Pep Guardiola warns Manchester City there is no margin for error

The Premier League is one of three competitions Guardiola’s side are still in with a chance of winning. Tottenham, who have played a game more, are second with 56 points.

Black Cats manager David Moyes is also without Jason Denayer, the defender on loan from City, who is unable to play against his parent club.

“(It’s) increasing much better and that makes me confident.

Sunderland have lost each of their last five Premier League games against Manchester City since a 2-2 draw at the Etihad in April 2014.

Manchester City are looking like the real deal again.

The Catalan knows that gap may ultimately prove too big to bridge and is equally aware that they can not afford to lose any games in the league, FA Cup or Champions League as the season draws to a close. “We don’t think to imagine the big targets and the big objectives, we just try to win the next game”.

Sunderland are next in action at the weekend, against Burnley, and they will be under huge pressure to get the three points.

“To take decisions like Claudio Bravo did in the last game was a masterpiece, how he took decisions, short and right, left, along and behind. We are very happy with the display”.

One thing is for sure – Pickford needs to get his rave on.

“We have to believe”, said the Spanish midfielder.

He nearly had a second late on, only to be denied by the excellent Jordan Pickford who kept out his 20 yard effort at full stretch.

Ultimately, though, the Wearsiders had nothing to show for their first-half efforts, with City comfortably seeing out the second 45 minutes to deepen Sunderland’s relegation concerns.

SUNDERLAND: Pickford, Jones, Kone, O’Shea, Oviedo, Larsson, Gibson (Rodwell, 69 mins), Januzaj, Ndong, Borini, Defoe. This was always a tough fixture, to come here and beat Manchester City. They were massive chances for a Sunderland side as desperately short of firepower as the one David Moyes is leading. And 4, we have to hope and pray that we can competently defend for ninety minutes. 3, we have to be courageous, organised and determined.