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90+1 min: Just four minutes added on to this breathless affair. Cheers as Doku and Foden are forced back.
90 min: More scrambling, Haaland pulling the ball down with a go-go gadget extended leg but unable to find a teammate as Sunderland defenders throw everything at keeping out City.
89 min: Oh my, a madcap scramble in the Sunderland box, and the ball fell to Gvardiol in the box, only to rebound off red and white shirts, and finally to safety.
87 min: Ake’s mistake sets the excitement levels up, but Isidor and Le Fee can never quite find the next, crucial step towards goal. It takes an Alderete tackle to rob a galloping Haaland, who was smelling blood.
86 min: As 0-0 games go, this has been OK. More absorbing than your average intriguing tactical battle. And it’s not done just yet.
85 min: Reijnders is coming on in the search for a winning goal, and during a break for a knock to Trai Hume. Bernardo Silva leaves the scene.
83 min: Sunderland finding that attacks are strictly rationed but here they come….only for City to find a shape that forces Xhaka to curb his attacking instincts and play the ball backwards.
81 min: Doku makes the byline but his cross loops only to Xhaka, who shows his cool in nodding back to his goalkeeper. Isidor makes a run into the City box, and squares up with Donnarumma but the angle is closed off.
80 min: Frustration for Foden, who hasn’t been front and centre in this big push, as his attempts drifts behind the goal.
78 min: Joshua Keeling gets in touch: “Guardiola has got a nerve shaking his head at Sunderland not giving the ball back there. City didn’t kick it out so an injured player could get treatment, they did it to substitute a player who was already off the field. It’s not the same thing, and Sunderland were well within their rights to keep the ball.”
Yes, agree with that.
77 min: Ake is booked for smashing over Mayenda with a sliding foul. That was only his first of the season as he’s had his problems this season. He’s done well to fight on after that early problem.
76 min: City sound the 15-minute warning. They cannot afford to drop points on Arsenal. This is Sunderland missing several players at AfCon.
74 min: Another Gvardiol chance, and he swings a volley at a cross he had no right to reach. He has been a significant attacking threat since coming on.
73 min: Hume tackles Doku and wins the ball. The referee apologises for having to give the decision, as it’s a scissors tackle. No yellow, which means Trai Hume is still eligible to face Sunderland next week.
72 min: Adringra, who has lost his earlier zest, comes off for Romaine Mundle, the young man from Enfield.
70 min: More blocks required. Doku cuts in, his shot hitting Mukiele full in the face and Alderete nods the second ball behind. On the sidelines, Guardiola is not happy.
69 min: City turning the screw, Cherki, Foden and Silva seeing so much more of the ball.
68 min: Some desperate defending, all blocks and shadow chasing, now required from Sunderland.
66 min: Isidor is struggling to make the same physical impact as Brobbey, and thus Sunderland are struggling to keep the ball up in the City half.
65 min: Lovely chip from Foden finds Gvardiol in a scoring position, and Roefs makes another beautiful save. City look for momentum; that was their best attack yet.
Sunderland’s Robin Roefs saves a header from Manchester City’s Josko Gvardiol. Photograph: Andy Buchanan/AFP/Getty ImagesShare
Updated at 16.50 EST
64 min: Adingra’s touch lets him down just as Le Fee was looking for a give and go. Similar happens to Bernardo Silva at the other end. Nobody’s getting much time on the ball.
62 min: A drop of the Doku shoulder, and he’s past Le Fee, only for his ball into the middle to be met by Trai Hume.
60 min: Communication breakdown between Haaland and Cherki. Neither play looks impressed by the other. Sunderland’s energy has driven them to this.
59 min: Erling Haaland is getting frustrated and takes it out on Granit Xhaka, clambering all over his cove. Xhaka, who must avoid a yellow card to avoid a suspension, doesn’t rise to it.
58 min: Looks Nico O’Reilly has a problem. Gvardiol comes on at last, having looked like he would replace Nathan Ake earlier on. Farewell to, to Mr Brobbey, who was excellent in the first half. He’s replaced by Isidor.
56 min: City look for control, and try to resume their passing rhythm. The home fans boo, while the City fans are audible. with Blue Moon.
54 min: Le Fee’s ball, Mayenda’s low shot and a brilliant save from Donnarumma. City are rocking on their heels a bit here. These are the moments Donnarumma was signed for.
53 min: Sunderland go back at it, and Mayenda forces a Donnarumma save. He needs both hands to stop it. Great noise heard in the Stadium of Light.
52 min: Some boos as O’Reilly smashes the ball out. In comes Doku for Savinho. Would Semenyo have taken those chances? We’re about to find out.
50 min: Sunderland get some territory, with Alderete and Xhaka moving forwards with the attack. It’s end to end once more.
49 min: Rodri in action, to send away Savinho, who shoots across goal and Roefs makes another save. City had just two shots on goal in the first half. They’ve had two already this half.
47 min: Savinho should have scored, Cherki laying the ball across for an admittedly highly intelligent run, and he missed the target.
46 min: It’s back underway we go, and Rodri is on the field, Nico the departure.
It was 0-0 at Anfield, it’s 0-0 here, and it’s 0-0 at Brentford. Happy new year.
Sam gets in touch: “I undertook dry January this year. Brentford vs Tottenham is severely testing my resolve.”
Happy new year to Kari Tulinius: “Good point about this not being the Imperial City of yesteryear. Back then, struggling against them seemed like an impossible idea for most English sides, like a single tribe facing up to the Roman legions. However, thanks to Haaland they can always strike out of nowhere, like bandits in the night. There’s more than one way to win titles, and Pep is trying a different method.”
ShareHalf-time: Sunderland 0-0 Manchester City
Pep Guardiola said it wouldn’t be easy, and it hasn’t been. Sunderland have been excellent though will they rue those chances for Brobbey and Hume?
45+5 min: Foden is caught by Adingra, who will be booked for the foul from behind. That’s the last of the half.
45+3 min: Brobbey runs the channels, shaking off defenders, laying up Xhaka to lay up Hume who heads over the bar. Total football from Sunderland. As smooth as a pint of Vaux.
Updated at 15.49 EST
45+1 min: Savinho gets involved again, right to the byline again, and his cross comes across towards Cherki who cannot get there. There were five minutes added on, dur to those Ake and Nico delays.
45 min: Bernardo Silva breaks up an attack, and drives forward, only for a foul to be given. City, to their credit, do not take a long time over the free-kick. It’s aimed towards Savinho, but Haaland gets there first.
43 min: Jeers as a Nunes ball flies out of play. The City radar is malfunctioning, and the star men in Foden and Haaland have been quietened amid the din.
41 min: Brobbey and Adingra link well, and the winger, who can be frustrating, loses the ball. This was a common complaint in his Brighton days, high talent though not enough product.
40 min: Foden’s corner is hit too high and Ake’s attempt to make something of it see the ball bounce off his knees.
38 min: After Le Fee loses it again, Cherki sets off on a run, and then gets the ball back in the City box, eventually forcing a corner. It’s end to end at the moment.
37 min: Haaland has his big moment, the ball coming loose as Foden plays it across, and Roefs does well. Sunderland immediately go on the counter, and City struggle to clear their lines.
36 min: Can Sunderland sustain these energy levels?
35 min: Mayenda gets a header on the corner after Donnarumma makes something of a flap.
34 min: Erling Haaland has been quiet, for which much of the credit must go to Mukiele. Sunderland meanwhile have a corner.
33 min: City’s discomfort is obvious. They don’t quite put teams to the sword as they did in their imperial period. Arsenal fans will look on expectant.
31 min: Nico is back on, and as he arrives, Savinho makes it to the byline again. His ball in might have found Haaland but he gets in a tangle and loses his footing. No foul, either.