some real controversy for this goal, but the Sunderland fans or players don't care. City are convinced that Zabaleta was fouled in the build up before Johnson's shot crept in at Hart's near post. The possible foul aside, that was some woeful goalkeeping from England's number one. He really should have dealt with that.
CHANCE! Sunderland have their tails up now. Sessegnon has a go at goal, but he drags his effort narrowly wide.
City manager Roberto Mancini is still raging at the referee over the goal. It looked to be a 50/50 challenge between Zabaleta and Kilgallon, but the visitors had plenty of time to stop the goal.
BOOKING: Ooh, that's a nasty one. Nastasic comes in through the back of Fletcher and he rightly picks up a yellow card. Martin O'Neill didn't like that one bit.
What a tackle from Rose. Yaya Toure drove into the penalty area and the Sunderland full-back timed his challenge to perfection. City are starting to get frustrated.
Sunderland are on top in terms of possession in this second half. They've had 57% of the ball.
Now then, Kompany is very close to getting a second yellow here. Like his first booking, he blocks off McClean, but this time he gets just a ticking off.
Incredible defending from Sunderland. Simply superb. Yaya Toure and Zabaleta both have attempts at goal, only to be crowded out by a number of Sunderland bodies. My word, they've been committed today.
Well held by Mignolet. Zabaleta hacks a cross into the area and the Belgian shotstopper come off his line confidently to collect.
SAVE! Brilliant again from Mignolet! Aguero is played through on the angle, but his first-time effort is parried away.
That could well be Mignolet's best save of the afternoon. He's been immense for the Black Cats.
SUBSTITUTION: Manchester City make the first change of the afternoon as Edin Dzeko comes on for Carlos Tevez. The Argentine didn't look too happy with that.
Yet more sarcastic cheers from the Sunderland fans and that can mean only one thing - a Milner miss. This time the midfielder whacks a free kick well over the bar.
CHANCE! Dzeko has his first strike at goal from the edge of the box, but Mignolet gets down to gather the ball after it had come through a number of bodies.
SUBSTITUTION: Sunderland make their first swap now as Frazier Campbell replaces Seb Larsson.
WHAT A SAVE! Brilliant from Hart! Campbell played a lovely ball through to Sessegnon and the forward tried to poke it past the onrushing City goalkeeper. However, Hart just about did enough to keep the ball out. How crucial could that be come the final whistle?
City are really cranking up the heat now, as expected. Sunderland are going to have to stay o focused during these final few minutes.
CHANCE! Campbell could have wrapped it up there for the home side! Sessegnon's initial effort is saved and Campbell can only fire straight at Hart with the rebound from 10 yards out. Either side of the goalkeeper and this one would have been over. As it is, City live to fight on.
SUBSTITUTION: Gareth Barry replaces Kolo Toure for Manchester City.
The visitors are playing so high up the pitch now that any kind of Sunderland break could prove lethal.
CHANCE! Sunderland do break and it's McClean who has the shot at goal on the angle. It's a poor effort in the end though and goes wide. Meanwhile, Danny Rose receives a huge ovation as he comes off for Phil Bardsley.
SUBSTITUTION: City make their final change now as Joleon Lescott replaces Javi Garcia.
We'll have four minutes of added time at the Stadium of Light. Can Manchester City salvage something?
The visitors are huffing and puffing but it's just not happening for them as Silva's through ball is collected by Mignolet.
Could that be it for City? A late corner sees Joe Hart come forward, but the chance comes to Milner, who lashes over from 18 yards.
FULL TIME: Sunderland 1-0 Man City
Incredible. Absolutely incredible. Sunderland have beaten champions Manchester City 1-0 and it's fully deserved. The home side have been sensational this afternoon, soaking up City pressure with one of the most committed performances that you'll be likely to see this season.
Anyway, that's all from me for today. We hope that you've enjoyed the coverage here on Sports Mole and be sure to keep up to date with all of your sports news with use over the festive period. Have a merry Christmas!
Written by
Jack Prescott
Jack Prescott
