Hart’s absence from the starting line-up is the most eye-catching decision of Guardiola’s early days at City, and will raise the question whether the 29-year-old’s 10-year stay at Etihad Stadium could be coming to an end. But a late Paddy McNair own goal handed Manchester City a 2-1 win over Sunderland in Pep Guardiola’s first match in charge.
It had been 195 days since City announced Guardiola would succeed Manuel Pellegrini at Etihad Stadium, and results stagnated during that period, with five wins from last season’s final 15 Premier League games leading to a fourth-placed finish. It may take time for Guardiola’s blueprint for success to become evident but it was clear the team now have a different, non-stop approach.
Sunderland gave preferred City goalkeeper Willy Caballero an early test but he pushed away Patrick van Aanholt’s third-minute free-kick comfortably enough.
City are forced to work hard for their win today as Paddy McNair’s own goal hands them the three points after Jermain Defoe looked to have salvaged a point for the Black Cats. Guardiola will want to see a lot more from his team in the coming weeks, but will be delighted to get off the mark with a victory. Moyes will be not be dismayed by this result and will be eager to get back to work next week against Middlesbrough.
Van Aanholt then allowed City to gain the advantage a minute later when he slid in late to foul Raheem Sterling in the area. Aguero coolly struck home from the spot to get the Guardiola era up and running.
But Sunderland, responding to their new manager David Moyes, weathered the early storm and almost claimed a highly creditable point after Defoe netted his 144th Premier League goal. The equaliser from Jermain Defoe had looked like denying Guardiola in the Premier League opener at the Etihad Stadium but substitute McNair, signed from Manchester United this week, headed into his own net after 87 minutes.
Fantastic start for the Spaniard, but how will the rest of his games thrill?