Manchester City 3-2 Sunderland

Frank Lampard has now scored five Premier League goals for Manchester City

• Man City unbeaten in 11 league games

• City start without goalkeeper Joe Hart

• Sunderland one win in 10 league games

• Black Cats three points above drop zone

Substitute Frank Lampard headed a dramatic winner as Manchester City defeated Sunderland to go joint top of the Premier League with Chelsea.

A sublime 22-yard strike by Yaya Toure and Stevan Jovetic's clever close-range finish put City firmly in control.

But the hosts conceded a two-goal lead for the second game in a row as Jack Rodwell's header and Adam Johnson's penalty levelled the scores.

Lampard secured victory with a well-placed header from Gael Clichy's cross.

The former Chelsea player, available after City extended his stay until the end of the season from New York City, could have had a hat-trick in the 20 minutes he was on the pitch as City finished strongly.

City's seventh league home win saw them join Chelsea on 46 points. The Blues were beaten 5-3 at Tottenham in the later game.

Manuel Pellegrini's side dominated the early exchanges but ended the first half goalless and frustrated after some disciplined Sunderland defending.

The Black Cats were content to sit back and soak up City pressure, yet for all their dominance, the hosts were unable to make it count.

Costel Pantilimon was forced into just two serious saves before the interval on his return to the club he left last summer after only seven Premier League starts in three years.

The Romanian, who had more touches than any other Sunderland player in the opening 45 minutes, beat away David Silva's 20-yard strike in the 31st minute before keeping out Toure's long-range attempt seven minutes later.

At the other end, Willy Caballero, starting in place of the rested Joe Hart, enjoyed a quiet return to action until producing a fine save to keep out Sebastian Larsson's curling 41st minute free-kick.

It required something spectacular for City to make the breakthrough, Toure's sublime strike from just outside the area giving Pantilimon no chance.

Nine minutes later it was 2-0, Jovetic marking his return to the side with a clever flick from Clichy's ball into the Sunderland area.

But just as they did at the weekend against Burnley, the hosts undid their hard work by conceding two quick goals - both scored by former City players.

Rodwell reduced the deficit with a firm header from a 68th-minute corner before Johnson levelled from the spot three minutes later after Billy Jones was clipped by Pablo Zabaleta.

Yet Sunderland were level for just two minutes, Lampard heading home Clichy's cross to put City ahead again.

Lampard was twice denied by Pantilimon in the closing minutes while the Sunderland keeper also kept out Jesus Navas and Ferandinho in an exciting finish.

Sunderland manager Gus Poyet: "There wasn't much in the game until that incredible goal by Yaya Toure.

"The game opened up after that and when you open up against Manchester City you know anything can happen. Our keeper made two or three great saves to keep us in the game, but it wasn't to be.

"There is disappointment because of the way we played after scoring the second goal."

Yaya Toure has scored in six of his last eight Premier League appearances

Stevan Jovetic now has two goals and three assists in three Premier League appearances against Sunderland

Jack Rodwell's only previous Premier League goal this season was against Manchester United

There were five goals in 16 minutes and 12 seconds of play at the Etihad Stadium

Frank Lampard has scored nine Premier League goals against Sunderland