Manchester City have closed the gap on leaders Leicester City to three points courtesy of a 4-1 victory over Sunderland at the Etihad Stadium this afternoon.
The hosts were three goals to the good inside 22 minutes as they cruised to the win, leaving Sunderland now five points adrift of safety in 19th place.
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The opener arrived 12 minutes into the contest from the returning Raheem Sterling, who rose at the far post to plant a header from Kevin De Bruyne's cross past Vito Mannone.
It took just five more minutes for Manuel Pellegrini's men to double their advantage as Yaya Toure was afforded far too much room outside the area before firing a low left-footed strike into the bottom corner.
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Sunderland came close themselves before City added a third when Danny Graham glanced a header just wide, but Wilfried Bony - in for Sergio Aguero - showed the visiting striker how it was done when he guided a header of his own into the far corner from De Bruyne's delivery.
David Silva almost added a fourth with 10 minutes of the half remaining, before Joe Hart was forced into his first major action of the match to deny Fabio Borini.
City did have the ball in the back of the net for a fourth time before the opening 45 minutes was over, although this time Sterling's strike was ruled out for offside.
There was little reprieve for the Black Cats at the start of the second half as Silva tested Mannone again before De Bruyne - creator of two goals already - got his own name on the scoresheet to well and truly kill the game off.
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The Belgian got a stroke of luck having seen his pass towards Bony deflected back into his path by a defender, before slotting the ball past the keeper from inside the area.
The visiting fans did finally get something to cheer shortly before the hour mark when Borini pulled a goal back having forced a save from Hart moments before.
City failed to clear their lines from the resulting corner, and Lee Cattermole's dragged effort fell into the path of Borini, who beat Hart at the near post at the second time of asking.
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There was never any danger of a comeback, though, and indeed City should have restored their four-goal cushion 10 minutes later when Sebastian Coates was penalised by Anthony Taylor for a foul on Silva right on the edge of the area.
Bony stepped up to take the spot kick, but placed it over the crossbar when looking to pick out the top corner.
Both De Bruyne and Bony came close again in the final 10 minutes of the match, but in the end City had to settle for a 4-1 victory that sees Sunderland slump to a fourth consecutive defeat.
Barney Corkhill
