Tough fixtures haven’t stopped coming yet, but City now know they’ll go into games against Bayern Munich and Southampton on the back of a win, after they came from behind to beat Swansea 2-1 in the first game after the international break. The win keeps City within sight of Chelsea after they also won, but that won’t be the focus for City fans after just a second win in seven games.
Vincent Kompany eventually won his battle to be back fit in time to start the game for City, but the surprise inclusion was young striker José Pozo on the bench, and with a lack of fit strikers, he might well start to feature more over the coming weeks.
With City desperately needing a win, the game started badly, with Swansea not only controlling the play and the possession, but taking the lead within eight minutes of the start after some typically City defending. After Swansea were allowed to keep the ball in the City half, Nathan Dyer eventually found his way into the middle, when he chipped the ball through to the unmarked Wilfried Bony, who took it down on his chest before sidefooting past Joe Hart. Whilst there was little Hart could have done, the defence can be blamed for letting Bony run free and allowing Swansea so much time on the ball.
It took just over 10 minutes for the hosts to get back into the game thanks to Stevan Jovetić, in need of a good performance after an unconvincing (albeit, not very active) couple of months. Jesus Navas was responsible for setting the goal up, after he whipped a low ball in towards the Montenegrin, which Jovetić only needed one touch to turn in from close range.
That goal reinvigorated the team, and they almost went ahead minutes later thanks to Gael Clichy. The ball rolled to the Frenchman a good 25 yards from goal, yet he needed just one touch to fire it towards the far post. Were it not for a superb save from Fabianski, tipping the shot onto the post, the ball would have found its way in. That was the best chance for the rest of the first half, but The Blues went in reasonably happy after a good performance, something we haven’t seen as much in recent weeks.
City came out for the second half in much the same way as the first had ended: with City on the front foot, looking for the goal to get them in front. It eventually came on 62 minutes through Yaya Touré. Fernandinho backheeled the ball to the onrunning Yaya, who took it in his stride, before sliding the ball underneath the rushing Fabianski to put the hosts in front.
The Citizens tried to put the conscious effort into seeing the game out, bringing Lampard and Fernando on to try and shore up midfield. Bafetimbi Gomis came on for the away side, and caused a scare when he got through on goal, but poked wide of Joe Hart’s goal with his touch. That put enough of a fright into the players to fight harder for the three points, but almost lose it when a Jonjo Shelvey freekick deflected off the wall in injury time. It curled just wide, skimming the post as it flew out for a corner. That was the last real chance for Swansea, with City able to hold on for the win after that.
Tuesday night against Bayern holds a lot of significance in any hopes City will have of progressing in Europe. This win could just give them the confidence to play up in that match, where they’ll be without Yaya or Fernandinho, both of whom were sent off against CSKA Moscow in the last European game. The win also keeps them within reasonable distance of Chelsea, regardless of the miracle required to catch them. Today though, the win should be celebrated.
