City finding answer to away day blues

Swansea City 2 Manchester City 3

Goals from Fernandinho, Yaya Toure and Aleksander Kolarov made it 14 wins for the season for Manuel Pellegrini’s side and at the same time left Michael Laudrup’s Swansea looking uncomfortably over their shoulders.

Of course, two goals for Wilfried Bony will give the City boss food for thought as his side pursue the title they relinquished to Manchester United last season. Still, this was a job well done and a performance that certainly augers well for a team that is still alive on four fronts this term.

It was a far cry from the City who took just four points from their first six away games.

“At the beginning of the season we dropped too many points away from home,” Pellegrini said. “We got 11 from 27. So, this was very important to win away and start the New Year winning away. We made a lot of mistakes in our early away games at Cardiff and Aston Villa, but not today. That is pleasing for us.

“The most important thing was to score the second goal, because they grew after their first goal. I thought we showed great character and Yaya Toure’s goal came at the right moment.

“Yes, we have difficult games to come, but so do the other teams. Yes, there is pressure, but it’s impossible to be in this game if you don’t want pressure. You have to remember that all the other teams – Arsenal, Manchester United, Tottenham, Chelsea, Liverpool, Everton — have the same pressure too.”

Edin Dzeko’s early miss, after a measured cross from Jesus Navas, was a let-off for Swansea, who were unlucky not to take the lead themselves after half a dozen minutes. Atypically slick move earned Bony his first sight of goal. The Ivorian striker, who cost £12million in the summer, worked himself into an acre of space before watching his firm strike slide the wrong side of Joe Hart’s far post.

Seven minutes later, Swansea dropped their guard and duly fell behind. Jonathan De Guzman failed to clear Samir Nasri’s corner and when the ball dropped to Fernandinho on the edge of the penalty box, the Brazilian beat Gerhard Tremmel with ease.

Shelvey’s sliced shot from distance and De Guzman’s scuffed shot that Hart comfortably dealt with, was the sign of things to come. A minute before half time, they were level. Another smart move was started and finished by Bony whose form header from De Guzman’ cross was too good for Hart.

It was a game of seven bookings but one that was allowed to flow by the excellent Phil Dowd. The conditions were poor, but the official took that into account as players slid into tackles off an increasingly difficult surface.

The visitors started the second half in decent shape, with Alvaro Negredo’s 51st minute volley forcing full-back Ben Davies into a brave block at the far post. Seven minutes later, however, there was little the Swans could do to prevent Toure from redressing the balance. Tremmel punched a cross to the edge of the box where Toure, using his power and strength, created the space to shoot and beat Tremmel via the heel of Ashley Williams.

The game was as good as up for Swansea eight minutes later when Aleksandar Kolarov dispossessed Wayne Routledge deep in his own half and galloped 50 yards unopposed before beating Tremmel from 25 yards. The German keeper might have done better, but on closer inspection, the ball altered course after a slight deflection off Jose Canas.

Bony bagged a second, from distance, a minute from the end of normal time as City switched off once again, but it was too little too late for the Swans and City were home if not altogether dry.

Swansea manager Michael Laudrup, whose injuries woes were deepened by the first half loss of Pablo Hernandez, said: “To concede three goals against a team like this makes things tough. I thought we were excellent in terms of our first half performance and attitude and then to come back like we did was great.

“You always know that if you play teams like this even if you are on top, they have players that can turn the game in a split second and that is what happened for Toure’s goal.”

SWANSEA CITY (4-1-4-1): Tremmel 5; Rangel 6, Flores 5, Williams 6, Davies 6; Canas 7; Hernandez 5 (Lamah 8,6), Shelvey 6 (Pozuelo 80,5), De Guzman 6, Routledge 6; Bony 7.

Subs not used: Zabret, Amat, Taylor, Tiendalli, Vazquez.

MANCHESTER CITY (4-4-2): Hart 6; Zabaleta 6, Kompany 7, Nastasic 6, Kolarov 7; Navas 7 (Rodwell 89,5), Fernandinho 7, Toure 8, Nasri 6 (Milner 68,6); Negredo 6 (Garcia 59,6), Dzeko 6.

Subs not used: Pantilimon, Lescott, Clichy, Boyata.

Referee: P Dowd (Staffordshire).

Attendance: 20,498.