The Blues did the double over Sunderland last season, beating them 2-1 at the Stadium of Light and 1-0 at the Eastlands Stadium.

And though the defeats were nowhere near the scale of the 7-0 loss at Everton or the shambolic 2-0 defeat at Newcastle, the two defeats are still fresh in the Sunderland manager's memory.

He said: "I regard our defeats to Manchester City last season as two of the most disappointing of the campaign.

"When I look back on last season there were a lot of games where we should have drawn or could have won and we ended up losing.

"The two games against Manchester City were like that, as were the defeats to Blackburn Rovers – games where there was very little in it, games where we were often the better side, but didn't have what it took to get over the finishing line.

"Now if you look at Blackburn Rovers and Manchester City, they both had good seasons, both finished in the top half, but there was very little between them and us in the games themselves.

"If anything that can be even more disappointing than a comfortable defeat, because those points are points you could have had and the points that you lose out on in narrow games can add up to quite a few over the course of the season if you are not careful."

Keane, however, feels that the work done in the transfer market this summer and the extra experience his squad have picked up after a year in the Premiership, gives the side a excellent chance of now tilting marginal games in the Black Cats' favour.

The Carling Cup victory over Nottingham Forest mid-week could serve as a case in point – Sunderland, far from their best, but still with enough to get over the finishing line.

Keane said: "I think there is no doubt that we are a stronger squad and a better squad from last season.

"But we just have to make sure that we focus on doing the right things for each other on the pitch.

"We've been through the Forest game and had a look at it, and looked at where things went wrong.

"The City game though this Sunday is different all together.

"They are a very dangerous side with some outstanding players, but I am looking for a better performance from us than we produced last season when we met them.

"And I just have a feeling that it's going to be a very good Premier League game."