Manchester City battle to gritty win at Sunderland

A solitary Sergio Aguero goal proved enough for Manchester City to see off a stern Sunderland challenge at the Stadium of Light.

City where nowhere near their best but grabbed a crucial early lead when Aguero finished well past Vito Mannone after David Silva’s cross deflected fortuitously into his path.

From then on, Sunderland were arguably the better side, debutant Lamine Kone heading wide a glorious chance before Joe Hart saved brilliantly from Jermain Defoe on the turn.

Hart was again called into action, tipping over a Billy Jones effort and Manuel Pellegrini’s side held out under intense Sunderland pressure to net a vital, if uncharacteristically scrappy, win.

The result means that Manchester City are now unbeaten in seven Premier League matches and remain three points behind Leicester City after the Foxes beat Liverpool 2-0.

16’ – GOAL! Sunderland 0-1 Man City: David Silva’s cross takes a fortuitous deflection into the path of Aguero, who clips his shot over Mannone with the outside of his boot. Jones catches him on the calf in the process and there are anxious moments but the striker is okay.

33’ – BAD MISS KONE: Lens swings a perfect free kick right onto the debutant’s head only yards out. He should bury it but somehow heads wide.

44’ – GREAT SAVE HART: Defoe turns Demichelis in the box and shots for the corner but Hart gets down to palm away a great reaction save to keep the scores level.

79’ – HART SAVES CITY AGAIN: He tips Billy Jones’ fierce drive over the bar.

90+3’ – SUNDERLAND CLOSE: Hart flaps at Khazri’s corner and Otamendi is forced to head off the line.

Since his arrival in the PL in 2011, Sergio Aguero has now scored 91 league goals, 13 more than the next most prolific player (Robin van Persie on 78) in that span.

Joe Hart makes his 253rd Premier League appearance for Man City - he's now joint top with Richard Dunne.

Lamine Kone, Wahbi Khazri and Dsame N’Doye make Premier League debuts for Sunderland.

Manuel Pellegrini becomes the third person to manage 100 Manchester City Premier League matches, after Roberto Mancini (133) and Kevin Keegan (105).

Defoe lucky to escape uncautioned? Manchester City players were furious when Jermain Defoe twice caught defenders with flailing elbows. The first caught martin Demichelis on the jaw, forcing him off for treatment. And when he caught Nicolas Otamendi in the face, City players confronted him and urged the referee to take action. It looked like a lucky escape for the striker.

Patrick van Aanhold (Sunderland): Caused City no end of problems marauding down the left flank, time and again beating his man and whipping in dangerous crosses. All that was missing was the end product.

Sunderland: Mannone 6, Jones 6, O’Shea 6, Kone 7, Kirchhoff 6, van Aanholt 8, Cattermole 6, M’Vila 7, Borini 6, Lens 6, Defoe 6. SUBS: N’Doye 6, Johnson 6, Khazri 7.

Man City: Hart 7, Sagna 6, Demichelis 6, Otamendi 7, Clichy 6, Fernandinho 6, Yaya Toure 6, Navas 6, Silva, Aguero 7, Iheanacho 6. SUBS: Kolarov 6, Fernando 6, Sterling 6.