We started off with a very attacking team, perhaps at Gareth Barry's expense as a roller coaster week for him was rounded up by being 'rested'. Dedryck Boyata made his return to the team at right back - the position which casted a slight concern over a few City fans with the absence of Richards, Zabaleta and Boateng (for me, in that order). Boyata looked comfortable from the start, against quick and tricky opponents like Wellbeck and Gyan he took the game in his stride and looked competent defending but just as importantly looked extremely comfortable on the ball, I remember one turn in particular where he turned on the Paulo Wanchope legs and strode delightfully from 2 surrounding Sunderland players.
It seems easy to say this now but we always looked like winning the game even from as soon as 5 minutes in when Adam Johnson had already been given 2 attempts to isolate the full-backs to varied success. The deadlock was broken by some neat interplay between Yaya and Johnson with the latter providing the finish into the bottom corner. The lead was doubled 10 minutes later when Carlos Tevez was brought down inside the area only to dust himself down and convert the penalty.
The scoreline was obviously emphatic and certainly send out the right message to Chelsea and Spurs (and Arsenal for that matter). The most encouraging thing though was the mentality of every single one of the players, with massive games approaching quickly we seem to be clicking at just the right time. Nigel De Jong's return to the team is vital, along with Kompany and Tevez we then have the quality throughout the spine of the team to build around.
Another positive sign is that the players are starting to make themselves regulars and letting their form choose the team; Lescott again was immense today and showed Asamoah Gyan the kind of defender he really is. Lescott looked quick, incisive and strong in the air as well as learning to play to his strengths and play an easier less direct ball from the back. Lescott's partnership with Kompany is improving with every game and they look to have a great understanding of each other; 5 clean sheets in 8 games goes a long way to prove this. David Silva is another player, along with Yaya and Tevez who have cemented their first team positions and gelled really well together.
Considering he normally makes all the headlines for the wrong reasons I think it's important to talk about the way Balotelli played today. Mario certainly has his critics and doesn't help himself, but as I heard someone behind me today say; 'when that lad finds his brain and wants to play, it's going to be a special day'. I don't quite think I can take that much from today performance but I can say that his work rate and attitude were the best I have seen since his arrival, he tracked back with his man every time and chased down defenders giving them no time on the ball. With the ball he looked calm and confident and was unlucky not to get on the score sheet. Another performance like that next weekend (away at Anfield does pose a whole different situation) and then I could just begin to trust him and think about his inclusion at Wembley.
With late goals from Vieira and Yaya coming after Silva nipped in and finished nicely from 8 yards the scoring was complete. I did also particularly enjoy the comedy of errors from the delightful Character that is Lee Cattermole as he inexplicably tee'd up Yaya Toure for the final goal.
Fine performance all round today, with no more worries at right-back and the rest of the cogs turning very smoothly we have every reason to be confident heading into another big game next Saturday and and even bigger one the next.
I imagine Roberto Mancini to be sat at home with a smile on his face thinking about that performance, the positive reaction from Mario Balotelli and the re-playing of his display of impeccable technique bringing a ball down from 60 foot with one touch on sky plus.
Forza Mancini.
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