Sunderland AFC 0 Manchester City 1: New signings impress but who scooped man of the match?
New signings Lamine Kone, Jan Kirchhoff, Wahbi Khazri and Dame N'Doye all made their home debuts.
But who scooped the man of the match award?
Richard Mennear gives his player ratings here:
Sunderland (4-3-3)
Vito Mannone: Spared Kone's blushes early on with save at near post. Had little to do after that in fairness.....6
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Hide AdBilly Jones: Should have got tighter to Aguero for opening goal. Almost equalised but saw his low shot rebound back off the post and another effort saved 2nd half. Too many poor balls...6
Lamine Kone: Impressed on his full debut, strong, athletic, won his headers and firm challenges. Should have scored with a header.....8
John O'Shea (C): Steady game against a formidable City line-up. Kone slotted in well next to him and they looked a solid partnership. Missed a sitter though....7
Patrick van Aanholt: Did well again down the left, improved defensive awareness, made some vital clearances, a threat going forward again too......7
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Hide AdJan Kirchhoff: Star man in central midfield. A world away from his debut performance at Spurs. Two weeks of building his match fitness made real difference.....8
Lee Cattermole: Made some fine last-ditch tackles on the edge of the area. Sunderland looked compact in the middle. Few too many stray passes....7
Yann M'Vila: With Kirchhoff in the side, M'Vila was allowed more freedom to get further forward. Gave the ball away a few times but did well apart from that.....7
Jeremain Lens: Whipped in a couple of dangerous free-kicks but did little offensively aside from that. Hooked at half-time......5
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Hide AdFabio Borini: Did little first half and could easily have been subbed at half-time. Improved second half......6
Jermain Defoe: Midfield was too far away from him in early stages. Had a glorious chance to level, Joe Hart down well to deny him. City defence not happy with his trailing arms....6
Subs:
Wahbi Khazri (for Lens, 45): Showed some nice touches, willing to track back too. Played behind Defoe....6
Adam Johnson (for Cattermole, 75): Added a bit more creativity into the centre of the park....6
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Hide AdDame N'Doye: (for Borini, 82): Played wide right, didn't get into the game....6
Subs Not Used: Pickford, Brown, Yedlin, Watmore.
Bookings: Jones (58)
Man City (4-4-2):
Joe Hart: 7
Bacary Sagna: 6
Martin Demichelis: 6
Nicolas Otamendi: 6
Gael Clichy: 6
Yaya Toure (C): 6
Fernandinho: 6
David Silva: 7
Jesus Navas: 7
Kelechi Iheanacho: 5
Sergio Aguero: 7
Subs:
Fernando (for Iheanacho, 45): 6
Raheem Sterling (for Navas, 76): 6
Aleksandar Kolarov (for Toure, 78): 6
Subs Not Used: Caballero, Zabaleta, Celina, Baker.
Bookings: Otamendi, 78), Aguero (90), Fernandinho (90), Sagna, (90)
Goals: Aguero (16)
Attendance: 38,852
Referee: Stuart Attwell (Warwickshire) Threatened to lose control of the game at one stage. Allowed too many fouls to go unpunished...4/10