Sunderland vs Manchester City - as it happened: Leroy Sane and Sergio Aguero fire visitors to victory

Re-live all the action from the Stadium of Light

Leroy Sane celebrates with team-mates after scoring for his side (Getty)

Manchester City finally look like they’ve hit a bit of form after a torrid spell over Christmas which saw them drop out of the title race.

Since the 4-0 drubbing at the hands of Everton in January, Pep Guardiola’s side have drawn 2-2 with Tottenham – a game they should have won – as well as three straight wins over West Ham, Swansea and Bournemouth.

Those results have pushed City back to third, one place behind second-placed Spurs, with a game in hand.

Bottom-of-the-table Sunderland stand in their way this weekend and, with only one win since the turn of the year, David Moyes faces a tough task to get his side out of trouble.

Follow the action live...

Please allow a moment for the blog to load.

Vital information…

The game kicks off at 4pm on Sunday 5 March and the game will be shown on Sky Sports 1.

It’s a big game for…

Sergio Aguero. Sunderland should prove cannon fodder for a striker of Aguero’s qualities and with Guardiola still unconvinced by the Argentine there is no better time for him to prove his worth. Aguero has scored four goals and two assists in his last four games against the Black Cats.

Sergio Aguero is showing the hunger for goals that Pep Guardiola wants to see (Getty)

Player to watch…

Kevin de Bruyne. The Belgian is the creative hub of the Manchester City attack and will surely thrive against a leaky Sunderland defence which has conceded six goals in their last two games.

Best stat…

Jermain Defoe has scored eight goals against Manchester City over the course of his career and has only had more success against Wigan, who he has scored 10 against.

Form guide…

Sunderland: LLDWLL

Manchester City: WWWDWW

Odds…

Sunderland to win: 10/1

Manchester City to win: 3/11

Draw: 51/10

(Courtesy of 888.com)

[5 March 2017 16:34 · Joe Miles]

35 MINS

Sterling rattles the woodwork following a delicate through ball from Toure that ripped open the Sunderland defence. However, the offside flag was in fact raised. 

[5 March 2017 16:37 · Joe Miles]

37 MINS

Sane beats his man inside of the area and delivers a powerful ball across the face of goal. Silva came close to tapping it in, but the delivery had too much pace. 

[5 March 2017 16:41 · Joe Miles]

40 MINS

Sunderland have had six attempts on goal, in comparison to two from City. The underdogs are battling relentlessly and I am sure this will be a very encouraging performance so far for Moyes. 

[5 March 2017 16:43 · Joe Miles]

42 MINS

GOAL

SUNDERLAND 0 - 1 MANCHESTER CITY

Aguero has scored for the third consecutive game to give City the lead just before the break. Silva lays it off to Sterling, who feeds the ball across the face of goal to Aguero. The striker simply knocks it past the helpless Pickford. 

[5 March 2017 16:46 · Joe Miles]

45 MINS

There will be a minimum of two additional minutes.

[5 March 2017 16:48 · Joe Miles]

HALF TIME

Sunderland fall behind to a familiar foe, with Aguero bagging the opener just before the interval. The home side showed glimpses of brilliance throughout, with Defoe rattling the woodwork in the early stages of the game. However, one defensive lapse and an opponent of such ability will punish you. City dominated possession, but failed to break through the Black Cat's defensive line until their one break that resulted in the goal. The side that sit at the bottom of the league have it all to do in the second half.

[5 March 2017 17:02 · Joe Miles]

45 MINS

Sunderland kick off to get the second half underway. Game on!

[5 March 2017 17:05 · Joe Miles]

48 MINS

Sunderland's response to Aguero's late opener will be crucial here. They had good energy in the first half and proved they can break through City's back four, so Moyes will be hoping for more of the same following the interval. 

[5 March 2017 17:06 · Joe Miles]

50 MINS

Silva bursts into the Sunderland half and he spreads the play wide to Sterling. The winger attempts to cross a ball across the face of goal, but it's over hit and goes out for a Sunderland throw-in. 

[5 March 2017 17:10 · Joe Miles]

53 MINS

Kone opens up the City defence with a tantalising ball through to Defoe, but to his frustration, the offside flag is raised. Sunderland certainly still have some life left in them.