Mancini blames Mario Man City 3 Sunderland 3

Mario Balotelli scored twice but still copped a stinging blast from Manchester City boss Roberto Mancini. Balotelli kept City's flickering title hopes alive in a late thriller. But Mancini considered substituting him after just FIVE minutes and declared: "Mario didn't play well. In a game like this a striker should be the difference and not just for the last two or three minutes." Mancini insisted on Friday he could not trust controversial Balotelli, 21. And yesterday the Italian was involved in a heated row with team-mates. City trailed Sunderland 3-1 before last-gasp goals from Balotelli — who had earlier scored a penalty — and Aleksandar Kolarov earned a draw. But leaders Manchester United will go FIVE points clear with victory over Blackburn tomorrow night. Mancini added: "In that first half a player like Mario should be able to score two or three goals. "I thought about taking him off after five minutes, but we had only Carlos Tevez on the bench. "But in the end he scored two goals." Balotelli had a stand-up row with Kolarov over who should take a free-kick. Mancini said: "That sort of thing can happen. But that will be the last time."