The 27-year-old Scotland international's heroics kept the world's richest club at bay on Sunday, until boyhood Black Cats fan Adam Johnson came off the bench to snatch a point with a dramatic late equaliser. However, despite seeing back-to-back Premier League wins for the first time in 48 games wrenched from their grasp, the Wearsiders extended their recent run to just one defeat in seven outings, a return which has eased them seven points clear of the drop zone. Gordon said: "I think it tells you a lot about the improvement we have made that we are disappointed to have only taken a point from a team like Man City. "We would have accepted a point before the game, and with the chances they created in the second half you would not begrudge City the point. "But it is disappointing again to go so close to a win and drop points very late in the game. "Overall, I think we are playing a lot better and can feel reasonably confident for the home game against Birmingham on Saturday." Last-gasp goals have cost Sunderland dear this season, Steve Bruce's side surrendering 10 points in the closing stages of games. However, Johnson's delicious injury-time strike was just the fifth goal they have conceded in the last seven games, a testament to the new-found resilience of Gordon and the men in front of him. Gordon in particular was in fine form on Sunday as City recovered from a ponderous start during which Kenwyne Jones headed the home side into a deserved ninth-minute lead. They defended it resolutely until the 91st minute, Gordon denying Craig Bellamy three times and also keeping out efforts from Roque Santa Cruz, Shaun Wright-Phillips and Carlos Tevez. However, he modestly played down his role. The £9million man said: "City had us under pressure for pretty much all of the second half and I had to make a few saves, but that's what I'm there for. "We have not been allowing too many chances against us of late and I think that's down to the back four knowing each other better from playing alongside each other." That consistency has coincided with a clean bill of health for Bruce at the back, with on-loan Lyon defender John Mensah proving a tower of strength after shaking off the injury problems which have blighted his time on Wearside to date. Bruce revealed that the 27-year-old Ghana international has to be handled carefully and can only train fully at the end of the week as he attempts to nurse a niggling back problem which regularly has a knock-on effect elsewhere. But there is little doubt that when he is fit, Mensah is an imposing figure. Gordon said: "John's been unlucky with his injuries, but I think we are seeing the best of him now. "He's put together a run of games and does not need to do a great deal in training because he's a naturally very fit lad. "He must be very fit to just come out and play games; he's our Ledley King. "The management have been very careful with the work he does between games and it's paying off because he's been a great influence." The news of Jones, however, is not so good with medical staff today assessing the extent of the groin injury which Bruce admitted immediately after the game could sideline for a month.
