Vassell puts Man City on top

England [Images] striker Darius Vassell grabbed his first goal for Manchester City as his new club went top of the Premier League with a 2-1 win at Sunderland on Tuesday.

Australian international Mark Viduka celebrated his return to Middlesbrough's attack with two goals as his side romped to a 3-0 victory at Birmingham City while Portsmouth and Aston Villa shared a 1-1 draw at Fratton Park.

Vassell, signed from Aston Villa for two million pounds in July, curled the ball past Sunderland goalkeeper Kelvin Davis to give Manchester City a 10th-minute lead.

Trevor Sinclair added a second 25 minutes later with a right-foot shot before Anthony Le Tallec pulled one back for promoted Sunderland in the 41st minute.

Man City have seven points from three matches, one point more than Tottenham Hotspur, Charlton Athletic, Manchester United [Images] and Chelsea, who all have a maximum of six points from the two matches they have played. Spurs are at Blackburn on Wednesday while champions Chelsea are at home to West Bromwich Albion.

Sunderland, yet to register a point from three games, are bottom of the table. They have now lost 18 successive matches in the Premier League after 15 straight defeats when they were relegated at the end of the 2002-03 season.

Viduka, making his first start for Middlesbrough since early April in place of new signing Aiyegbeni Yakubu (achilles injury), opened the scoring in the 14th minute by blasting in a cross from James Morrison.

It was Viduka's first goal since December and the former Celtic and Leeds United striker made it 2-0 on the stroke of halftime, turning and smashing a right-foot shot beyond Birmingham goalkeeper Maik Taylor from a tight angle.

Middlesbrough made certain of their first victory of the season through Franck Queudrue in the 71st minute.

Coach Steve McClaren's Middlesbrough are seventh in the table, with four points from three games. Birmingham are still waiting for their first win of the season and are third from bottom with one point from a possible nine.

Villa had Peru winger Nolberto Solano sent off after he was adjudged to have elbowed Richard Hughes in the 10th minute at Portsmouth.

The visitors took the lead seconds later when Hughes put through his own net after Kevin Phillips had headed on a Gareth Barry free-kick.

Portsmouth equalised in the 42nd minute when Lomana Lua-Lua cut in from the left wing and curled a shot past Thomas Sorensen in the Villa goal.

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