Sunderland welcome Manchester City to the Stadium of Light looking to build on the 4-0 midweek win over Bolton.

Steve Bruce's side scored early on through Fraizer Campbell before Darren Bent added a hat-trick. Now the Black Cats will be hoping to make it two wins in a row.

Meanwhile, Manchester City continue their fight for a Champions' League spot with just four defeats from 27 games and a points total of 49.

TEAM NEWS
Who's in, who's out?

Steve Bruce is expected to welcome back Lee Cattermole, who has trained with the team after being substituted with a knock against Bolton.

Jordan Henderson and Kieran Richardson have also returned to training, but neither is expected to be fit enough to face City.

David Meyler returns from a ban, but captain Lorik Cana serves the first game of a two-match ban for accumulating 10 yellow cards.

Andy Reid (hamstring) remains on the sidelines.

Patrick Vieira returns for City following a three-match ban, but Emmanuel Adebayor is suspended and both Michael Johnson and Martin Petrov are still out.


MATCH FACTS
Useful stats ahead of the game.

- Sunderland have not beaten Manchester City at the Stadium of Light since December 2000.
- Both clubs have tasted defeat just once in their last six games.
- City's goal difference of +17 is the fifth-best in the Barclays Premier League.
- The 22 goals scored by City away from home are bettered only by Arsenal, Manchester United and Chelsea.
- City have conceded 21 goals away from home, winning four fixtures on the road so far.
- Only Stoke (7) have drawn more games away from home than City (6).
- All of City's four defeats this season have come on the road. They are currently undefeated at Eastlands.
- Sunderland have won six home games this season, scoring 23 goals and conceding 14.


KEY BATTLES
A look at the crucial head-to-heads.

ALAN HUTTON v CRAIG BELLAMY


Speed merchant Craig Bellamy tortured Nyron Nosworthy in the return game at Eastlands earlier in the season - this time it's up to Alan Hutton to nullify his threat.

Keeping Bellamy quiet will be crucial and the attack-minded Hutton will feel he has the pace to help shut down the quicksilver winger.

Hutton's number one priority will be to ensure he doesn't concede any ground to Bellamy, who has the ability to unlock defences with his pace and trickery.

But he will still be looking to make his trademark forward runs, which were an important part of the 4-0 win over Bolton last time out.

LEE CATTERMOLE v GARETH BARRY


Lee Cattermole will be raring to go providing he can beat the niggling injuries which have dogged him of late.

The combative midfielder will need all his energy and tackling smarts to deal with Gareth Barry, an underrated component of City's side.

Barry - an England international - can mix it with the best of them and possesses a level of footballing intelligence which allows him to dictate games from the middle of the park.

With Lorik Cana absent, Cattermole may be relied upon more in a holding role to contain Barry, allowing others to push on.

MICHAEL TURNER v ROQUE SANTA CRUZ


With Emmanuel Adebayor absent through suspension, Roque Santa Cruz is likely to be a key cog for City.

The former Blackburn striker is adept in the air and on the ground and will be a tough customer to deal with alongside energetic striker partner Carlos Tevez.

Santa Cruz will be relied upon to help build attacks alongside Tevez, making Turner's role at the heart of the Sunderland defence an important one.

He'll be tasked with getting the ball away early as well as keeping his wits about him to deal with the aerial threat posed by crosses from wingers Craig Bellamy and Shaun Wright-Phillips.

LAST TIME OUT
What happened the last time the two sides met?

Manchester City 4 Sunderland 3 (Click here for match report)
City of Manchester Stadium, Saturday 19th December 2009

Roque Santa Cruz scored the winner for Manchester City as they emerged as victors in Mark Hughes' final game in charge.

Hughes was sacked after the game despite CIty coming out on top in a seven-goal thriller at Eastlands.

The hosts looked to be cruising after opening up a two-goal lead inside the first 12 minutes.

First Santa Cruz tapped home a Craig Bellamy cross before Carlos Tevez scored from the penalty spot after Bellamy was fouled by Nyron Nosworthy.

But Sunderland roared back, reducing the arrears when John Mensah headed home from close range to record his first goal for the club.

Then Jordan Henderson levelled with a powerful shot which struck Shay Given and flew high into the net.

City, though, were back in front before the break when Shaun Wright-Phillips crossed for Bellamy, who found the corner of the goal with a precise shot.

Sunderland looked to have claimed a point when Kenwyne Jones nodded in from close range just after the hour.

But it was City who stole the points as Gareth Barry turned the ball back into the path of Santa Cruz, who slid home from close range.

BIG MATCH QUOTES
What are the key men saying ahead of the game?

Sunderland manager Steve Bruce: "It's amazing; we were saying a week ago that all we needed was a win. The shoots of recovery were there but we needed to go out there and do it. Thankfully the run is off our backs now, but that's gone and now we need to be at our best to get something from a very good Manchester City side."

Sunderland striker Darren Bent: "I hope I can take Tuesday's performance into the game on Sunday. We were below par when we played them down there earlier in the season, so to only lose by one goal says something about how the game went. We know full well that if we get the ball down and pass it, like we did against Bolton, then we are a match for anyone."

Sunderland goalkeeper Craig Gordon: "There's a sense of occasion about the game. It's come round at a nice time after the win over Bolton. Now we can go into the game with confidence. No matter who comes to the Stadium of Light, we've still got a very good record here. We've only lost twice. Whoever comes here will know they're in for a very difficult game. If City want to come here and win the game they'll have to play exceptionally well."

Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini: "Only the next game matters for now, and going to Sunderland is going to be difficult. They will be feeling good after beating Bolton the other night.. All the games here are difficult, and there is always something to play for. In Italy sometimes there were games where it almost didn't matter, but I have found that's not what it is like here, and I like that."


THE GAFFER
A profile of Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini.

Italian Roberto Mancini stepped into one of the most high-pressure jobs in football when he took the City job in December 2009, succeeding Mark Hughes who was sacked following the 4-3 win against Sunderland.

Capped 26 times by his country, Mancini enjoyed an illustrious playing career, and his star has continued to rise as a manager.

Starting out as a boss with Fiorentina, Mancini claimed a Coppa Italia with the cash-strapped outfit, repeating the feat with Lazio before joining Inter Milan.

Mancini established Inter as the top club in Italy, winning seven trophies in four seasons - including three successive Scudettos.

Out of a job at Inter after experiencing troubles in European competition, Mancini spent some time out of the game before returning to take on the job of establishing City as one of England's 'Big Four'.

He got off to a good start and has won 9, drawn 4 and lost 3 of his 16 league games in charge of the club so far.


ONE TO WATCH
A look at City's dangerman.

CARLOS TEVEZ

Argentinian striker Carlos Tevez has become something of a talismanic presence in the blue half of Manchester following his controversial move from city rivals United in the summer.

Immortalised on the famous blue billboards, the pressure was on Tevez to deliver following his big move to the City of Manchester Stadium, and he quickly endeared himself to the City faithful.

Known for his work-rate and clever play, Tevez has added goals to his game and has found the net an impressive 21 times so far this season, including a goal from the penalty spot when Sunderland visited Eastlands back in December.

A wily customer with pace to burn and a knack of being in the right place at the right time, Tevez is sure to be on the look-out to cause more than a few problems for the Sunderland defence on Sunday.


MATCH COVERAGE
Where can you keep tabs on the game?

Live text updates from the Stadium of Light are available for free on safc.com, the club's official website.

The club's online multimedia service, SAFC TV, will be broadcasting online commentaries courtesy of BBC Newcastle and Real Radio. A week's access costs just 99p! Click here to sign up today.

iPhone and iPod Touch users can download the club's new App from the iTunes Store here to access live text commentary, team news and even LIVE streaming audio commentary directly from their device (extra subscription required for commentary).

Fans can also follow @SAFCOfficial on Twitter (www.twitter.com/SAFCOfficial) to access live updates.

SAFC: Gordon, Hutton, Ferdinand, Turner (C), Mensah, Malbranque, Campbell, Meyler, Richardson, Bent, Jones.

Subs: Carson, McCartney, Da Silva, Kilgallon, Henderson, Bardsley, Zenden.

Manchester City: Given (C), Zabaleta, Richards, Lescott, Bridge, Wright-Phillips, Barry, Bellamy, Tevez, Kompany, De Jong.

Subs: Taylor, Toure, Sylvinho, Ireland, Johnson, Santa Cruz, Vieira.

Stu Vose

Sunderland were held to a draw despite an excellent home performance as Manchester City substitute Adam Johnson struck an injury-time leveller for the visitors.

The Black Cats were by far the better side in the first period and struck an early goal when Kenwyne Jones headed in Steed Malbranque's cross.

But City grew stronger after the break and only five magnificent saves from home keeper Craig Gordon prevented them from equalising before Johnson curled home in the dying minutes.

Featuring David Meyler and Kieran Richardson in a reshaped midfield in the absence of Lorik Cana and the injured Lee Cattermole, the hosts battled brilliantly and were obviously spurred on by a firecracker atmosphere inside the Stadium of Light.

John Mensah and Michael Turner nullified much of City's expensive attacking threat, with Ghanaian Mensah producing a super man-marking job on City dangerman Carlos Tevez.

Fresh from the resounding win over Bolton, Steve Bruce's side started brightly in front of a noisy home support.

Jones tested Shay Given with a low shot early on, but the former Newcastle keeper could do nothing about the Trinidadian's next effort as he put Sunderland in front after just nine minutes.

Malbranque - impressive against Bolton - was again the architect, cutting inside his marker on the left and curling in an irresistible cross for Jones, who looped a delightful header over Given and into the back of the net.

Jones' goal was his eighth of the season, and the big striker continued to provide a menacing presence up front for Sunderland, heading another Malbranque cross over from a similar position after David Meyler had fired low at Given.

Then it was Jones who threatened again, thundering towards goal to meet Bent's flick-on but blasting wide. Fraizer Campbell also fired off-target having teased Wayne Bridge - substituted just after the half-hour - with some quick feet on the right-hand edge of the box.

For all their industry and encouraging play, Sunderland were almost undone as they suffered an almighty scare just after the half-hour. A ball into the box wasn't cleared and eventually found its way to the feet of Gareth Barry, who will have been disappointed to curl his shot beyond Craig Gordon's left-hand post from the edge of the area.

Sunderland were dealt a blow at half time as Jones - who carried a knock for much ot the first period - was substituted, with Jordan Henderson replacing him for his first match action since being injured against Wigan.

As expected, City upped the ante after the restart and Sunderland had reason to be grateful to keeper Gordon - largely redundant in the first half - for three wonderful saves in as many minutes with the second period just five minutes old.

First the Scotland international did well to block smartly down low after sub Roque Santa Cruz sneaked round the back of the Sunderland defence.

He repeated the feat with a stretching save from Shaun Wright-Phillips on the near post before reacting well to turn Craig Bellamy's tricky cross-shot behind for a corner just as if the ball looked like it might sneak inside the near post.

Joleon Lescott had to be alert to head away Henderson's free kick inside his own six-yard box as Sunderland enjoyed a good spell, but back came City as Gordon came up trumps once more.

Bellamy broke clear down the right and slid a dangerous ball across the box, Tevez met it first time but Gordon spread himself and somehow managed to block with his legs at point-blank range. Patrick Vieira couldn't make the rebound as Sunderland's massed ranks hacked clear.

With time running out, City upped the ante with both Tevez and then NIgel De Jong blazing high and wide from decent positions.

But still Sunderland were fortunate to have Gordon riding to the rescue. The Scot again spread himself brilliantly to save with his feet from Bellamy after the City man streaked away from Alan Hutton with ten minutes remaining.

He repeated the trick in the final minute of normal time, somehow getting on a block on a Bellamy shot which flashed through a crowd and took a wicked deflection off Hutton.

But the brave Scot was finally beaten in an injury time as City grabbed a point they probably deserved. Johnson - a boyhood Sunderland fan - was given time to compose himself on the edge of the box and the substitute curled an exquisite shot into the top corner.

Sunderland, though, can take heart from an excellent performance as they extended their recent sequence to just one defeat in seven games.