Aguero's strike got City victorious at Sunderland

Sergio Aguero's first-half strike handed
Manchester City a 1-0 victory against Sunderland in
the Premier League on Tuesday.
Aguero gave City the lead after 16 minutes at the
Stadium of Light, reacting quickest to a low,
deflected cross into the area from Jesus Navas and
getting it under control before prodding beyond
goalkeeper Vito Mannone.
He was caught on the calf by a last-ditch challenge
from Billy Jones as he scored and appeared to be
hurt while he celebrated, but returned to the pitch
after treatment.
The match was City's first since the club announced
that Pep Guardiola would replace Manuel Pellegrini
as manager at the end of the season, but goalkeeper
Joe Hart denied the impending arrival increased
pressure for the players to perform.
"It was never going to be a distraction, we love
Manuel as our manager," Hart said. "We are here to
win titles, Manuel is here to win titles. We appreciate
we have a job to do and next season is next season."
The win moves City to 47 points in the Premier
League but keeps it second, three behind leader
Leicester, which they play on Saturday.
Also Read: City not just Aguero one-man show, says
Pellegrini
City stopper Hart made an excellent stop on the
stroke of halftime, denying Jermain Defoe with a low,
one-handed save before Jones hit the post as he
tried to convert the rebound.
But Sunderland, itself scrapping to move out of the
relegation zone, rallied in the second half and had
enough chances to feel frustrated at losing the
game.
John O'Shea shot over the crossbar from 10 yards
late on, before Nicolas Otamendi did well to block an
attempt from Dame N'Doye before heading the ball
off the line in added time after a goalmouth
scramble.
Sunderland can take pride in its performance but the
loss leaves it 19th in the standings, four points from
safety and manager Sam Allardyce is concerned at
the task facing his team to maintain its status in
England's highest tier.
"To match a team with the quality of Manchester City
is a positive for us, the result is not," Allardyce said
to the BBC. "If we can match that performance going
forward, we have to say and hope that it will turn
into wins and results for us to get us out of the
trouble we are in, which is obviously big trouble
now."