Mancini fumes at Friend as Hart gifts win to Sunderland

Roberto Mancini, an unlikely source for the injection of farce, even in panto season, suggested the officials had enjoyed their Christmas Day celebrations rather too much in mitigation of a defeat that leaves his side seven points shy of the Premier League summit.

Talking turkey, crying fowl, call it what you will from the Manchester City manager. However, it was his goalkeeper, Joe Hart who on the evidence of his unwanted role in the only goal looked to have over-indulged when it came to that extra mince pie, or second helping of game bird to dull his reactions.

“The referee ate too much for Christmas,” Mancini insisted of Kevin Friend and his assistants for having the temerity to ignore what the Italian saw as a clear foul by Craig Gardner on Pablo Zabaleta in the build-up to Adam Johnson’s winning strike, eight minutes into the second half.