Wickham at the double to sicken City as Pellegrini's Premier League title hopes are dashed by Poyet's basement boys

MANCHESTER CITY 2-2 SUNDERLAND - CHIEF SPORTS WRITER MARTIN SAMIUEL AT THE ETIHAD STADIUM: Whatever UEFA's bean counters have in store for Manchester City, it won't come as any greater shock than the events of the second half at the Etihad. In 10 minutes Connor Wickham did for City's ambitions and pretensions more savagely than Michel Platini's financial fair play team could ever imagine.

Whatever UEFA’s bean counters have in store for Manchester City, it won’t come as any greater shock than the events of the second half at the Etihad. In 10 minutes Connor Wickham did for City’s ambitions and pretensions more savagely than Michel Platini’s financial fair play team could ever imagine.

His two goals will have been received as joyously in London and Merseyside as they were on Wearside, making the Premier League title finale ever more a two-horse race between Liverpool and Chelsea, while throwing Sunderland the hint of a lifeline. Having been on a downward spiral for so long, here was one test few expected Sunderland to survive — certainly after conceding in the second minute of the game.

Instead they rallied after half-time to silence the Etihad Stadium with a quite remarkable comeback — not least because it was thoroughly deserved.

Quick start: Fernandinho scored for City inside two minutes

Equaliser: Connor Wickham volleys home for Sunderland to make it 1-1

On target: The goal was Wikcham's first of the season

Double: Wickham fires home his second goal as City almost threw it away

Wasted: Manchester City dropped two points at home to bottom of the league Sunderland

Howler: Vito Mannone's late error lost two points for bottom of the League Sunderland

Angry: Mannone reacts after conceding the soft equaliser

Match facts

Man City: Hart, Zabaleta, Kompany, Demichelis, Kolarov, Milner, Garcia, Fernandinho (Rodwell 87), Nasri, Aguero (Jovetic 57), Negredo (Dzeko 69).

Subs not used: Pantilimon, Lescott, Richards, Clichy.

Booked: Zabaleta.

Goals: Fernandinho 2, Nasri 88.

Sunderland: Mannone, Vergini, Alonso, Brown, O'Shea, Cattermole, Colback, Larsson (Giaccherini 68), Johnson, Borini (Scocco 69), Wickham.

Subs not used: Altidore, Ba, Mavrias, Agnew, Ustari.

Booked: Borini, Alonso.

Goals: Wickham 73, 83.

Ref: Martin Atkinson.

Att: 47,046

They failed to hold on for victory but, from City’s perspective at least, it hardly mattered. A draw here still felt like defeat, no matter the momentary relief of City’s equaliser.

Any elation felt when Samir Nasri scored will quickly have been quelled by a glance at the Barclays Premier League table. Chelsea no longer do City a favour if they win at Anfield on April 27: they look after No 1, just as Jose Mourinho likes it.

Pity Sunderland, though, and particularly Connor Wickham. What a display from the young striker — and what a one-two combination with Emanuele Giaccherini. The Italian provided both of Wickham’s goals as Sunderland stunned City late in the game, bringing back memories of a similar fright administered at Anfield.

That night, Sunderland fell short — and this time, too, considering only a point was gained. Sunderland deserved more.

Wickham’s equaliser after 73 minutes came with a far-post volley, after a lovely left-sided cross from Giaccherini.

What should have been the winner was a quite sublime finish after a brilliant Giaccherini run from inside his own half.

Level: Samir Nasri's weak effort should have been saved by the Italian goalkeeper

Aghast: Nasri reacts after missing a late chance to win it for City

Only a horrendous mistake by goalkeeper Vito Mannone, letting a Nasri shot slip from his grasp in the 88th minute, afforded City a scrap of dignity, but they have lost vital ground since the weekend. City looked tired here, complacent too. Their players probably thought they would be marking time, staying in touch, hoping that a Chelsea win at Anfield on April 27 would recommence battle.

Now they need so much more.

City were ahead within 111 seconds. It says something about the attacking qualities of a team when that is only the third-fastest goal of their league season. Gold: Jesus Navas, versus Tottenham Hotspur, 13 seconds. Silver: Edin Dzeko, versus Manchester United, 43 seconds. Bronze: Fernandinho, versus Sunderland, one minute and 51 seconds. Seriously, what took him so long?

Waiting for Sunderland to give the ball away, maybe. It didn’t require an enormous amount of patience. Lee Cattermole was the culprit, Sergio Aguero the beneficiary, slipping the ball through to Fernandinho, whose blind-side run was aided by a neat dummied step-over from Alvaro Negredo. Fernandinho sized up the chance and with a low shot defeated Mannone.

Quick draw: It had started so well for the home side

Return: Sergio Aguero made a return to the first XI after injury, playing 57 minutes before being withdrawn

Volley: Wickham arrives at the back post to score a surprise goal for the struggling visitors

Frustrated: Manuel Pellegrini speaks to the assistant referee

It was the worst start imaginable for Sunderland, who have seemed irresistibly attracted to the Championship since their happy existence in the domestic cup competitions was curtailed.

Yet, somehow, when the teams retreated to the dressing-rooms at half-time, Fernandinho’s goal remained the sole means of separation. Indeed, Sunderland manager Gus Poyet might have considered his team quite unfortunate to be trailing. City, whether through complacency or the hangover of defeat at Liverpool and the realisation the title was no longer in their hands, had begun sloppily at the back.

Twice they almost let Sunderland in from set plays, first from an Adam Johnson free-kick, then from a Sebastian Larsson corner. On both occasions, sadly, the ball fell to John O’Shea, whose headers were wayward.

He could have earned Sunderland a draw at Liverpool in the last minute, too. That is what happens when a team is missing a striker of stature. Team-mates take up the slack — and if O’Shea was a natural goalscorer he wouldn’t have spent the bulk of his professional life in the heart of a back four.

Close: Fabio Borini goes close with a shot that whistles past the post

Control: Sunderland's Connor Wickham brings down the ball under pressure from Martin Demichelis

Advance: Adam Johnson dribbles past City midfielder Javi Garcia

Not that Sunderland’s fortunes improved greatly when they did get a striker on the ball. In the 18th minute, Martin Demichelis was caught out of position, allowing Fabio Borini to collect the ball in space with only Joe Hart to beat. How convenient if Borini, a loan signing from Liverpool this season, could do both of his clubs a favour by putting one past Manchester City. It was not to be. He shot across Hart, and across the face of goal, but wide. Maybe that’s why his presence is not required at Anfield.

Still, Sunderland were growing in confidence and by midway through the half, Johnson was even trying his luck from 25 yards. City, meanwhile, offered little amid an atmosphere falling increasingly flat.

Aguero had a shot parried by Mannone, rebounding to Pablo Zabaleta. He used his loaf and headed the ball to Fernandinho in a better position, but he could not recreate the accuracy of his first finish and the ball flew over.

City sent a few more that way before the half ended, as the crowd grew more subdued. They seem to be waiting for a spark around these parts, a slip, a sign that Liverpool might have a stumble in them. Mainly, they are waiting for Chelsea to do their dirty work at Anfield on Sunday week.

They are waiting to be invited back into the title race by a third party. It is not an enjoyable experience, and that shows.