City's 2nd XI lost for the first time since October, in a frustrating 2-1 defeat at home to Sunderland.

Despite dominating large periods of the game, the hosts were undone in the dying seconds when a routine back-pass was poorly cleared by Blues goalkeeper David Gonzalez. His kick failed to reached it's desired height, and consequently cannoned off the heels of Black Cats striker David Dowson.

Both could only look on as the ball trickled agonisingly inside the near post, to the clear dismay of several City team-mates and joy of the fortunate visitors.

The game had started brightly for City, whose early superiority was converted into a goal on 12 minutes, when Alex Nimely was hauled down in the box by Sunderland captain Michael Kay.

Andrew Tutte calmly converted from the spot, stroking the ball into the bottom corner of the net.

Jeremy Helan nearly doubled the lead later in the half, the left winger's misplaced cross fooled the keeper but bounced on the goal-line just inches wide of the post.

It was the same story after the interval, but John Guidetti should have done better when clean through, and recent first team debutant Abdisalam Ibrahim had his point-blank header well saved by Mackems keeper Ben Wilson.

City paid the price for their profligacy in front of goal in the 52nd minute, when Adam Reed's perfectly placed pass found Dowson clean-through. His vicious drive, Sunderland's only intentional shot on target during the entire game, was too hot for Gonzalez to handle and stormed into the roof of the net.

Both Chris Chantler and Tutte had good chances to restore the lead before the end of the match, but the latter hit the post and the former saw his shot saved after a misplaced Sunderland clearance.

The visitors' fortuitous winner will be a lesson learnt for the second string, who must be more ruthless in their opponent's penalty area henceforth if they are to compete at the top of the table.