City show frustrations at full time after being held to draw at Sunderland whilst Frank also finishes level on return to Brentford

0:28This is the Sky Sports Premier League podcast. in that second half after they kept Manchester City rather quiet in the first. Robin Bruce outstanding again but there was just no way Manchester City were finding a way to goal tonight. Their run of eight wins in a row comes to an end and it comes to an end at Sunderland as Donnarumma gets a bit involved here and it's another testament to how Sunderland have played this season. and another big result in a big game against a big club. Erling Haaland's chances were kept to a minimum once more as the Sunderland fans sing merrily away here once again.

1:13Ten games unbeaten at the Stadium of Life. Home sweet home back in the Premier League. It finishes. Sunderland 0, Manchester City 0. When was the last time you heard an atmosphere like that after a 0-0? But that is Sunderland, that is the story this season of resilience, of character, of fight and defiance. And this unbeaten home record under Regis Sliberis goes on past Manchester City. Daniel Sturridge, what did you make of that performance? Absolutely fantastic performance from Sunderland. They were tireless in their defending. all over the pitch from the midfield in Xhaka to the defence in Mukiele and Allende they were brilliant the goalkeeper was fighting all over the pitch when Isidore came on he was fighting all over the place running around giving them absolutely everything the game plan of course Stipe were knocking on the door a lot they created chances but Sunderland got the rubber the green thoroughly deserved point for them as you could hear from the audience from the fans at the stadium they created an amazing atmosphere But a performance from Sunderland, they looked delighted.

2:18Cheered from weir side all the way to the red side of North London as well, because that is two points dropped for Manchester City in this title race as well, Mike. How concerning would that be for Pep Guardiola? No, I don't think it's too concerning because that would be doing Sunderland a disservice. I thought that was excellent. But in terms of what they created in the game, the chance they had, I think they should have put one away. It was a bit scrappy at the end. Some of them had to fight for their lives. But when you've got Haaland and Shirky and Foden on the pitch, Doku come on in the second half, was outstanding out of the left-hand side.

2:55But they just couldn't get through that brick wall at the back. And the goalkeeper as well. I thought for a team performance, it was brilliant. They've got a good record at home for a reason. And Man City just couldn't get through it. Yeah, two points dropped for City and that will be, I suppose, quite a big element of the story. But for Sunderland, that character and that fight that we've talked about, Daniel, with a little bit of quality thrown in there, what is possible for the Sunderland side? We know that they're going to be in the Premier League next season under Idris Lloris. What is actually, how far could this carry them?

3:30I mean, at this point now, the sense that, you know, can we get into Europe? You know, we want European football. I think at the very beginning of the season, of course, everyone would be anticipating, saying, hey, we just want to stay up, that's the goal, that's the game plan. But the feeling in the camp, clearly now there's that belief they're competing with the biggest and best teams, all the clubs that have come to their arena, they've shown them what they're all about, they're picking up points left, right and centre, the leadership that Xhaka has brought to the football club, and I think he's probably allowed for them to believe even bigger than they may have before.

4:03So if I was in that camp now, you would definitely fancy Xhaka, You're forgetting about safety now and you're thinking you're looking ahead, you're not looking behind. Michael, these are players with big reputations who are putting their bodies on the line week in, week out. A couple of weeks ago, I mean, that stadium, some atmosphere. But it's not only that, it's the fact that they've got six players, AFCON, Ballard out as well, and still managed to put in a performance like that. I thought the game plan was good. I thought they stayed in that low block, but then tried to get that counter attack going and sort of in that middle of the pitch.

4:40I thought Hulme was outstanding today. I really did the way he covered the fence and then tried to get forward at times. But yeah, points dropped for Man City. Well, just as a little reminder, Sunderland at the back end of 2024 were losing at Stoke and just over 12 months on, they're holding Manchester City and they're in the upper echelons of the Premier League. What a journey it has been. what a 12 months for that football club.

5:12So this is how we ended 2025 and we start 2026. Across this match day we have now seen one, two, three, seven draws from the ten matches. Three goalless draws on New Year's Day. Not perhaps quite how we wanted it or anticipated it, But I wonder if that's anything to do with the fact that all these teams were playing each other just over three weeks ago. It might have worked each other out a little bit. But what goals we have had, you can see by scanning that QR code, which should take you to the Sky Sports app. You can feast on what's there. So the halfway point in the Premier League has now been reached.

5:57This is the halfway point and Arsenal's lead has extended to four points over Manchester City. They've got a six-point cushion on Aston Villa, who they beat a couple of days ago. Twelve points to Liverpool, who then have a three-point gap to Chelsea and Manchester United. Sunderland there in seventh place in the table and it's very tight across that middle pack from Sunderland, Everton, Brentford, Crystal Palace. Only two points between those four sides and we can go lower down the map. Crystal Palace climbing from top half today. Fulham and Spurs climbing 27, 26, 26. Brighton on 25 in 14th place.

6:33There's nothing between any of them really, is there? Even Bournemouth in 15th on 23. Leeds with another point today on to 21. And then a little bit of a gap emerging between them and Forest. And then Forest and the bottom three. Big game on the horizon between Forest and West Ham as well.

7:00Hello, I'm Juliet Farrington. And I'm Joe Tomlinson. And we're the hosts of the one-on-one podcast of Sky Sports. Each episode, one of us will sit down for a chat with one of football's biggest names. In one-on-one, we'll take you beyond the pitch to meet the player or manager behind the headlines. And we're here every week on your podcast platform of choice. So you can watch us across Sky Sports as well on Sky Sports News, on the web, on the app, and also across our social platforms. So if you don't already, give one-on-one from Sky Sports a follow so you don't miss an episode. That's one-on-one, a Sky Sports podcast.

7:38This is the Sky Sports Premier League podcast. Let's get more analysis of the game and return to the studio. Friends and colleagues, but rivals tonight. And a point apiece in a gold straw at Brentford as Thomas Frank returned for the first time. And a goal was drawn at the Stadium of Light as well where Manchester City were pushing hard for the winning goal towards the end but couldn't find a way through. Really dominant second half from them. 12 of their 14 shots came in that second 45 minutes. They had four big chances designated by Opta in that second half as well. much the higher expected goals tally and touches in the opposition box, but just couldn't find a way through a seventh clean sheet of the season for Sunderland.

8:31And we can hear from Bernardo Silva, who's with Pien Mullensy. Bernardo, what a game. Goalless in the end, a point. What did you make of it all? Two different halves. I would say that in the first half, we didn't play that well. We didn't control the counters as well as we should. We attacked a bit too quick. We didn't move them to then find the spaces. And then the second half where we had a lot of chances, that's my perception, that's what I felt. And today was one of those days where we couldn't finish them and it's fine, it's a point. Obviously we're not happy because we wanted better than this, but still a long season, yeah.

9:16Does it feel like chances missed or defensively they were just difficult to break down? No, a little bit of both. They're a good team. It's no coincidence that they're undefeated at home this season. A lot of credit to them, but we're fighting for the title. We're trying to stay as close as possible to the top, so we need to also win these kind of games. Unfortunately, today we didn't. We missed a lot of chances, but on to the next one. As a player, what do you learn from a game like this, where you are left frustrated at full-time when you say it was a game of two halves? It's football, isn't it?

9:58You can't be perfect every time, every half, every minute, and we know that. The team is showing a lot of resilience at the minute. In the moments where we don't play that well, we're still very consistent, we're still very stable. Today I thought that once again we were that. Unfortunately, we missed the last step to score our chances, but that's the game. Sitting and watching the game as well with the crowd, they seem to be cheering every tackle that Sunderland made as well and every chance that they had. What was it like for you as an opposition player with the crowd noise today? It's a good crowd, but it's the Premier League.

10:39I've been here nine years, so no surprise for me, no surprise for us. we're quite used to this. Thank you very much for your time. Yeah, well, his perception, I think, was probably the right perception. They did have big chances, Manchester City, particularly in that second half, as we said earlier. Will they be leaving Wearside tonight, Daniel, with the concern of what might have been? Yes, these are the games, as a player, you look back and you think to yourself, what could I have done slightly different? That one there, could he have connected with the ball? Does it bubble up just in front of him there?

11:13yes so the connection on the balls are not very good of course might have had two subinho at the start of their second half yeah i mean it really could i mean just doesn't get the power behind it island makes the run a little bit too late but good save from roofs who's been outstanding this season and what an one impact guardiel had actually going forward for manchester city as well well we know he scores a lot of goals from the back where it'd be left back at the center half The timing of the run is absolutely brilliant. The goalkeeper watches it all the way. Again, another good save. But this man won it.

11:46Come on, Doku was outstanding, wasn't he? Brilliant one-on-one situations. Very, very difficult to stop. For me here, oh, it's... Guardiola slightly in the way. It was a great block with his head up. You don't want to be taking balls to the face like that too often. I'm looking forward to speaking to Trey Hume, hopefully shortly, to find out what that is actually like in that moment when Doku is staring you down like that. Guardiol again. What an effort that was. The chances just kept coming and coming, didn't they? Just wasn't meant to be today. It's a great effort. Outside of left foot, goalkeeper just covered one side.

12:22But then Guardiol again in there. He takes a really good touch, but then Xhaka just stops him as he's about to fire the shot away. You see there, just gets his foot in. Strong foot as well. Yeah, and look at Aldereta as well coming in. Rinders. Yes, just at the end. Look at the pass. The time of the run was good. The connection again. He's fuming, isn't he? Not too sure what for, though. And that's why City can't be too upset because they created the chances. Just couldn't put them away today. Well, that was a lot to do with the defending that Sunderland put into that game, the effort they put into that game.

13:00We can speak live now to one of their heroes tonight, Trey Hulme who joins us from the Stadium of Light. Evening to you, Trey. Congratulations on another clean sheet, a seventh of the season and a solid point against Manchester City. Give us your perspective on that game. I think, you know, everyone knows how good a side City is, but, you know, whenever you come to the Stadium of Light, we try to be as solid as we can. And, you know, I thought we were today, even though they created chances, I thought, you know, as a team from back to front, including, you know, Robin and Nets, So I thought we were all excited on them.

13:33Give us an idea, let us into the sort of team room, if you like, Trey, and give us an idea of what the game plan was ahead of that match tonight. Yeah, we wanted to be, you know, bold. I think whenever we played them at their place, you know, we went there with a bit, you know, a naivety and a bit of respect, you know, which they fully deserve. But I think coming here, it was a different game plan. We wanted to get after them and impress them, and I thought we'd done that. And, you know, at times we did win the ball back, we created chances ourselves. and I thought it was a good game overall. Trey, Daniel Sturridge, mate.

14:04Talk to me about the atmosphere tonight and the life that the fans gave you on the pitch. No, I think every time we play at home, the fans are incredible. They're our 12th man. I think you can see that from the performances and how our home record is this season. They always push us. We make it tough for opposition teams coming here, so we need to keep it that way. Can I ask you about your position today? At times it looked like you were playing at the back and then you were in midfield, the timing, I thought when you jumped was perfect. Was that something you worked a lot in training specifically for this game?

14:41Yeah, I think we started as a 4-4-2, I was the right-hand side of midfield, but whenever we were under pressure and they had a lot of possession, I would drop in and play in the back five as a wing-back. So I think that's the first telly that I have, I can do both jobs. and I did want to press from the front, but sometimes you have to be safe and defend. So, you know, that was both jobs I had to do. Trey, a couple of moments we're going to show you now. We know you've got goals in you as a footballer and there might have been a bit of a sniff in the first half. We can just show you this header.

15:12You were talking about what position you played and you were the man in the middle of the box here with this header. Yeah, I think, you know, it's a great ball, Big Granat. And, you know, I think the defender in front of me just took me off the ball whenever he jumped. So I lost sight of it just at the end. I thought I would have got a cleaner contact, but I still think I should do better. And in the position you're playing, you've got to face up all sorts of wingers, as you have done in this first half of the season. You had Savino in the first half. Then you have Doku. Tell us what this moment is like.

15:42No, I think anyone in the league that plays it right full-back, I think that's the last player you want running at you. He's so good on the ball. He's quick, he's sharp, and he's really hard to defend. so whenever he's coming on, you've got to be extra concentrated, and you've got to stick to your job. I try my best to do that, but he is a brilliant player, I think we all know that. Trey, the look on your face here, you look like you're not satisfied. I want to talk about the future moving forward. Is it a game-by-game mentality, or is there optimism in the camp that you can achieve a little bit more?

16:18We don't look too far ahead, we take it game-by-game, I think we've done that since the start of the season and it's worked well for us so far. So, you know, we just take it game by game and, you know, see where the season takes us. It's been an extraordinary first half of the season, Trey, riding high in seventh place. And I know that you were part of this journey all the way from from League One all the way to the Premier League. So is this the kind of the stuff of your dreams as well as a young boy growing up in Northern Ireland to be where you are now? Yeah, I think I was playing back home four or five years ago, so it has been a quick turnaround, but it is a dream come true to play in the Premier League.

16:55I think that's where you want to challenge yourself and that's where you want to play as a kid growing up. So being able to do that for this fantastic club is a dream come true, yeah. Keep it going, Trey. Great point tonight, great performance. Well done. Congratulations. Thanks for speaking to us as well. That's Trey Hulme, who is part of a tremendous rearguard action from Sunderland tonight. I think Sonnen got changed out£100 ,000 for Trey Hulme when they took him from Northern Ireland, which wasn't too bad, was it? Sonnen also had their moments going forward, Daniel. It wasn't just about them defending, as we saw with Trey there.

17:28Yeah, they did the first half, had some chances, and this is the chance for me, the one as a centre forward, knowing how difficult it is to get time in these areas, to be able to think, to be able to look, and Broby just doesn't direct it in the right area for me. the far post, it's a gaping. You're thinking to yourself, just get the right connection, try and guide it to the side of the goalkeeper. He doesn't do that, aims for the near post and sort of just hits the keeper. Is that almost the next step, do you think, for Sullen in general, perhaps, Daniel? Adding a bit more quality going forward to what is this really solid unit that is able to be the third best defence in the league right now.

18:06As you say, defensively, they've got no problems. In games, when you're creating chances, specifically in games like this, against bigger clubs where you're thinking you get half chances sometimes. They're getting clear chances and you're thinking, OK, you need someone who can put those ones away because if you do want ambition of going to the next step, you're going to need a clinical goal scorer. That's not too much of a worry for me because of getting in there. Once you get in those positions, it means that you're doing something right. It's just that finishing touch. I mean, when you talk about players, Haaland and Scherke and Foden at one end, They're not the same level, but they're still getting it.

18:43It's just that little bit of a difference. And if you do well, you'll add to that quality. And it's been an amazing start for Sunderland so far. You've seen that value of Donnarumma in goal for Manchester City again on Knightslight tonight. Because it might well have gone the other way by the odd goal as well. When we come back, we will hear from both managers. Rydis Lubris on another hard-earned point. and Pep Guardiola on what must feel like two points dropped in this title race tonight at the Stadium of Life.

19:24The Sky Sports app is the place to get the biggest and latest sports news stories, live blogs, updates on goals as they go in, and all the video highlights of the Premier League, and much more. It's free to download from your app store and you don't need to be a Sky customer to use it. Now let's get more reaction to today's game on the Sky Sports Premier League podcast.

19:54Manchester City's winning run has come to an end at the Stadium of Light tonight. A little bit of steam in the air at the full-time whistle as well. Frustration at two points dropped. couldn't find a goal tonight to see off Sunderland despite a dominant second half performance. We can get the reaction of Pep Guardiola now with Pimolinsu. Pep, that was quite the game. What did you make of it? Good. We take the point. So second half was excellent. Yeah, we missed. We cannot score in six-year box. How many times we're in the six-year box, you know, against the keeper or the other one. could not convert and of course the threat that they have they are really good but yeah really really good for my special second half Were there times when you're watching it as you say some of the opportunities that you had you're thinking surely it's got to go in or is it just one of those nights?

20:51There's a mystery I don't have answer to your question so sometimes you know I don't know we create a lot against that team in this stadium especially in second half in the first half we struggled simply because we struggled against the pressing, but Rodri gave us the extra pass, the composer, you know, to break the lines, and after we could run, and second half was much, much better. How difficult was it to break Sunderland down defensively? How good were they today? It was heavily, it made my marking so aggressive, we could not keep the ball, the people up front, but in the second half we break better, and of course the thread, they are so physical, they are so strong, So, I was not surprised at that, but yeah, we take the point.

21:34It's a long, long way. What did you make of the battle as well between Mukieli and Haaland, especially in that first half? It seemed like both of them were giving as good as they got. Yeah, it was a good battle. Is that one of the things that you had to try and work on in terms of trying to get Haaland in those spaces? Because Mukieli wasn't really giving him anything at all. Yeah, but to that, we have to make before three or four passes. Otherwise, it's difficult. When you come away from a game like this, goalless draw, do you accept the point or do you feel like you deserve more? It's what it is.

22:08We cannot change the result. We can realise, always they can say, oh, you had to score this action or the other action, so you never know. It's what it is. Results always are what it is.

22:25Fairly philosophical Pep Guardiola on two points dropped to the stadium of light. Is it a setback? Daniel in the title race? Bump in the road? No, I don't think it is. Is it a good point? Yeah, it's a good point. Sunderland are fantastic at home. We've seen what they're all about. We know how good they are. So I don't think it's a step back. I think it's a point earned. I think they would feel that they deserve to win the game. I think that's where the disappointment is. If you asked me before the game, would they have wanted to go there and win? Absolutely. But the point's a good point away at Sunderland.

22:55We've seen other teams struggle there. So, you know, the disappointment comes in the chances they're created. He would have felt like we should have came away with the win. You say seven clean sheets for Sunderland at home. I mean, it's difficult. Only City and Arsenal have conceded more than newly promoted Sunderland. And City's XG was just short of free. It's just one of those days. I think, looking back, you'll be disappointed that the chances that he didn't take. But in the course of the season, how Sunderland have performed, I think it's a good point. Well, of course, they held Arsenal there as well.

23:27Exactly that. But it's not just that. Missing, what, six players to AFCON, Ballard out as well. And to put in that performance and be so organised, the manager needs a lot of credit as well. How do you see the title race at the halfway stage? This is the halfway point. You want us to predict again, do you? I just want your reflections on it. I think it's going to go all the way. I think Man City still look dangerous. Rodri coming back. Doku coming back. I thought Savinho did excellent in the first half. Arsenal just looked really robust. They might not risk the game as much as Man City in terms of trying to get forward and score goals, but they looked really good defensively.

24:11And the squad, we've talked about the squad many times before, but having Gabriel back is a massive bonus for them. Offensive, defensively, organisation. And it was a big game against Villa, getting that win in terms of, it feels like there was a lot of pressure and Aston Villa have caused them problems in previous seasons, but for them to get over the line in that way, it'd give the club a big boost. How do you see it? Yeah, I think Manchester City probably surprised a lot of people in terms of how well they've played so far, considering where they were last year. You look at them this year, they're going in the right direction.

24:53And I think they're building that confidence and that belief that, okay, you know, we're getting back to our best now. Just like Mieke said there with the Rodri, you know, he's come back to fitness now and potential new players joining the club as well. You would, they've got that optimism. You can see that Pep, he looks like he's got that, you know, that feeling that they can actually challenge and win it as well. And for Arsenal, you know, we talk about Arsenal and we say, when are they going to take the next step? Could this be the year? The players they have, they've got goals in the wide areas.