City were forced to come from behind to earn a 2-2 draw against Sunderland at the Etihad Stadium. City sorely missing the injured David Silva and Yaya Toure, are now six points behind leaders Liverpool with a game in hand. Fernandinho's second-minute strike was cancelled out by a second-half brace from Connor Wickham, before Samir Nasri earned a late draw for the hosts.
When Fernandinho fired them into the lead after just one minute and 54 seconds it seemed that had banished the pain of Sunday, yet City never really built on that early platform.
It was a well-worked goal too, though it owed much to Lee Cattermole's brain not having got into gear. The Sunderland midfielder was robbed by Alvaro Negredo who fed Sergio Aguero, and when the return pass came the Spanish striker stepped over the ball leaving Fernandinho free to plant his shot past Vito Mannone at the near post.
Sunderland captain John O'Shea spurned two headed chances and Fabio Borini shot wide of the target having found space in the City box as the visitors failed to seize their opportunities to draw level.
A robust challenge from Wes Brown on Aguero midway through the first period had a few calling for a penalty.
City's malaise continued in the second half as Sunderland's performance continued to impress.
Negredo and Aguero had half chances before Pellegrini sent on Stevan Jovetic in place of the Argentinian.
Jovetic looked impressive but could not add to City's single goal and instead it was Sunderland who made the breakthrough.
Poyet looked furious when Jack Colback failed to capitalise on a one-on-one chance by Hart, but that turned to delight when Emanuele Giaccherini burst down the felt and floated a beautiful cross for Wickham to thump home with glee.
Edin Dzeko held his head after missing the target, then came a dream moment for Sunderland fans as Giaccherini broke from his home half, delivered an excellent pass to Wickham who did not break stride as he buried his shot past Hart.
Humiliation was looming for City but in frenetic finish Nasri forced an equaliser - the ball trickling agonisingly over the line after Mannone had got his fingers to it.
The Frenchman could have won it at the death too - but his shot went up in smoke and perhaps so have City's title hopes.