Monsieur Salut writes: first there was anger at the ref, then disbelief at how easily Sunderland’s defence can be ripped to shreds. The van Aanholt foul, idiotic as it was, happened on the edge of the penalty box (I thought). Free kick, not penalty. Borini’s goal was harshly disallowed. Two borderline decisions, both going against SAFC. That’s the end of the justified anger with the referee Roger East. Then came disappointment. Toivonen – later to score – had a strong header brilliantly saved, after a terrific Yedlin run and cross, but City immediately swept upfield and scored a second, Kevin De Bruyne’s finish looking better than Vito Mannone’s unconvincing attempt to stop it. O’Shea had a wonderful chance to nod home from a corner. Then Mannone fluffed a cross, Sterling hit the post and the rebound hit the keeper and went in for an own goal. Along came a fourth and half time was still 10 minutes away.
‘This is the first “good” side we’ve faced and they’re strolling,’ said Pete Sixsmith. ‘We look reasonable going forward but they are just picking us off.’ That was at 2 or 3-0. His later thoughts were more devastating (see below for three versions of his seven-word verdict) but at least Toivonen’s consolation goal meant we won the second half …
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