Goals from Jovetic and Toure seal City comeback
FA Premier League
Saturday 22 November 2014, 15.00 KO
City: Hart, Zabaleta, Kompany (c), Demichelis, Clichy, Fernandinho (Fernando 88), Toure, Nasri (Milner 79), Navas, Jovetic (Lampard 70), Aguero
Unused: Caballero, Sagna, Mangala, Pozo
Goals: Jovetic (18), Toure (62)
Booked: Kompany, Demichelis
Referee: Neil Swarbrick
Man of the Match: Martin Demichelis
After the international break, it was back down to Premier League business for City, with the champions hosting Swansea City. Ahead of Tuesday's crucial Champions League game against Bayern Munich, Manuel Pellegrino opted for a back four of Pablo Zabaleta, Vincent Kompany, Martin Demichelis and Gael Clichy. In midfield Yaya Toure was started alongside Fernandinho, both of whom are suspended for Tuesday's crunch game, whilst Samir Nasri, Stevan Jovetic and Jesus Navas were deployed behind Sergio Aguero.
Swansea arrived at The Etihad in excellent form themselves, having previously beaten Arsenal at the Liberty Stadium, and they were clearly full of confidence. They took the lead after just nine minutes, when the dangerous Wilfried Bony collected Nathan Dyer's through ball before calmly slotting past the onrushing Joe Hart.
The goal woke City up, and the Blues started to control the tempo of the game. Samir Nasri and Stevan Jovetic were interchanging well, causing Swansea all sorts of problems, and in the 19th minute the Montenegran international got his reward. Jesus Navas picked him out excellently, and the City forward confidently sweeped home.
The last chance of the frantic first half fell to left back Gael Clichy, who hammered a rasping drive from thirty yards whichLukasz Fabianski did well to turn onto the post.
The second half started with the same pace and tempo of the first, with both sides playing at a high intensity andpressing the ball high up the pitch. Samir Nasri in particular was having a very good game for City. The Frenchman has struggled for form this season, but was a constant threat before being replaced late on by James Milner. Yaya Toure also grew in stature as the game went on, and the big Ivorian gave the hosts the lead, picking up Fernandinho's excellent backheel before beating two Swansea players and poking the ball under Fabianski.
City had chances to extend their lead, with Navas and Sergio Aguero both spurning good opportunities, but it was the away side who came closest to scoring. Bafetimbi Gomis squandered a glorious chance to equalise before Jonjo Shelvey saw his freekick deflect just inches past the post.
City were able to hold on, however, and it was a crucial victory ahead of their must win game against Bayern Munich on Tuesday night.