City Watch: Cherki shines as City see off Sunderland

Following two knife-edge results against Leeds and Fulham last week, Manchester City faced an in form Sunderland side who were promoted from the Championship last season after winning the play off final. 

The game was a bit of a throwback for Pep Guardiola, whose first game in charge of the Blues was against the Black Cats all those years ago. 

It’s the first season we’ve faced them since that year, and it’s fair to say, he’s achieved a lot since then!

Sunderland have made the Stadium of Light their fortress this season, with some fantastic results including a draw to the league leaders, Arsenal, so I was glad that this game was at the Etihad. 

Before heading into the match, it reminded me a little of when we played Nottingham Forest at home last season, they were on a terrific run with City starting to stutter with the absence of Rodri, but the Blues managed to pull off a 3-0 win.

I think I should’ve trusted my instincts, as that’s exactly how it played out. 

Pep’s team dominated large parts of the game, having been initially frustrated trying to break down the defence. 

However, half way through the first period, Ruben Dias channelled his inner Vincent Kompany and laced the ball into the top corner, giving us a 1-0 lead.

Only a few minutes later, Josko Gvardiol doubled the scoreline from a corner, not our usual route of scoring by the way, meaning City had a two goal lead heading into the break.

Rayan Cherki and Phil Foden both started on Saturday, and I have to say, they’re shaping up to be an incredible duo through the middle. 

We were worried about the departure of Kevin De Bruyne last season and who might replace him, but these two are doing a great job so far.

That was clear when Cherki delivered a rabona cross which Foden headed in to make it 3-0. 

An early contender for assist of the season and the Blues beat the Black Cats by three goals to nil, and with Arsenal losing to Aston Villa earlier on in the day, it now means the gap at the top is left at just two points.

Before thinking about that, though, City travel to the Spanish capital for their Champions League fixture against Real Madrid. 

Following their loss to Bayer Leverkusen a few weeks ago, this game is pivotal to City’s hopes of getting automatic qualification. 

Still, it’s not like this fixture has given us drama in the past, is it…