Shaun Goater hammered another nail in Sunderland's Premiership coffin last night as Manchester City plunged the Stadium of Light into darkness.

The Bermudian striker scored his fifth goal of the season and played well throughout the 3-0 victory in the North East of England.

After playing a supporting role for 87 minutes of the match, Goater took centre stage when he unleashed a powerful shot into the bottom left hand corner of Juergen Macho's net with three minutes left to seal the victory.

The strike was the culmination of a sublime piece of play by City involving Israel, France and Bermuda.

Israeli international Eyal Berkovic played the ball into Frenchman Nicolas Anelka on the edge of the Sunderland area. Anelka, faced by two Sunderland defenders, scooped the ball over their heads to Berkovic who had made his way into the area on the left and the pintsize midfielder's header found the feet of Goater.

The City folk hero still had it all to do with his back to goal. Taking one touch to create himself space, he swivelled in one fluid motion and fired goalward between two defenders and past the despairing Macho.

It was just reward for Goater's overall performance, the 32-year-old having a hand in City's second on 63 minutes when he set Sylvain Distin free down the left wing.

The Frenchman, who formerly played for Sunderland's hated rivals Newcastle United, powered his way to the byline and centred. Macho got to the ball but only succeeded in pushing it into the six yard box were Jihai Sun was only too grateful to accept the gift and precisely sidefoot into the net.

City's first came via the boot of Cameroon midfielder Marc Vivien Foe in time added on for injuries at the end of the first half. Latching onto a long pass he beat the onrushing Macho, lifted the ball over him, waited for it to bounce again then steered it into the empty goal.

The result moves City up from 13th to 12th in the Premiership with 23 points from 17 games. Sunderland remain second from bottom and appear destined for the drop.

However, it had been Howard Wilkinson's men who had started the brighter.

Former England striker Kevin Phillips had the first chance of the night. Kevin Kilbane crossed from the left wing after eight minutes but the diminutive frontman was stretching as he tried to volley goalwards and the ball dropped wide.

Eight minutes later Goater should perhaps have done better when put through on the left side of the box by Sun. However, he was not quick enough off the mark and the chance went begging.

As City began to take hold of the game Goater was left wringing his hands as Anelka opted to shoot when he could have played his partner in. Goater was waving wildly for a pass behind the defence but the Frenchman tried an ambitious strike which was charged down.

As the half came to a close Goater missed a golden opportunity to put his side ahead. Babb's defensive header struck the post and when it came out Goater was not able to react quick enough to force the ball over the line from two yards. Foe did then succeed in breaking the deadlock and City went into the break ahead.

Sunderland attempted to get themselves back in the game, but Sun's goal knocked the stuffing out of the Black Cats and their fans sensed the worst and headed for the exits.

With 23 minutes left Wilkinson made a triple switch, taking off local boys Phillips and Michael Gray and Norwegian Tore Andre Flo and replacing them with Kevin Kyle, David Bellion and Marcus Stewart.

It was a move that brought derision from the stands but almost brought a goal. Within seconds of coming on Kyle crossed, Kilbane headed on and Bellion screamed in at the far post and missed heading in by a hair's breadth.

Goater then took a Berkovic pass in his stride in the area but took too long over his shot and Macho was able to race out and force the ball out for a corner.

A minute later it was Anelka's turn. Dunne crossed, Macho pushed the ball out and Anelka instinctively stuck a boot out only to see the ball come back off the post.

But City would get the third goal their overall play deserved and it was Goater who was there to apply the killer finish.