Phil Bardsley scored a first half goal to give Sunderland a 1-0 victory over Manchester City.

Bardsley, the Sunderland left back, drove into the City box as a long ball from Wes Brown left eh City defence bamboozled and coolly finished past Costel Pantilimon. The City keeper could probably have done better, and will be disappointed to be beaten from such a tight angle, but his defence left his badly exposed as they allowed Bardsley to advance with only the most minimal of challenges.

Sunderland were left with their backs to the wall for much of the remainder of the game and some good defending, in particular from Man of the Match Wes Brown, was needed to keep City’s multiple attacking threats at bay.

The win moves Sunderland off the bottom of the table, with 7 points leaving them 3 ahead of bottom placed Crystal Palace and 2 behind Stoke City in 18th. Manchester City meanwhile remain in 7th place, and could be as much as 9 points behind league leaders Arsenal by tonight unless Manchester United can get something from the final Premier League game of the day.