Man City struggle to seal victory over Swans
SWANSEA City striker Bafetimbi Gomis spurned a late chance to deny Manchester City victory at the Etihad Stadium after Manuel Pellegrini’s team had laboured to victory ahead of Tuesday’s crucial Champions League clash against Bayern Munich.
Gomis, whose goals against Arsenal two weeks ago secured a 2-1 win at the Liberty Stadium, looked set to land another blow against a title-chasing outfit after being released by Wilfried Bony six minutes from full-time. But with the goal at his mercy, the French forward shot wide to spare the home side a moralesapping draw.
City also survived a heartstopping moment in injury time when Jonjo Shelvey’s deflected free-kick flew inches wide of the far post.
The home side were forced to fight all the way for their win, with goals from Stevan Jovetic and Yaya Toure cancelling out Bony’s eighth minute opener.
Despite City’s recent struggles, Pellegrini’s team went into this game with two more points than at the same stage a year ago, so the ‘crisis’ headlines were only a reflection of the greater scrutiny placed on defending champions.
Nonetheless, City’s performances have lacked the pace and penetration of last season and Swansea arrived at the Etihad believing they could extend a winning run that has seen them defeat Manchester United and Arsenal already this Premier League season.
Garry Monk’s team have added bite to their slick passing game this season and that desire was evident inside the opening stages before Bony’s eighthminute goal gave the Welsh outfit the lead.
Nathan Dyer’s chipped pass to the Ivorian saw him beat the offside trap and take a touch before beating goalkeeper Joe Hart from close range.
This fixture was already a test for City, but Bony’s goal raised the stakes and left them facing a genuine challenge of their credentials.
But the champions responded well and pulled themselves level
City were unimpressive, with Swansea’s Ki Sung-Yeung the outstanding player on the pitch
on 19 minutes when Jovetic scored from a Jesus Navas cross.
The first flashpoint of the game followed on 24 minutes, however, when Swansea defender Kyle Bartley was booked following a touchline challenge on Sergio Aguero.
Aguero underwent lengthy treatment on the side of the pitch and the hostility between the pair resurfaced on 33 minutes when the City forward went to ground claiming to have been caught in the face by Bartley.
When Angel Rangel attempted to intervene, Aguero then pushed the Swansea full back in the face before referee Neil Swarbrick arrived to attempt to calm the fraying tempers.
Television replays proved inconclusive, but the incident could yet be reviewed if footage emerges of the clash.
Aguero used the flashpoint as a motivation, however, and good work by the Argentine, when he ran across the face of goal before teeing up Gael Clichy, almost led to a second City goal when the French international full back’s 20m strike was tipped onto the post by goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski.
Swansea had the best early chance to add to the scoring in the second half when Jefferson Montero broke through on goal, but Hart was quick to block the winger’s effort.
City were unimpressive, however, with Swansea midfielder Ki Sung-Yeung the outstanding player on the pitch until the home side finally imposed themselves on the game.
And their winning goal, when it came, was an eye-catching one. Toure’s one-two with Fernandinho resulted in the Brazilian back-heeling the ball to his teammate, who beat Fabianski with a low shot.
Meanwhile, Leicester City failed to score for the fifth straight match as they were held 0-0 by Sunderland in a bottom-of-the-table clash at the King Power Stadium last night.
Newcastle climbed to fifth on the table after Moussa Sissoko’s second-half strike clinched a 1-0 win over QPR.
Danny Ings’s quickfire brace earned Burnley a 2-1 win at Stoke City, while Leon Osman ensured his 400th Everton appearance was one to savour as he scored the decisive goal in their 2-1 victory over West Ham United. — ©