On december 2012
Sunderland toppled champions Manchester City on Wearside as Adam Johnson scored a Boxing Day winner against his former club.
Johnson blasted home a 30-yard shot from out wide eight minutes into the second half to hand Black Cats fans everywhere a belated Christmas present.
Spotting City keeper Joe Hart out of position, Johnson cashed in with a sublime effort as Sunderland inflicted only the Manchester club's second league defeat this season.
And what's more, they were full value for it. From keeper Simon Mignolet – who was faultless – outwards, Sunderland were the hungrier of the two teams and created the better chances, especially late on.
The win is Sunderland's third home victory in a row over City, who had plenty of possession but couldn't break down a determined Sunderland side who would've demolished brick walls to get the win.
Martin O'Neill's men have now won three of their last four games and the Stadium of Light chief will have been delighted with his side's commitment, craft and guile.
O'Neill was forced to make a change ahead of the game as he replaced the ill John O'Shea with Matt Kilgallon in his only change from the win at Southampton. Read more
Sunderland: Mignolet, Gardner, Rose (Bardsley, m.88), Kilgallon, Cuellar, Colback, Larsson (Campbell, m.78), Johnson, McClean, Sessegnon, Fletcher.
Manchester City: Hart, Kompany, Zabaleta, Nastasic, K. Toure (Barry, m.86), Y. Toure, Javi García (Lescott, m.88), Silva, Milner, Agüero, Tévez (Dzeko, m.71)
Goal: 1-0, Adam Johnson (m. 53).
Refere: Kevin Friend. Amonestó al Colback, y a Kompany, Nastasic y Touré Yaya.
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