Steph Houghton loves what Sunderland pair managed in impressive Man City draw
Sunderland showed grit and resilience to earn themselves a brilliant 0-0 draw against Man City on Thursday.
With six players at AFCON and Dan Ballard unavailable to play due to injury, there were fears that the Black Cats could kick off 2026 with a poor result.
However, Sunderland managed to preserve their unbeaten home record, as Erling Haaland, Rayan Cherki, and Phil Foden failed to have any joy in front of goal.
Bernardo Silva had a goal disallowed early on, while Haaland, Josko Gvardiol and Savinho were unable to fire past Roefs as he stood strong throughout the match.
Sunderland’s 0-0 draw with Man City was a fantastic point earned in the end, and former Lionesses star and lifelong Sunderland fan Steph Houghton was incredibly impressed with how Nordi Mukiele and Omar Alderete contained the Norwegian goal machine..
Nordi Mukiele and Omar Alderete were faultless vs Man City
Mukiele has slotted into the side seamlessly, with his versatility proving to be a huge benefit to Sunderland.
Having arrived from Paris Saint-Germain in the summer, the French defender has played in all different positions across the defence, but filled in for Ballard at centre-back alongside Alderete.
Alderete has adapted fantastically to the Premier League, showcasing his brilliant aerial prowess and resilient style of defending.
| Stat | Sunderland |
| Games played | 19 |
| Wins | 7 |
| Draws | 8 |
| Losses | 4 |
| League position | 7th |
| Points | 29 |
Both players stood their ground against Haaland, who came into the match having scored 19 goals in 18 league games.
The duo have made an immediate impact at the Stadium of Light, and Houghton highlighted their importance in the team when speaking on Match of the Day on 1 January.
She said: “I think Mukiele and Alderete were excellent tonight in terms of the positional sense, and doing what’s needed in the key moments.
“Being able to physically outmuscle Haaland, win the ball back, and start those attacks was key.”
The result means the Black Cats have now kept seven clean sheets, and they have more or less guaranteed their safety in the top flight at the midway point of the campaign.
Sunderland have been excellent in every department this season, although Xhaka has particularly been a standout at the heart of midfield.
What Granit Xhaka managed shouldn’t go under radar
Xhaka has been an unbelievable signing for Sunderland, with the Switzerland international’s experience proving to be invaluable as they continue to exceed expectations.
The 33-year-old was a massive coup at the start of the season, and his leadership and mentality have shone through ever since his arrival.
The former Arsenal man has been a defensive screen for the back line, cutting out any problems before they could turn into clear-cut chances.
Against Man City, Xhaka made 11 recoveries of the ball, while registering a pass accuracy of 86 per cent.
He has consistently shown himself to be a class above the rest, and without him, Alderete and Mukiele would have had a much tougher job on their hands against Man City.
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