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Another City loss gives hopes to rivals

Comment: 0 January 2nd, 2012 by: admin

MANCHESTER CITY had all the chances to break away from a two-side logjam at the top of the Premier League table.

Unfortunately, they blew it.

Ranged against less-regarded Sunderland, City succumbed to a 1-0 loss on Sunday to climax a weekend of huge upsets which got off with Manchester United getting stunned 3-2 by Blackburn on Saturday.

City took their second league loss but aside from that, they failed to move ahead of the Red Devils although the cross-town rivals are still tied on points halfway through the season.

In addition, other teams hoping to get near the leaders also got renewed hopes heading into the crucial stretches.

Despite drawing 1-1 at Swansea on Saturday, Tottenham remained within range just six points adrift, while Arsenal are three points further behind at fourth.

Chelsea, shocked 3-1 at home by Aston Villa on Saturday, and Liverpool are both 11 points off the lead and can still be in contention.

Ji Dong-Won’s dramatic last-gasp goal at the Stadium of Light won it for the Rovers who improved three places to 13^th.

With only four second of the three minutes of stoppage time left, the South Korean striker rounded City goalkeeper Joe Hart and tapped in the crucial goal into the empty net.

In another fixture on Sunday, Everton edged West Bromwich Albion 1-0 to rise into the top half of the standings as substitute Victor Anichebe connected in the 87^th minute.

Ji’s goal was met with a suspicion of being offside but it was still enough to inflict another painful setback for City.

The Eastlands side were off to a sizzling start in the campaign as they bid for a first title since 1968 but Roberto Mancini’s men suddenly forgot how to win and have now won only two of their last five games.

Also, the goals have suddenly stopped coming unlike in the first four months of their drive where City found the back of the net almost at will. The loss to Sunderland came on the heels of a 0-0 standoff at West Brom on Monday.

Mancini said they deserved to win over Blackburn but rued their missed opportunities. ‘Incredible! I don’t know how many chances we had.’

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