Sunderland were left frustrated by another Premier League defeat on Tuesday, with a single goal from Sergio Agüero giving Manchester City the narrow 1-0 victory at the Stadium of Light.
It was the worst possible start for Sam Allardyce's side when Agüero fired home the opener before the 20-minute mark. Chances from Lamine Kone and Jermain Defoe almost got them level, but they remained behind as they went into the break.
The second period didn’t quite have the same fast-paced nature of the first, with the first chance coming on the hour mark, but Aguero couldn’t add a second.
Sunderland had a mini revival towards the end, with chances from Billy Jones, Wahbi Khazri, Yann M'Vila and Jan Kirchoff, but ultimately it was another three points dropped for the Black Cats.
Clinical City
As many expected, it was City who dominated the open proceedings at the Stadium of Light and the Black Cats were nearly behind when new defender Kone nearly had a nightmare debut when he almost turned Jesus Navas' cross in at the near post of Vito Mannone's goal.
Agüero was getting his eye in early on when he picked up possession in the ninth minute and hit a well-struck effort from 25 yards, but, though that one curled wide, the Argentine proved critical in the 16th minute.
The ball came to Navas out wide who drove a cross into the six-yard area, which was perfect for Aguero who made no mistake as he punted over Mannone to give him his eighth goal in as many games, leaving Sunderland with a mountain to climb.
Fighting back
After falling behind it took a while for Allardyce's side to get back into the match, but they had two excellent chances towards the end of the half to get back into the game.
The first fell to Kone in the 33rd minute who had a great opportunity to get a debut goal when he rose highest to Jeremain Lens' set-piece, but he somehow managed to put the header wide of Joe Hart's right-hand post from eight yards out.
Defoe looked to have got the equaliser a minute before the break as the striker turned his marker in the area and hit a goal bound effort, but Hart managed to keep it out and the rebound was struck against the outside of the post by Jones.
Slow and steady
The urgency seemed to be lost in the dressing rooms at the Stadium of Light as the beginning of the second period lacked the pace and urgency of the first - with the first opportunity not coming until the hour mark.
It was City who had this one as they broke up the field with pace, after a good chance for Patrick van Aanholt at the other end. Navas chipped the ball to the back post which fell nicely into the feet of Agüero, but his effort was straight at Mannone.
Black Cats revival
Hart was called upon yet again with 12 minutes to play when Jones tried an audacious effort from 25 yards out, but the England international was alert to beat away the effort.
The resulting corner almost saw the equaliser when new signing Khazri went straight for goal from the set piece, but Hart once again was aware to claw it away from goal. The loose ball came to John O'Shea, but the skipper blazed it over the crossbar.
Last-ditch attempts
Sunderland continued to battle for what would have been a vital point in their race for survival as the game entered its dying embers, creating two excellent opportunities to level the contest.
The first came in the 89th minute when a dangerous cross from van Aanholt found its way to M'Vila on the edge of the area, but the midfielder drove his effort over the bar.
The Black Cats' best chance, however, came right at the end of second-half stoppage time when a scramble from a Sunderland corner eventually for Kirchhoff. The new signing from Bayern Munich looked to have grabbed the late goal, but Nicolas Otamendi headed clear off the line which saw the Sunderland faithful leave the Stadium of Light frustrated once again - despite the improved performance.