Micah spares City's blushes

City 1, Sunderland 0

AS ROBINHO’S worrying goal drought continued, it was defender Micah Richards who saved the day and spared the blushes for Manchester City in yesterday’s hard-earned victory against 10-man Sunderland.

Richards conjured his first goal for two-and-a-half years as City struggled to see off the Black Cats despite having an extra man for 76 minutes following George McCartney’s early dismissal.

Right-back Richards produced a tremendous display as his raw power and rampaging runs caused mayhem in the visiting defence.

The performance of Richards also earned a tribute from City manager Mark Hughes who believes he is rediscovering the form which once made him one of the Premier League’s most coveted players.

Hughes said: “Maybe this season he has been lacking in confidence in a number of games.
“Sometimes we forget he is still only 20 years of age. Though he has played a lot of games for somebody so young, at times you will have fluctuations in form as all young players have, and this may have happened to him this year.

“I haven’t been in a position on occasions to give him the rest that he possibly needed, and that is when his form was possibly affected.

“He has played through it and seems to be coming good at the business end of the season.”

Hughes added that everybody accepts Richards is far from the finished article and he knows he has to work on his game if he is to get to the level everybody expects him to get to.

The match exploded to life in the 14th minute when Shaun Wright-Phillips had his shirt pulled by McCartney as he burst through on goal.

Referee Steve Tanner failed to spot the offence, but he was alerted by an eagle-eyed assistant. After the two deliberated at length, Tanner brandished the red card.

There was further controversy minutes later when Richards was scythed down by Steed Malbranque.

Elano would normally have assumed penalty-taking duties, but he abdicated in favour of fellow Brazilian Robinho who has failed to find the net for City in 2009.

Robinho saw his tame effort easily saved by Hungarian keeper Marton Fulop diving low to his left.

City created other chances in the goalless opening period, but never troubled Fulop as Sunderland manager Ricky Sbragia set out to frustrate with a rejigged 4-4-1 formation.

The breakthrough came in the 57th minute when Richards leapt salmon-like at the far post to head home Elano’s free kick. The increasingly-desperate Robinho tried to claim the goal but it had already crossed the line.

Elano ought to have sealed victory when Richards opened the defence with another barnstorming run only for the Brazilian to inexplicably fire wide from seven yards.

Late on Sunderland had to adopt a more gung-ho approach in search of an equaliser therefore leaving gaping holes at the back.

City would have finished with a wider margin of victory but for Fulop who produced super saves to deny Elano, substitute Gelson Fernandes and Robinho.