Don’t lay any blame at Sebastian Coates’ door after Sergio Aguero’s Man City supershow

PUTTING HIS FOOT IN: Sebastian Coates in action against Manchester City. Picture by FRANK REID

The centre-half’s lack of match fitness was exposed ruthlessly by the Premier League’s top scorer Sergio Aguero last night.

A knock suffered by Wes Brown in Saturday’s draw against Chelsea, coupled with Coates’ ineligibility for this weekend’s trip to Liverpool, prompted Poyet to turn to his fellow Uruguayan.

Sunderland boss Poyet said: “I’m sure that Sebber is not going to be happy with me. He was coming back from injury. Wes didn’t train for two days.

“We need him (Wes) for Saturday because Sebber is not available and I made the decision not to take a risk and make sure there was a centre-half on Saturday.”

While Coates showed signs of evident rust, Aguero was exceptional with the Argentine netting a brace and setting up Stevan Jovetic for City’s second.

“I think to mark Aguero you need to be fit, very good, aware, concentrate, aggressive, pace, sometimes have cover behind,” said Poyet. “You need to be spot-on. Even then, he can find a way to complicate you.

“We didn’t defend well, didn’t cover each other, were not spot-on. He’s unique.

“At this moment of time, he’s one of the top two or three in-form strikers.