Aleksandar Kolarov scored from a free kick after five minutes, and Sergio Agüero and James Milner added goals in the second half to secure a convincing win.
By ending Sunderland’s unbeaten start, City maintained its own and won consecutive league matches for the first time this season.
“We played very well and took no risks,” City Manager Roberto Mancini told Sky Sports television.
The team rediscovered its defensive solidity even without its back-line linchpin and captain, Vincent Kompany, who was out with a calf injury.
Micah Richards made a surprise return from an ankle injury, and Joleon Lescott was also restored to the defense. Yaya Touré took over as captain, playing alongside Gareth Barry in the midfield, while Carlos Tévez and Mario Balotelli started up front.
The New York Times wrote that,Sunderland had the former City wing Adam Johnson in its lineup, but he was unable to make an impression.
City took the lead after Tévez was brought down by Carlos Cuéllar on the first attack. Tévez had broken clear but was felled by a late tackle on the edge of the box, and the referee Lee Probert gave Cuéllar a yellow card.
The City fans felt it should have been red, but they could not complain for long: Kolarov curled a superb free kick past goalkeeper Simon Mignolet at the near post.
Not for the first time, Balotelli was earmarked for some testing treatment by defenders.
Source: New York Times
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