It wasn’t the biggest shock of our 2025/2026 season so far.
Perhaps it was always asking a lot for Sunderland to end what had been an objectively impressive week of results by depriving Pep Guardiola’s
Big Blue Machine of valuable points in the Premier League title race, but after Arsenal’s Saturday afternoon slip combined with the fact that Sunderland more than likely had an eye on next weekend’s clash with Newcastle, a brutal-looking 3-0 Etihad scoreline wasn’t entirely unexpected — even if it represented a rare chastening afternoon for Régis Le Bris’ Lads.
After dramatically overhauling a 0-2 Bournemouth advantage to win 3-2 and backing that up with a hugely impressive point against Arne Slot’s fading champions at Anfield in midweek, belief would’ve doubtless been high that we could at least take the game to Guardiola’s revamped and seemingly reborn City side, but at the end of a game during which we didn’t lack fighting spirit or work rate, we simply had to hold up our hands, accept defeat with grace, and acknowledge the class of our opponent.
Of course, we can point to certain moments in the game, such as Wilson Isidor being denied (or making the wrong decision when faced with the towering figure of Gianluigi Donnarumma, depending on your point of view), Granit Xhaka cracking a shot off the foot of the post — not to mention things being capped off by a hot-blooded challenge from Luke O’Nien that was as unnecessary as it was unexpected — but in the cold light of day, City were simply too classy, too slick, too elusive and too ruthless.
Potential title winners? Without a doubt. They’re that good.
We’ve got promising players in a variety of positions whereas they’ve got elite operators in most positions, and that’s what it came down to.
They might’ve moved on from the “death by one thousand passes” approach that saw them dominate the domestic game for years, but even if Norwegian marksman Erling Haaland doesn’t get in on the act, they can still hurt you in a variety of ways and with Phil Foden at his lively best and Rayan Cherki buzzing around menacingly all afternoon, stemming the tide for ninety minutes was always unlikely.
There’s no shame in this, of course, and far better sides than ourselves will emerge from their trip to Eastlands having been put through a spin cycle and given a chasing, but every game — win, lose or draw — is generally considered a learning experience for this side and hopefully morale won’t be dented too severely.
Our season was never likely to be defined by games of this nature and if Le Bris and the players take anything from it, it’s that top flight football is test of every facet — both mental and physical.
If you fall short in either department, combined with the skill levels of the elite, you’re always going to find it hard. City are still one of the top flight’s standard-bearers and although we’ve made no secret of our own ambitions to compete strongly this season, for every away victory over Chelsea, there’s always the possibility of a result like this.
So, in that sense, it’s time for Sunderland to take the standing ten count, sponge themselves down, and gear up for a week that we supporters may not enjoy, but in which the players should revel.
After avoiding yellow cards on Saturday, with Le Bris somewhat riskily keeping them in the fold until the game was done and dusted, Xhaka and his midfield partner Noah Sadiki will pass muster for the visit of Newcastle, and hopefully Reinildo’s groin injury isn’t too troublesome either, with the Mozambican’s nous and experience sure to be crucial in the cauldron of the Wear-Tyne derby.
It’s also a safe bet that Le Bris will set his team up more effectively than the last time we crossed paths with our Saudi-backed neighbours, and perhaps the hope will be that after a midweek Champions League clash with Bayer Leverkusen, Newcastle will be feeling the effects and can therefore be got at.
Will it pay off? Let’s hope so, because a win in this most fraught of games would not only represent a crucial three points as we aim for mid-table stability — it would send a message to those on Tyneside that we’re truly here to kick on.
At some stage in a bout, every boxer has to absorb some sharp punches in order to land one or two solid blows themselves. We certainly took some stinging jabs on Saturday but by the time we kick off against Newcastle, we ought to be ready to take the fight to Eddie Howe’s visitors. It’ll be tense, it’ll be nervy, but it’s also a winnable game.
Let’s make it happen.
