City back in top six as Sturridge strike denies Derby

DANIEL STURRIDGE’S first Barclays Premier League goal moved Manchester City back into a UEFA Cup spot as they denied Derby a long overdue victory at Pride Park.

Sun Jihai’s own goal less than a minute into the first half put Rams boss Paul Jewell within touching distance of his first league victory.

But Sturridge nipped in to fire his second goal in as many games, which proved enough to move City back into the top six. After just three minutes Claude Davis’ underhit backpass sent Darius Vassell clean through but the City striker pulled his effort wide.

Soon after Vedran Corluka’s header flew narrowly over.

Petrov showed the game’s first moment of quality when his first-time ball cut through the Derby defence to release Vassell – but goalkeeper Lewis Price was out quickly to smother.

City seemed certain to score when Davis cleared another quality left-wing cross from Petrov straight to Ireland on the six-yard line but the former Preston defender spared his own blushes with a last-ditch block.

Just 22 seconds into the second half the home side went ahead.

Hossam Ghaly twisted and turned on the edge of the area before the ball fell to Kenny Miller on the edge of the City area. The Scotland international’s low shot appeared to be heading wide but took a huge deflection off Sun and flew past the wrong-footed Hart.

City drew level on 63 minutes. Petrov delivered a pinpoint cross for Sturridge to steal in for a neat finish.

DERBY: Price, Leacock, Moore, Davis (Todd 69), Edworthy, Fagan, Savage, Ghaly, Pearson (Barnes 83), Earnshaw (Villa 88), Miller.

MAN CITY: Hart, Jihai, Dunne, Corluka, Ball, Etuhu (Elano 55), Ireland, Gelson, Petrov, Vassell (Mpenza 79), Sturridge (Geovanni 72).

Referee: Steve Bennett.