Swansea vs. Manchester City: Score, Grades and Reaction from Premier League

Yaya Toure scored a brace as Manchester City closed on second place with a 4-2 victory at Swansea City on Sunday in the Premier League.

Toure netted once in each half, first helping City build a 2-0 halftime lead, then restoring his side's advantage after Swansea had clawed back to 2-2. James Milner and Wilfried Bony scored the other goals for Man City, while Gylfi Sigurdsson and Bafetimbi Gomis put their names on the scoresheet for Swansea.

With the win, City moved six points clear of Arsenal in the race to finish second behind runaway champions Chelsea. Arsenal have two matches in hand but face a trip to Manchester United later Sunday and must make up a significant deficit in goal differential. Perhaps more importantly, City are now assured of finishing above rivals United.

Manuel Pellegrini and Man City have one match left this season, at home to Southampton next Sunday, and a victory at the Etihad Stadium would almost certainly secure second spot.

Michael Steele/Getty Images

Swansea, who have already set a club record with 56 Premier League points this season under manager Garry Monk, are now assured of an eighth-place finish. The Swans play at Crystal Palace next Sunday in both clubs' season finales.

The first chance of the match fell to Swansea in the third minute as the hosts broke forward at pace. Jonjo Shelvey played a neat through ball to Gomis, who stepped around a defender before shooting straight at Joe Hart, who saved.

Swansea threatened again in the 10th minute, with Jefferson Montero sliding a pass to Neil Taylor on the left. Taylor pulled back for an unmarked Gomis, who screwed his first-time shot well off target. Replays showed Taylor had been in an offside position.

City had a first sight of goal in the 16th minute, when Aleksandar Kolarov curled a dipping free kick narrowly wide of the post. One minute later at the other end, Swansea's Nathan Dyer nipped possession off Eliaquim Mangala attempting to curl a shot around Hart. But the City goalkeeper made a fine save to keep his side level.

It turned out to be a valuable save. Five minutes later, City went ahead.

There seemed to be little immediate danger when Toure received a pass from David Silva near the edge of the box in the 21st minute. But the Ivorian shot through a crowded box, with the ball taking a slight deflection before it reached Swansea goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski, who could only palm into his own net.

The opener was perhaps a bit harsh on Swansea, who had enjoyed a strong start to the match, but City proved ruthless in doubling their lead 15 minutes later with a searing counter. Sergio Aguero led the fast-developing move down the left flank, holding up possession just long enough to pick out the run of Milner with a clever reverse pass. Upon receiving the ball, Milner cut inside a defender and finished low past Fabianski at the far post for 2-0.

Swansea suddenly trailed by two goals, but the home side received a boost moments before halftime as Sigurdsson pulled a goal back. Accepting a pass from Jefferson Montero along the edge of the box, the Iceland international opened up his body and drove a low, unstoppable shot past Hart and into the far corner.

Man City had a pair of chances to stretch their lead to 3-1 in the 63rd minute. First, Silva saw his low shot saved from a tight angle on the left. Moments later, substitute Jesus Navas fired a powerful, first-time effort too close to Fabianski, who pushed the ball away.

Less than a minute later, Swansea equalized. Ashley Richards curled a long, high pass into the box, with the ball sailing over Mangala's head. Gomis controlled with excellent technique before bouncing his shot past Hart for 2-2.

City should have retaken the lead in the 67th minute. Silva and Milner combined well in the box, with Silva receiving the return pass in a dangerous position. But the Spaniard lost control momentarily, allowing Fabianski to save.

It was only a momentary letoff for Swansea, as City restored their advantage in the 74th minute. Toure notched his second of the game, but again, Fabianski had to accept at least partial blame.

After receiving the ball in midfield well outside the box, Toure held off Jack Cork's challenge as he drove powerfully toward the area. The Ivorian fired a low shot at the near post from the edge of the box, and Fabianski could only put a touch to the ball on its way into the net.

Hart made a pair of important saves in the latter moments to secure City's win. In the 82nd minute, the England goalkeeper produced an impressive, flying stop to keep out Federico Fernandez's bullet header to the top corner. Two minutes later, Hart positioned himself well and reacted quickly to push away a Gomis header at close range. 

There was still time for another City goal, and almost inevitably, it came via Bony, a former Swansea man. Following a giveaway by the Swans, Man City worked the ball to Bony, who slotted in a well-placed strike from just inside the box.

Grades

Starting XI	Rating
Substitutes	Rating
Lukasz Fabianski	6.4
Ashley Richards	6.6
Federico Fernandez	7.3
Ashley Williams	7.7
Neil Taylor	6.6
Jack Cork	6.7
Jonjo Shelvey	6.8
Nathan Dyer	6.4
Gylfi Sigurdsson	8.0
Jefferson Montero	6.5
Bafetimbi Gomis	7.7
Modou Barrow (for Dyer 73')	6.0
Leon Britton (for Shelvey 78')	6.2
Marvin Emnes (for Sigurdsson 83')	5.8

Starting XI	Rating
Substitutes	Rating
Joe Hart	7.7
Pablo Zabaleta	6.4
Martin Demichelis	6.4
Eliaquim Mangala	6.4
Aleksandar Kolarov	7.8
Yaya Toure	8.8
Fernandinho	6.8
James Milner	9.5
Frank Lampard	6.7
David Silva	8.9
Sergio Aguero	7.6
Jesus Navas (for Lampard 59')	6.7
Vincent Kompany (for Fernandinho 80')	6.1
Wilfried Bony (for Toure 85')	7.2

Reaction

Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini, via BBC Sport:

"

It was an attractive game for the fans. We needed to win to ensure we were in Europe. It was an open game. We concede two easy goals but I am happy with the performance against a good team.

…

I try to learn every day. We know we are in a difficult league. There are four or five teams with a strong squad and the same money to spend. If you don't win the league it is important to finish as strong as you can. It is important for me, the team and the project to believe in what we do. You must have conviction and I have it to be a strong team next season and go for the title.

"

Follow @MiguelCominguez