Sunderland v City: Preview

March 12, 2010

Kolo Toure

Manchester City defender Kolo Toure is back in contention against Sunderland on Sunday after recovering from a knee injury.

Skipper Toure had to settle for a place on the bench in the victory over Chelsea in the club’s last outing.

Emmanuel Adebayor is absent through suspension while Martin Petrov is injured as City aim to continue their push for a top four place.

Sunderland go into the match on the back of a comfortable victory against Bolton but Mancini is looking for nothing less than a win.

He added: "I think beating Chelsea will help our confidence as we played very well.

"It is important we win this game if we want to continue our improvement. In the last three of four games we have performed very well.

"It will be a difficult game against Sunderland. It is important we forget about Chelsea as this will be a different test. We need to show good concentration and play 100%."

Sunderland will be without suspended skipper Lorik Cana for the game.

The Albania international picked up his 10th booking of the season in Tuesday night’s 4-0 win over Bolton and will sit out the City game and Birmingham’s visit to the Stadium of Light next weekend.

Lee Cattermole is battling to shake off a hamstring problem, while Kieran Richardson (calf) and Jordan Henderson (ankle) are struggling.

Andy Reid (hamstring) will not make the game, but David Meyler is available again after completing a three-match ban.

Sunderland (from): Gordon, Fulop, Bardsley, Hutton, Turner, Ferdinand, Mensah, Kilgallon, Da Silva, Cattermole, Zenden, Richardson, Malbranque, Henderson, Campbell, Bent, Jones, Benjani, Meyler, Liddle, Noble.

Manchester City (from): Given, Taylor, Richards, Zabaleta, Onuoha, Toure, Lescott, Boyata, Garrido, Sylvinho, Bridge, Johnson, Wright-Phillips, Ireland, Vieira, Barry, De Jong, Ibrahim, Tevez, Bellamy, Santa Cruz.

Sunderland league form: DDLDW

City league form: LWDDW

Key opponent: Darren Bent - 19 goals this season proves how dangerous he is and scored a hat-trick last time out

Prediction: Sunderland 0 City 1 - City's defence has been looking more solid of late and if that continues they should be able to win

Agree with the prediction? Have your say.

Click here for all the latest odds from Betfred.

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50 and mad for it (12/03/2010 at 15:36)

Keep toure out unless he plays right back. Hope benjani plays

I'm an 'impeccable' one ! 10 Feb '08, Florida (12/03/2010 at 15:40)

"Manchester City defender Kolo Toure is back in contention........", hopefully for a place on the bench.

Unless there are any injuries, it MUST be same 11 as against Chelsea.

Blue Jazzman, Marple (12/03/2010 at 15:54)

This is the time of the week, folks, when we cast all our negative thoughts aside, reject all internal bickering and insults, ignore those red infiltrators and create a positive frame of mind to pass on to the lads for the performance of their lives on Wearside on Sunday

And with the fantastic news today why should we be anything but high as a kite

Those of you, going to The Stadium of Light, give them a shout for me. I have a gig in the Midlands. I want to be able to hear you in Staffordshire

Tempo, energy, commitment – that’s what we need

I would start with Given, Richards, Kompany, Lescott, Bridge, -- Zab, NDJ, Barry, --
SWP, or Johnson, Tevez, Bellamy

Having Barry in front of and covering for Bridge, with Zab in front of and covering for Richards, will give the two full backs the confidence to go forward and the solidity of the midfield three – turned into five if needs be, will allow us to dominate possession and use our pace on the break

I think away from home, I might just prefer Sweep to Adam J

bluemoon risin' (12/03/2010 at 15:57)

After having to field several C/B pairings this season through injury, suspension or lack of form i would say that Komps and [much improved] Lescott are [from all combinations we have played], our first choice and[touch wood] have stemmed leaking soft goals. This means no place for Toure, who i think has been a big letdown this season, and is noticably slower and past his best from his Arsenal days.
I'd sell Toure in summer as i see young Boyatta a better[longterm] option and understudy shoulfd he get the chance.

kev m, Immingham (12/03/2010 at 15:58)

I can't see how Toure can be considered for a place in the starting line up at Sunderland With all our defenders being fully fit, surely he should be at best on the bench I think the side that went out against Chelsea should keep their places with the exception of SWP who has a track record of playing well against them. I think the game will end with a City win 2 maybe 3 . 0.

Sam Haggar Lowestoft -MCFC-Bluemoon (12/03/2010 at 16:04)

City team to play Sunderland

Given

Richards Kompany Lescott Bridge

A Johnson Barry De Jong Bellamy

Tevez Santa Cruz

Subs Taylor, Toure, Zabeleta, Ireland, SWP, Veira,Ibrahim

I doubt this wont be the lineup but it will be mine City to win 3-1

Sam Haggar Lowestoft -MCFC-Bluemoon (12/03/2010 at 16:05)

50 and mad for it
12/03/2010 at 15:36

Benjani wont be alould to play he is on loan.

Peter Beagrie`s beagle (12/03/2010 at 16:22)

Toure to keep his place ---- on the bench

Keep Bent quiet and it`s 3-0 City for me. CTID

HAYMAN BACK IN BOLTON, WESTHOUGHTON (12/03/2010 at 16:23)

The inclusion of Toure will weaken the team as he creates panic at the back for us .... sad to have to say it but no Toure please ... not even on the substitutes bench.

Shaun, At My Desk (12/03/2010 at 16:50)

Toure must not get anywhere near the pitch,Kompany and Lescott are the best central defensive pairing since Distin and Dunne.Sunderland are not going to roll over for us,we are going to have to fight them for the right to play and take something from this game.COME ON CITY!!

georgehannahwasmymatesdad, Chorlton (12/03/2010 at 17:13)

No way should Toure play.

sheik rattle and roll, stroud (12/03/2010 at 18:59)

bluemoon risin',
12/03/2010 at 15:57

That sums it all up. Totally agree and good to see more people have noticed Boyota as a very big promise for the future. At moment Kompany-lescott should be first choice. Toure hasn't impressed at all over the whole season and will have a tough job getting his place back in the startup line.
city win 3-0.

GSW Blue (12/03/2010 at 19:51)

Sam Haggar Lowestoft -MCFC-Bluemoon,

"Benjani wont be alould to play he is on loan."

I wouldn't be so sure. If the word "alould" exists anything is possible.

nearlyman, Flixton Manchester (12/03/2010 at 22:20)

CITY, JUST GIVE ME A NERVE FREE WIN ON SUNDAY, PLEASE,PLEASE,PLEASE, PRETTY PLEASE WITH CHERRIES ON TOP.
I KNOW IT'S NOT TOO MUCH TO ASK AFTER 38 YEARS OF LOYAL SUPPORT, A THOUSAND THANK YOU'S, I'LL BE A GOOD BOY FROM NOW TILL THE END OF TIME.THANKING YOU IN ADVANCE.
KEEP THE FAITH. CTID.

City soap opera, Manchester (12/03/2010 at 22:25)

Mancini can't change the team from Chelsea. Bringing Toure back in will spoil it all. Kompany and Lescott look solid. Lescott will also be upping his game with the world cup coming up. Kompany is one of the best signings we have made for years and he is still only 23!!! Zab has been good and Bridge is on a mission. De Jong backing up and Barry running all over the field keeps the defence tight. Then with Bellers and Tevez running teams ragged, these are the players to get us that top 4 place.

nearlyman, Flixton Manchester (12/03/2010 at 22:27)

SAME SIDE TO PLAY SUNDERLAND THAT PLAYED AGAINST CHELSEA AND SAME RESULT PLEASE. GET SOMEONE TO MAN MARK BENT AND THE GAME SHOULD BE A BREEZE.WE GO OUT AND WE KICK SOME BUTT, NO IFS OR BUTS.

OH AND BLACKBURN TO BEAT SPURS, STOKE TO DO VILLA NA POMPEY TO DO LIVERPOOL, THAT WOULD BE SOME WEEK-END.

CTID.

Nonna Mancini, In My Bungalow (12/03/2010 at 22:46)

Is there one City fan out there who thinks Toure should play ahead of either Lescott or Kompany?

I hope Mr Mancini agrees with the rest of us.

StretfordBLUE in America, Born a BLUE and Forever (12/03/2010 at 22:58)

2-0 City and hoping Spuds lose/draw!

Paul Walsh Fan Club (13/03/2010 at 03:06)

Kompany alongside anyone has been brilliant, Toure should not have been bought in the 1st place. A lasting momento of Mark Hughes's pitiful management. Ned O and Boyata are ahead of him for places in my mind

Bobby Johnstone's left kneecap, Hong Kong (13/03/2010 at 04:02)

Please, no PV or Kolo Toure in the starting line up. Blue Jazzman, Marple - I almost agree 100% with your team selection, except I would start with Adam Johnson - he is from Sunderland and all his family, who support the Black Cats, will be in the ground. Without doubt, he will really want to impress. I would have SWP on the bench as a possible second half replacement.

Mabalsa Ricci, Manchester (13/03/2010 at 07:51)

I wouldn't even have Toure on the bench as then there's a chance of him coming on..... Boyata before him any day of the week.

Stonefish, loving the Blue Revolution!!! (13/03/2010 at 09:40)

Oh Benjani..... Ooops. You know it's going to happen! Time to stop mucking about for our City and start taking some serious points, Liverpool have fluffed it big time and I belive we have the measure and some of Spurs and Villa... 4th place is as low as we as a club should be looking for along time to come!

GLAZER'S LOVECHILD, manchester (13/03/2010 at 10:57)

Blue Jazzman i agree with your team selection 100% . Absolutely no way should Toure start,he does not command,or communicate or read the game properly he causes confusion with our keeper and back 4,leave the team alone Bobby Manc,it ain't broke so don't try to fix it !!! CTID and MORE.

Andrew Shaw (13/03/2010 at 12:31)

Shaun at my desk, 100% correct.

THE BLUE WAFFLER exiled in gambia (13/03/2010 at 12:54)

LETS ALL HOPE ROBERTO WILL KEEP THE SAME SIDE

Unless he knows something we all dont then the same 11 must be given the chance to cement our top 4 challenge. Toure has had a bad season and cant complain if he is only on the bench, this time next year if he has not improved 100% we will need to take another hit when we show him the door.
It looks like Wenger was right to move him out but only time will tell

CTID CTID -- Sorry guys but i think 1-1

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