Last-ditch: Sunderland's Darren Bent grabs a dramatic winner deep into stoppage-time at the Stadium of LightSteve Bruce has still not perfected the art of watching penalties, but Darren Bent seems to have found the knack of burying them as he sank Manchester City's big shots with a last -gasp spot-kick.
Last season the England striker missed three against former club Tottenham and superstitious Bruce, who has been known to go down the tunnel to avoid watching penalties, didn't know which way to look.
On the first day of this campaign, before Bent netted against Birmingham, Bruce walked away and waited for the crowd's reaction to determine whether or not to celebrate.
Yesterday, three minutes into added time and with Sunderland's first win of the season at stake, their manager adopted the same routine as Bent took an age to prepare for a kick against England colleague Joe Hart.
Bent, who had been pulled down by Micah Richards to win the penalty, scuffed his shot and just about sent the ball under diving Hart.
After watching a replay of the winner, Bruce joked: 'He'll not be taking them again!'By the time the cheers were echoing round the Stadium of Light, and Bruce was throwing his bottle of water in the air in celebration, he was inside Manchester City's technical area where, for once, Roberto Mancini was not prowling, pointing and mumbling.
Let off: Carlos Tevez was guilty of a glaring miss in the first half when he poked the ball over with no-one between him and the back of the netIf Mancini wasn't a borderline lunatic before he took the City job, his players are going the right way to ensure he ends up one. The Italian was resplendent in suit and long mac, compared to Bruce's tracksuit and football boots.
But Mancini looked the more dishevelled by the end after Sunderland's first win over City in 10 years. He has almost a fortnight to stew on a result which already leaves his side five points behind Chelsea.
Half an hour after Bent's winner, Mancini was still fuming. 'I do not know how we lost this game,' he said. 'I want to speak to the players when they come back from the international break because it was too easy for Sunderland.
'It is important we understand why we lost. When players defend with 10 behind the ball we must be passionate. We were fantastic in the first half and had four great chances but if you don't score you are always in danger.'
He didn't have to name names after witnessing an early contender for miss of the season from Carlos Tevez. Bruce said: 'I really don't think he will ever miss one like that again.'
Battle: Yaya Toure produced a fine performance in midfield alongside Lee Cattermole who returned from suspension The 16th-minute chance came with City on top and from a Sunderland corner. Yaya Toure skipped past the last desperate challenge of Lee Cattermole after a powerful break from box to box and glided clear of Sunderland's static keeper Simon Mignolet.
But, rather than sidefoot the ball into an empty net, Toure passed to his captain, who scooped his shot over the gaping goal.
It was not City's only chance but Sunderland were equal to the other threats. When Tevez turned provider for Yaya Toure, Mignolet dived bravely at his feet and when Fraizer Campbell's dreadful pass found Tevez, his low shot was diverted wide by Michael Turner.
Shock: Subsitute Emmanuel Adebayor (centre) was denied in stunning fashion Simon MignoletLate on, Mignolet turned away an Emmanuel Adebayor flick from a James Milner corner with a fingertip save, and even Hart applauded.
Bruce changed tactics to deal with City's £180million starting XI, employing a five-man midfield, with Bent the lone striker.
When Turner and Campbell failed to appear after the break after robust challenges, Danny Welbeck transformed Sunderland in the second half.
When Bent's weak finish from a Welbeck pass was half-cleared by Vincent Kompany, the on-loan Manchester United striker thrashed the ball over.
Bruce was hoping to conclude a deal for Rennes striker Asamoah Gyan last night amid fears that Campbell will be out for two months with knee ligament damage.
source: dailymail
