Manchester City vs. Swansea City: Winners and Losers from Premier League
Manchester City moved provisionally top of the Premier League with a 2-1 victory at home to Swansea City on Saturday at the Etihad Stadium.
Wilfried Bony gave Man City the lead in the first half with a headed goal against his former club. Swansea threatened throughout the second half and drew level through Bafetimbi Gomis in the 90th minute, but Kelechi Iheanacho's goal—deflected in off Yaya Toure's strike—restored the hosts' lead in stoppage time.
"I think the three points were very important, more than the way we played," Man City manager Manuel Pellegrini said, per BBC Sport. "I knew it would be difficult because we had three or four players who couldn't recover from the last game. Swansea played very well and it's not the way we want to win. Now we have a week to recover - we have played too many games with 13 or 14 players."
Here, Bleacher Report selects winners and losers from the match.
Winner: Wilfried Bony
1 of 6
Wilfried Bony started at center-forward for Manchester City after being dropped to the bench midweek in the UEFA Champions League. He rewarded his manager's faith with a goal against his former club.
In the 26th minute, Jesus Navas whipped in a corner from the left. Bony freed himself from Ashley Williams with a step to the far post before changing the trajectory of his run to the near side. He then latched onto the cross and powered his low header into the bottom corner.
The strike continued Bony's fine run of form in games between Man City and Swansea. As Opta Joe noted, he's scored five times the last four times the two clubs have met in the Premier League—three for Swansea and two for Man City.
Of more concern to manager Manuel Pellegrini is Bony's immediate form. The signs are encouraging on that front as well, with Bony contributing to five goals (three scored, two assisted) in his last four appearances, per WhoScored.
But while that's a good record, Bleacher Report's Rob Pollard wrote this week that Bony faces a threat to his place in the team from a younger competitor:
"Perhaps an even bigger problem for Bony is the emergence of Kelechi Iheanacho, a 19-year-old Nigerian striker with three goals already this season, despite starting just two games. The teenager has star quality, and the City fans want to see more of him.
[…]
The outlay to bring (Bony) to the Etihad Stadium was significant. City want a proper return on their investment, and, so far, it's difficult to argue they've had anything near what they expected.
"
This goal will help Bony ward off that threat, at least for now. But a player of Iheanacho's talents—and youth—won't be third-choice forever.
Loser: Man City's Clean Sheet Record Without Vincent Kompany
2 of 6
Manchester City allowed just a single goal to Swansea City on Saturday, and yet that one strike nearly meant the hosts dropped points at the Etihad.
In the 90th minute, Bafetimbi Gomis ran onto a superb pass through the lines from Federico Fernandez, easily outpacing Man City defender Eliaquim Mangala. Bearing down on goal at a tight angle, Gomis then rifled a powerful shot into the net off goalkeeper Joe Hart's hands.
Iheanacho's goal two minutes later spared City's blushes, but the late defensive lapse could have been costly. But for anyone who has watched Manuel Pellegrini's side this season, it was hardly surprising.
In eight Premier League matches during the campaign with captain Vincent Kompany playing at center-back, the Sky Blues have kept seven clean sheets. In eight matches without him, City have kept none, as noted by Squawka.
The result, as the cliche goes, is the most important thing, but Pellegrini still has defensive problems to sort out.
Winner: Man City's Record Against Swansea
3 of 6
Since Swansea City moved up to the top flight ahead of the 2011-12 season, the Welsh club have enjoyed very little success against Manchester City.
Including Saturday's result, Man City have won five straight league matches and seven of nine against Swansea in that time, per Soccerbase.
This might not have been City's most brilliant performance, but the result played perfectly to form.
Loser: Swansea's Continued Bad Form
4 of 6
In context, this was a decent performance from Swansea. The visitors threatened frequently, created several chances and even pulled level in the 90th minute. If not for an unfortunate (or fortunate, depending on your perspective) deflection in stoppage time, the match might have ended in a draw.
Instead, the Swans lost yet again and are now winless in 12 Premier League matches. The Welsh club sat just one point above the drop zone at kickoff, and after an eighth defeat of the season, relegation is a very real concern.
The Swans parted company with manager Garry Monk this week, and the move could turn out to be the correct one. But after having Monk on the staff for the last 10 years, the mood at the club must have been strange throughout Saturday's game.
This is a trying time for the Swans, and as of now, the future is decidedly uncertain.
Winner: Joe Hart
5 of 6
Yes, Joe Hart gave up a goal in the 90th minute after Bafetimbi Gomis beat him at his near post. Hart might feel he should have done better, but Gomis hit the shot so sweetly that the Man City goalkeeper would have needed to produce an amazing save to keep it out.
In his defense, Hart recorded several good saves throughout the match to keep Swansea at bay.
In the fifth minute, the England international saved smartly in a one-on-one situation against Wayne Routledge. Ten minutes later, he pushed a Gylfi Sigurdsson effort over the bar.
Early in the second half, Hart came off his line to stop Sigurdsson again from a tight angle. He denied the Iceland international again with a good save on a free kick in the 81st minute.
Five minutes from time, Hart threw himself at the ball fearlessly as Gomis attacked a ball lofted into City's box. At the time, it appeared to be a match-saving stop.
Gomis got his goal a few minutes later, but Hart did at least his fair share to secure a result for City.
Winner: Man City Scoring on Corners
6 of 6
Manchester City's first goal came from a corner kick, which shouldn't have come as a surprise. As Squawka noted, it was the sixth time City have netted from a corner this season.
No other Premier League side has done that more often.
Although this wasn't a vintage performance from City, Manuel Pellegrini will still take positives from it. In addition to claiming the full three points and moving provisionally top of the league, City found a way to grind out a pair of goals without playing their best.
One of those came on a corner, which is a frequent occurrence for this side. As the fixtures pile up, City will hope the goals continue to fly in on set pieces.
Up next, City face Arsenal in what could be a crucial moment in the title race. The two contenders are scheduled to meet at the Emirates Stadium on Dec. 21.
As Simon Bajkowski noted at the Manchester Evening News, Saturday's game was good for City for the simple reason that it put them on a positive course for the trip to London:
"It may not have been the prettiest of wins but City were as efficient and effective as they needed to be to pick up the victory.
They sit top of the table thanks to the kinds of result that teams need if they want to win the league.
They remain without a clean sheet without Vincent Kompany, but the players now have nine days to recharge their depleting batteries before the big game with Arsenal—their most credible title rivals—next Monday.
"
Both teams will be hoping to make a statement in that game. City know they'll have to play better.
