Roque Santa Cruz's double

Manchester City 4
Santa Cruz(4,69), Tevez(12,pen), Bellamy(35)

Sunderland 3
Mensah(16), Henderson(24), Jones(62)



MANCHESTER CITY came out on top in a seven-goal thriller with Sunderland for what seems certain to be the epitaph to Mark Hughes' time in charge. Roque Santa Cruz scored twice for the host, with Carlos Tevez and Craig Bellamy also on target.

But Hughes now looks set to be sacked, paving the way for Roberto Mancini to revive the fortunes of a club who have spent $398million on new players since their Abu Dhabi owners took control 18 months ago. City could not have made a better start as Tevez delayed his pass to Bellamy just long enough to send the Welshman racing into the box.

INNOCUOUS

Bellamy quickly squared to Santa Cruz, who gleefully tapped in from close range, at a stroke justifying the decision to axe Robinho and Emmanuel Adebayor. And there was even better to follow after 11 minutes when Bellamy galloped into a very similiar position, checked inside and was bundled over by Nyron Nosworthy.

It was an innocuous challenge but a foul nonetheless and referee Andre Marriner immediately pointed to the spot. Tevez had to wait an interminable length of time before he could take the spot-kick as George McCartney got into a tugging match with Santa Cruz. But the Argentina International kept his cool and drilled home the second.

However, City being the club they are, there was a self-inflicted blow to come. Micah Richards had just tumbled to the ground clutching an injury that required extensive treatment when Andy reid curled over a cross from the right. Kolo Toure completely lost John Mensah, who rose unchallenged on the edge of the six-yard area and steered his header into the far corner. Although he tried, it soon became apparent Richards could not continue so Zabaleta was introduced. It was not long before the Argentina star conceded a corner which almost resuted in a Sunderland equaliser as Jordan Henderson found himself on his own at the far post and turned an effort towards goal that Shay Given did brilliantly to keep out.

Again Henderson caused problems and after some shoddy defending, in which Kolo Toure completely missed the ball as he was attempting to clear, the Sunderland man drove home the equaliser.

EXPERTLY

The next time City pushed forward, they regained the lead as Zabaleta found Shaun Wright-Phillips with a quickly taken throw-in. Santa Cruz allowed Wright-Phillips' low cross to run on to Bellamy, who expertly curled a shot into the far corner. Bellamy played a one-two with Barry and hared off down the left wing before crossing for Tevez, whose shot brought an excellent save our of Marton Fulop. He was the man who made the clearance as Reid again caused the City defence some anxiety with a curling free-kick into the box. It was not long before City's defensive frailities came to the fore again as Henderson charged into the box, completely unmarked to collect Nosworthy's pass. Kenwyne Jones got in front of Kompany at the near post and turn Henderson's cross home from close range. But City were not finished. And when Zabaleta cross to the far post, the visitors were appealing in vain for offside as Barry squared for Santa Cruz to tap the Blues in front for a third time.

Nosworthy was booked for an awful challenge on Kompany and Henderson got sent off in stoppage time for an elbow on Barry.