Pellegrini targets top spot by new year

Man City 3 Swansea 0

Winners of seven out of seven on home soil, Pellegrini’s side faces potentially testing trips to West Brom and Southampton this week having already lost four times on their travels this season.

The fact that league leaders Arsenal are the next visitors to the Etihad is not without significance but should City’s woeful away form continue, even home victory over Arsene Wenger’s side may not be sufficient to deliver a title in 2014.