* Manchester City have not conceded a goal at Eastlands since February 27 in their 1-1 draw with Fulham.
* Sunderland have failed to score in their last three games. They were shut out against Everton, Arsenal and in their last outing at home to Liverpool.
* Neither side have played for exactly a fortnight. Players from both sides were involved in international games during the break though.
* Sunderland have struggled away from Wearside all season. In 15 league games they have managed 15 goals. The form book suggests that will not change here as City have given up a miserly 11 goals in their 15 home league games.
* With the departure of Darren Bent went a true goal scoring threat for Sunderland. The weight has been transferred to the shoulders of Asamoah Gyan who has nine, and on-loan Danny Welbeck, who has picked up six goals so far this term. Gyan scored for Ghana at Wembley last Tuesday.
* These teams have met frequently over the years - 119 times in fact - City holding the advantage with 55 victories to Sunderland’s 44. Sunderland’s last win at Manchester City was in the old Division One back in January 1998. The game, played at Maine Road, was decided by a Kevin Phillips winner, with former City favourite and current Sunderland chairman, Niall Quinn partnering Phillips. Also on show that day were illustrious names from City’s past such as Georgi Kinkladze and Uwe Rosler.
* The meeting between these two back in August finished amid much controversy. A Darren Bent penalty in the last minute was all that separated the two.
* Mario Balotelli’s City career has been far from uneventful. He continues to make headlines for the wrong reasons, but the fact remains that he is the second highest scorer for Mancini’s men. Skipper Carlos Tevez leads the way with 24 goals, and the young Italian is second on 10.
* This game last year was eventful for more than just the result. The game finished 4-3 but the day also marked the end of the Mark Hughes era in east Manchester. Mancini was brought in to ensure the club qualify for the Champions League; should they lose here that could be in jeopardy.
LAST MEETING
August 29 2010: Sunderland 1-0 Manchester City
Controversial circumstances were the deciding factor with a last-minute penalty converted by Darren Bent, now at Aston Villa, giving the Black Cats all three points.
PROBABLE LINE-UPS
Manchester City: Hart; Zabaleta, Kompany, Lescott, Kolarov; Milner, Y Toure, De Jong, Silva; Balotelli, Dzeko.
Sunderland: Mignolet; Bramble, Ferdinand, Da Silva, Angeleri; El Muhamady, Muntari, Richardson, Sessegnon, Cattermole; Welbeck.
Prediction
The Black Cats have struggled to score of late. They will find little relief here. The Citizens are keen goal scorers at home and this trait will prove the difference here. It should be a regulation home win with the firepower of City proving an overwhelming force which Sunderland will not be able to resist.
Man City 2-0 Sunderland 
