Paddy McNair’s debut script was not thus written. Will score own goal in the first four minutes of appearance for the new club and hand your old club’s bitterest rivals, a winner. The comedy of errors boosted his former crosstown rivals immensely because truth be told, City did not look at all like scoring. The Guardiola era is on us and the opening salvo a fairly damp squib. The biggest talking point was the benching of Joe Hart in favour of Willy Caballero and the disappearance of Yaya Toure even from the subs. There was no sparkling, effervescent play; hallmarks of the Barcelona and Bayern periods. The one positive was Raheem Sterling growing in confidence and with his quick silver foot work earning a penalty as he was taken down by Patrick van Aanholt in the box. Sergio Aguero made no mistake.
Sunderland under David Moyes had different ideas and really turned on the heat with the well traveled and nippy Jermaine Defoe proving to be their best attacking player. His equalizer came after a series of neat passing and the match was headed towards a well deserved draw before McNair’s unfortunate intervention.
Match highlights: