City fired Mancini !

hen asked if he thought about taking Balotelli, Mancini said: "I thought this after five minutes but in the end he scored two goals. He didn't play well. In a game like this the strikers should be the difference - but not in the last two minutes, in the minutes before.

"A player like Mario or (Edin) Dzeko should score two or three goals in a game like this. In this moment we need Carlos (Tevez), a striker who can do different. I want this.''

Balotelli equalised for City from the penalty spot in the first half but later showed frustration when he appeared to argue with Aleksandar Kolarov over who should line up a free-kick with Tevez.

Mancini said: "On the ball it should be Mario and Ali - after they decide who shoots. But it can happen in a moment like today, things like this. It is the last time."

Tevez is still not fit enough to start and was again on the bench while top scorer Sergio Aguero was missing with a mystery foot injury.

Mancini again refused to elaborate on the nature of the Argentinian's problem, although he said some theories in Saturday's newspapers are "not true"'.

He said: "We missed Aguero and for this reason I am disappointed. I hope he can recover for the next game."

Mancini insisted the title race was far from over. He said: "I think on Monday United will probably do a draw and we are always three points behind.

"It is hard but we have another seven games. We have done some mistakes in the last games but also United can arrive in a difficult moment. It is important we are there. Before the derby it is important we recover two points.''

City were pushed back throughout by a hard-working Sunderland side, who scored twice through Sebastian Larsson and once through Nicklas Bendtner.

Mancini said: "I think it is the correct result, a draw, but we didn't do a good performance. I am happy only for the last 10 minutes, for the other 80 minutes I am unhappy because we didn't play very well. I don't know why.