English Premier
2012-01-01 - Sunderland vs Manchester City
A Sports Betting Pick by Auls
Football: English Premier League
Sunday 1 January 2011 - Kick Off 3pm
This game is live on TV
Sunderland
Martin O'Neill has had an immediate impact at the Stadium of Light since arriving to replace Steve Bruce and has the side moving away from the relegation zone, although there is still some work to be done for the Northern Irishman. This will be the toughest test he has faced since returning to management against high-flying Manchester City.
Sunderland are 15th in the Premier League (before Saturday results have come through) and they have picked up 18 points so far from their games this season. With the way results are going at the time of writing, that would leave them 3 points clear of the sides in the relegation zone. The team are 2-4-3 at the Stadium of Light, scoring 13 goals and conceding 11.
They have picked up 7 points from their 12 available since O'Neill took charge of the club. Sunderland had failed to win in their previous 4 games at the Stadium of Light, but have picked up 4 points from their 2 games under O'Neill. Sunderland have not kept a clean sheet in their last 6 Premier League games.
Phil Bardsley, Titus Bramble and Kieran Richardson are all serious doubts for this game as Sunderland look to begin 2012 in fine fashion.
Manchester City
Manchester City should have enjoyed the last day of 2011 as rivals Manchester United lost at home to Blackburn Rovers while others look to have failed to take advantage of the fact that they are not playing. Now they can open 2012 by setting a real marker for their ambitions in the next calender year.
City are level with Manchester United in terms of points, but could extend their lead to 3 points with a win here. They have a 5-3-1 away record this year, scoring 25 goals and conceding 11, making them the top away scorers in the Premier League.
While I appreciate City's away form this year, it has to be said that they have looked a little more human in their latest efforts, failing to win their last 2 away games. They were also prevented from scoring for the first time in the Premier League this season when they drew 0-0 with West Brom in their last game on Boxing Day. Roberto Mancini's team have also got back to basics in recent weeks by securing 4 clean sheets in their last 5 games.
Carlos Tevez looks set to leave the Etihad Stadium this January, but Mancini has a full squad to choose from here.
Head to Head
Sunderland beat Manchester City 1-0 here last season, their first time beating them at home in 6 attempts.
City have failed to win on their last 2 visits to this ground, but they had won 4 in a row before that.
Prediction
I think all the results on Saturday may just give Manchester City the shot in the arm to come to the Stadium of Light and put some distance between themselves and Manchester United as 2012 begins.
City have hit a bit of a buffer away from home in their last couple of outings, but I think they will be fully focused after seeing how other sides fared on Saturday and will want to put a marker down for the New Year.
Sunderland have played better under Martin O'Neill, but it will still be asking a lot for them to beat Manchester City with the issues they have in front of goal and I think backing City to cover the 1 goal Asian Handicap will be the way forward.
The Statistics :
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The Pick :
Sunderland 0-2 Manchester City
