Manchester City will surely have to strengthen their defence in the coming weeks, having now conceded six goals in two matches, but it might have been so much worse.

Having established a 2-0 half-time lead, they duly squandered it through gross defensive profligacy before City hero Paulo Wanchope struck two late goals to complete a match-winning hat-trick as City welcomed back Premiership football here last night.

If there had been any trepidation among the City supporters it was quickly cast aside with Wanchope scoring his first goal for the club as early as the third minute. Sunderland allowed George Weah to create space, something he is particularly adept at, on the left-hand side and their defences were ripped apart.

Weah, taking the ball from Mark Kennedy, crossed to the far post where Wanchope, from an acute angle, hit a rising shot beyond Jurgen Macho, who continued to replace the injured Thomas Sorensen in the Sunderland goal after coming on at half-time during the 1-0 defeat of Arsenal on the opening day of the season.

There was an immediate and uncontrolled outbreak of delirium at Maine Road - joy mixed with relief which told its own potent story.

With Malcolm Allison and Francis Lee in the directors' box there was even an echo of the good old days and City came mightily close to increasing their lead just a few minutes later with a Kennedy free-kick.

Kennedy's curved ball in from the left was brilliantly anticipated by Weah, although he could not quite direct his header which skimmed wide.

Gradually, Sunderland began to settle as the shock of the newcomers began to wear off a little. But any progress they tried to make through the middle was disrupted by stern tackling from Alfe Inge Haaland and Kevin Horlock.

Kevin Phillips was hobbling when he lifted himself from one such challenge, although before his side could respond to City's vigour the home side went two goals ahead.

It was Weah again who unravelled the Sunderland defence, creating sudden space for himself before passing precisely to Wanchope.

For an instant it seemed the former Derby and West Ham striker might go for glory again himself. However, he intelligently squared the ball for Haaland to score with ease.

These were riches indeed to City, coming off their 4-0 defeat against Charlton last Saturday when their manager Joe Royle admitted his side had played like strangers. There had only been one team in it during the first half, with Sunderland failing to create a single opening of note. But all was to change quite dramatically.

In the 64th minute a long cross by Chris Makin from the right was headed in by the Republic of Ireland striker Niall Quinn, returning to his old haunt, with his old manager Peter Reid, as if he had been on the practice pitch.

Three minutes later Phillips struck a splendid equaliser with City's defences again shredded.

It was a hard and early lesson for Manchester City and there were real fears among their supporters that their side's early and exhilarating opening might all be thrown away.

But with Sunderland searching for a winner, and clearly believing they could get it, Wanchope struck for a second time in the 79th minute. Wanchope's strike restored City's lead, his sudden burst of pace being decisive against a rather laboured Sunderland back-four.

Two minutes from time, he completed his hat-trick to clinch the points for the home side.

Manchester City: Weaver; Edghill, Howey, Prior, Tiatto; Haaland, Horlock, Wiekens, Kennedy; Weah, Wanchope.

Sunderland: Macho; Makin, Butler, Varga (Bould, 48min), Gray; Kilbane, Thirlwell (Roy, half-time), Hutchison, Holloway (Reddy, 86); Phillips, Quinn.

Referee: D Elleray (Harlow).