Pearce sees bright future for Samaras

Man City 2 Sunderland 1

Pearce risked his reputation when he splashed out £6m on the unknown Greek striker during the transfer window. But it has not taken Samaras long to prove why Pearce was prepared to make the 21-year-old the second-most expensive player in City history, behind Nicolas Anelka.

The former Heerenveen star’s mixture of raw talent and brute force proved too much for the Black Cats. After scoring against Belarus and Kazakhstan, on his first two senior international appearances, Samaras completed the best week of his career by netting the early double that allowed City to record an unconvincing win over the Championship-bound Wearsiders.

“Georgios has a very bright future at this club,” said Pearce.

“From day one, I have been really impressed with his willingness to learn and felt he was someone I wanted to work with for the next few years. There are certain areas of his game which are very natural; at other times he looks so ungainly and he does things that defy belief.

“Our job as coaches is to improve his general play and eradicate the bad things, but he has the raw tools to be a top player.”

Samaras was quick enough to take advantage of Danny Collins’ disastrous attempt to wriggle past him on the edge of his own area, robbing thehapless defender before lashinga ninth-minute shot past KelvinDavis.

Trevor Sinclair sprang a badly marshalled offside trap to set up Samaras for a well-taken volleyed second, 60 seconds later, and it seemed City were set for a Sunday afternoon stroll.

But, not for the first time this season, Pearce’s men let the opposition back into the contest.

Kevin Kyle breathed fresh life into the game when he bundled home Gary Breen’s knock-down, midway through the opening period.

The Black Cats enjoyed the best chances of a nervy second period for the hosts, but Dean Whitehead twice failed to beat David James with decent opportunities.

Sunderland’s chances of avoiding their 22nd league defeat of an awful campaign ended when Breen received his second yellow card for blatantly trying to block James’ attempt at a quick throw.

“It was just ridiculous,” said manager Mick McCarthy of his captain’s crass move. What makes players do things in games? I don’t know. It was a bad decision, as was Danny Collins’. In those situations, the aim is to get the ball as far away as possible.”

McCarthy will not publicly throw in the towel just yet but the proud Yorkshireman is realistic enough to know relegation is now an inevitable prospect for the Wearside outfit.

Opta Fact: Man City have now won four Premiership home games in succession for the first time.

Opta Fact: Sunderland have conceded more left-footed goals than any other Premiership side - 14.

MAN CITY: James, Richards, Dunne, Distin, Jordan, Sinclair, Reyna (Ireland 81), Musampa, Riera (Jihai 60), Vassell (Wright-Phillips 68), Samaras.

SUNDERLAND: Davis, Nosworthy, Collins, Breen, McCartney, Delap (Lawrence 61), Whitehead, Leadbitter, Arca, Elliott (Le Tallec 82), Kyle (Stead 82).

Referee: C Foy (Merseyside).