Half-Time Report: Phil Bardsley strikes to give Sunderland lead

Phil Bardsley's goal midway through the first half has given Sunderland a 1-0 lead over Manchester City in the Premier League.

Sunderland harried their expensively-assembled opponents in the opening exchanges and had the better of the early chances.

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Sebastian Larsson, recalled to the side from midweek's 2-1 League Cup triumph over Southampton, whipped a cross from the right wing onto the head of Steven Fletcher, who headed wide from 12 yards.

The home side took the lead in the 21st minute through an unlikely source, as Bardsley latched onto a through-ball and kept his composure to bend the ball around Costel Pantilimon after pushing past James Milner.

City's best chance of the half fell to Sergio Aguero, but the Argentine could not direct his header on target from Alexander Kolarov's teasing cross.

With Manuel Pellegrini's side pushing for an equaliser, the game became more open, but both sides lacked the quality with the final ball to get any meaningful shots away.