K. Ịheanachọ has scored a goal for Manchester City! Assist by Y. Touré.
Assist Gnégnéri Yaya Touré
Goal Kelechi Promise Iheanacho
90'
B. Gomis has scored a goal for Swansea City! Assist by F. Fernández.
What an absolutely incredible ball that was from Fernandez to play the striker through! Extraordinary!
SWANSEA INCREDIBLY ARE LEVEL! Fernandez plays a absolutely incredible, searching ball forward to send Gomis through behind the defence and the substitute makes no mistake this time in smashing a ball beyond Hart at the near post!
88'
JUST OVER! More great buildup play from the visitors and Sigurdsson plays a delicious ball in for Gomis. The striker sends a looping header over the keeper, but it rattles off the top of the bar and onto the roof of the goal.
86'
IT'S IN BUT IT WON'T COUNT! Gomis is played through onside by Sigurdsson, but Hart comes off his line quickly to get enough of a touch to knock it away from the striker before getting absolutely clattered by the Frenchman. Sigurdsson is there to follow up and he slots the ball in at the far corner, but Madley had already given a foul for the challenge on Hart.
84'
K. Ịheanachọ enters the game and replaces W. Bony.
City make their final change as well and it is their promising youngster Kelechi Iheanacho who comes on for goal scorer Bony. The Ivorian makes his way off to an appreciative applause from the home fans.
83'
B. Gomis enters the game and replaces A. Ayew.
Third and final change for the visitors as Bafetimbi Gomis gets his chance to alter the course of this match, with Ayew the one to give way.
82'
City win the ball back finally and get forward to earn themselves a corner. They will want to keep the ball in the Swansea end as long as they can, but are unsucessful in doing so as Otamendi's header is sent wide and Swansea can start back up again.
80'
Into the final 10 minutes and it remains Swansea who are on the ball and searching for the decisive second goal of this match. They have committed themselves so well today but you just have to wonder how much they have left in the tank.
78'
DEFLECTED BEHIND! The ensuing free kick isn't properly dealt with and it comes to Cork. The midfielder does well to get the ball out of his feet and unleash a strike at goal, but Delph is able to get a block to it!
77'
E. Mangala gets yellow.
Instant impact from Barrow as he uses his electrifying pace to win a free kick along the right as Mangala slid into a very late challenge, picking up a yellow card in the process.
Minute
Description
76'
M. Barrow enters the game and replaces W. Routledge.
The other is also an attacking one as Modou Barrow comes on for Routledge. Plenty of pace introduced by the visitors here, with Routledge starting to tire.
75'
J. Montero enters the game and replaces L. Britton.
A pair of substitutions for Swansea, their first two of the match. The pacey Jefferson Montero comes on for Britton in the first switch - a positive one at that from Alan Curtis.
74'
STAT: Manchester City have fired in more shots on target than any other team in the Premier League so far this season (99 - or 6.6 per match). They have just three so far today.
72'
What an acrobatic clearance that was! De Bruyne has already tilted this game in City's favour as he wins a corner and provides more direction in attack. The ball is lifted into the area twice following the initial corner, but Williams reaches back to his goal and an bicycle-clearance denies Bony a great chance at his second.
70'
A bit of a needless challenge from Routledge as he trips up Fernandinho at the halfway line, despite Swansea having plenty of bodies back in defence. The winger is full of energy and continues to act as the catalyst for this Swansea side as they try and muster a comeback.
68'
K. De Bruyne enters the game and replaces David Silva.
A loud applause around the ground as Kevin de Bruyne is introduced for the final 22 minutes. The ineffective David Silva is the one replaced, the Spaniard perhaps still not quite back to full fitness following his return from injury.
66'
Swansea have really taken this game by the horns, but City are starting to show a bit more intent as they look to settle their nerves. They have been a free-scoring team up to this point in the season but are struggling to create any looks at goal today from open play.
64'
STAT: Manuel Pellegrini’s side have won 13 and lost two of their last 15 Premier League home games - not a single draw in that span.
62'
There is a growing sense of anxiety in the Etihad as Swansea City continue to push back. Sigurdsson's effort from the free kick is punched away smartly by Hart, who has unquestionably been the busier of the two keepers since the opening kick of the match.
60'
B. Sagna gets yellow.
Is he lucky to still be on the pitch? Sagna recklessly gets his boot high up in the air to try and knock a ball out of the path of Routledge, but he winds up catching the forward in the face. He's shown a yellow but will be walking on thin ice the rest of the way.
58'
W. Bony gets yellow.
Absolutely no arguments can be had by Bony as he commits himself into a challenge for a ball which Ki was always going to win. Robert Madley has no hesitation in showing the striker a yellow.
56'
HART TO THE RESCUE AGAIN! Terrific, probing ball forward from Cork to pick out Sigurdsson atop the area. The Iceland international tries a back-heel into the path of Ayew, but a ricochet off Clichy winds up falling kindly back to him, but he's unable to roll his finish past Hart at the near post! So close, yet again!
54'
STAT: Swansea have suffered through their worst-ever start to a Premier League season with 14 points from 15 matches (W3, D5, L7).
52'
STRONG HANDS FROM FABIANSKI! The keeper picks a good starting position in the centre of his goal as Toure lines up a free kick from the left. The Ivorian unleashes a powerful drive headed in at the near post, but because Fabianski started in a neutral location, he's able to get his hands over and beat it away.
50'
TWICE BLOCKED! Such great play from Sigurdsson in and around the area as he keeps the ball tight to his feet as he dribbles through the City defence. He takes a second too long to pull the trigger, however, which allows Otamendi to block the initial effort and then the follow-up is denied amidst the mess of bodies.
48'
City start the second half where they left off in the first, struggling to push the pace in possession, while Swansea have come out rested and eager to win the ball back. The visitors are by no means out of this contest just yet, especially given the sluggish nature of the hosts.
46'
F. Delph enters the game and replaces R. Sterling.
Back underway at the Etihad!
Fabian Delph replaces Sterling at the break, which will likely prompt a bit of a reshuffling of the formation as City move to more of a 4-3-3 for this second half.
45' +1
HALF TIME: MANCHESTER CITY 1-0 SWANSEA.
45'
There will be just one minute added on at the end of this first half.
43'
N. Taylor gets yellow.
Madley has done well to keep his cards in his pocket during this first half, but Neil Taylor can't escape yellow as a pair of untidy challenges on Navas see him into the referee's book.
42'
DELIGHTFUL BALL! Such clever improvisation from Toure, who spots the run of Sterling and just pokes the ball out of his feet to chip a stunning little ball over the top for the ex-Liverpool forward, but Fabianski is wise to it. The keeper arrives just in time to deny what would have been a killer second goal before the interval.
40'
STAT: Man City have had the most different scorers in the Premier League this season (13), while Swansea have had the joint-fewest (four, alongside Watford and Stoke).
38'
Swansea are doing everything they can to push the pace in possession, looking to work the ball up the pitch with great intent. You would figure a quicker pace to the match would favour the hosts, but with the Welsh side in need of a goal they have little choice otherwise.
36'
Madley has a talk with Sterling as play comes to a halt following a coming together between him and Williams. The winger tried to play on despite spotting the offside flag and the centre-half tossed him aside to get the ball back. Sterling got up and retaliated, which prompted Madley to try and settle things down.
34'
There isn't a great deal of tempo to this match when City are in possession. Despite being in front, their lethargic approach in possession has elicited a few groans from these fans at the Etihad who are becoming harder and harder to please.
32'
Swansea have responded well to falling behind and are enjoying their longest spell of possession in attack. Movement off the ball is sound, and Ki does well to release Rangel, but the right-back then delivers in for Routledge in an offside position as the chance fizzles out.
30'
STAT: Wilfried Bony has now scored four goals in the last three Premier League meetings between Man City and Swansea, three for the Welsh side and two as a Citizen player.
28'
JUST OVER! Ayew had a lot to do still as he gets on the end of Sigurdsson's free kick, and he comes very close with his header. He's so strong in the air and we see why there, as he's able to power in front of his marker and send a glancing effort just over the bar with Hart rooted to his spot.
26'
W. Bony has scored a goal for Manchester City! Assist by Jesús Navas.
Navas deserves credit as well for both winning the corner and placing his delivery onto the head of Bony.
CITY IN FRONT! Navas delivers the ensuing corner and Bony, restored to the starting XI today, peels away from Williams to head home a free header against his former club.
25'
IMPORTANT BLOCK! Taylor gets turned around by the trickery of Navas inside the penalty area, with the Spaniard cutting onto his left for a shot when a cross looked likely. It didn't look like he was going to score from there, but the intervention of Williams ensures it.
23'
The hosts win a free kick in a threatening position on the left, and they send their big men forward from the back. Navas stands over to deliver, but his final ball in is so poor as it lacks the pace and flatness needed for his teammates to be able to attack it.
21'
Swansea aren't pressing high up the pitch, but when City cross the halfway line that's when the visitors start to apply their pressure. It has made it difficult on the hosts to transition into the final third and they continue to appear out of ideas in attack at the moment.
19'
STAT: Swansea have failed to score in seven of their last 11 Premier League games, including four of their last five.
17'
Despite their long periods spent on the ball, City have started quite sluggishly, perhaps still feeling the effects of their Champions League clash midweek. Creativity has been in short supply and they really seem to be missing the presence of De Bruyne out on the right.
15'
BEATEN AWAY BY HART! The movement of Routledge has been excellent up to this point and he's proven impossible to slow on the counter. He drifts to the right and navigates space behind Clichy. His pullback spots Sigurdsson, but the Iceland international's first-time shot is kept out by the fine reactions of Hart.
13'
Swansea are simply sitting back and waiting for their opportunities to threaten on the break. They offer plenty of pace and quality on the counter and are not going to go chasing the game as a result. The rain in really pouring down now as well, so there does promise to be a mistake or two for them to capitalise on.
11'
City are still enjoying the bulk of possession but Swansea are looking much more capable and comfortable now in defence. They are organising themselves properly and working hard to try and disrupt the hosts' rhythm in attack - and have been succesful in doing so.
9'
STAT: Manchester City are perfect in four matches when hosting Swansea in the Premier League, outscoring the Welsh outfit 10-1.
7'
It's interesting to note that despite what the team sheet may say, it is Sigurdsson playing through the middle for Swansea with Ayew remaining out wide. Bold decision from Alan Curtis to play without a recognised striker. Their movement off the ball will be key as a result - everyone has to carry their weight.
5'
NEARLY THE OPENER! City manage all the early possession but it's Swansea who threaten first! They counter brilliantly, carving through the City defence much like Stoke did a week ago. Routledge offers up a run and Sigurdsson is able to find him, but Hart comes up with a massive save as the last line of defence.
3'
Suffocating pressure from Manchester City from the off, as they keep the ball pinned inside the Swansea end without fail. Excellent movement from them in possession and it has proven difficult for the visitors to deal with. Wayne Routledge needs to do a better job of tracking back, as well.
1'
Manchester City get us underway, kicking left to right.
Hello Premier League fans around the world and welcome to our live coverage of Manchester City and Swansea from the Etihad, with the hosts looking to at least temporarily reclaim first place. Manuel Pellegrini’s men followed a disappointing defeat at Stoke last weekend with a hammering of Bundesliga outfit Monchengladbach midweek, and are hoping to carry that momentum through to today’s clash with their struggling Welsh opponents.
Swansea are starting a new era following the controversial dismissal of manager Garry Monk on Wednesday. The former Swans defender was held in very high regard and considered one of the best up and coming coaches in the UK after taking the club to new heights last season. He set the bar too high in the end, perhaps, as they struggled to rediscover the unsustainable form which they started with under the 36-year-old. What started as a dip in form wound up becoming a landslide down the table and Chairman Huw Jenkins was forced into action.
The Welsh outfit turn over a new leaf today, out to recapture the magic that saw them salvage their season when Monk replaced Michael Laudrup in February 2014. Alan Curtis takes over as caretaker manager for a second time, also filling the role for a brief period in 2004 with the club in the fourth tier of English football. The former striker made close to 350 appearances for Swansea in his playing career while also enjoying stints with Leeds United, Southampton, Stoke, Cardiff and Barry. He was capped 35 times by the Wales national team, scoring six times.
CONFIRMED TEAM NEWS:
MANCHESTER CITY (4-2-3-1): Hart; Sagna, Mangala, Otamendi, Clichy; Toure, Fernandinho; Navas, Silva, Sterling; Bony.
SUBS: Kolarov, Caballero, De Bruyne, Delph, Demichelis, Roberts, Iheanacho.
Manuel Pellegrini remains without Sergio Aguero (heel) and skipper Vincent Kompany (calf). The manager has made three changes following their Champions League victory midweek, the most surprising of which sees Kevin de Bruyne dropped to the bench in an attempt to give the Belgian a rest ahead of a busy winter period. Jesus Navas comes on in his place. The hosts also switch to a 4-2-3-1, which sees striker Wilfried Bony come into the team after they played without a recognised striker midweek. Fabian Delph drops to the bench as a result. The final swap sees Bacary Sagna on in place of Aleksandar Kolarov.
Federico Fernandez and Jonjo Shelvey were pushing for a recall following the departure of Garry Monk, but only the former gets it. The Argentine defender comes on for Kyle Bartley as one of three changes made by caretaker manager Alan Curtis. Angel Rangel replaces Kyle Naughton, while Bafetimbi Gomis is dropped for midfielder Jack Cork. Andre Ayew pushes up to striker as a result.
The players make their way out onto a wet pitch in Manchester. The hosts are hoping to move into at least a temporary share of first place and put the pressure on the likes of Leicester and Arsenal, while Swansea try and muster a response following the sacking of manager Garry Monk.
Manchester City in front at the interval with Bony inevitably scoring against his former side, but it was Hart who proved the busier of the two keepers, called into action to deny Routledge inside 10 minutes and then again had a difficult save to make off Sigurdsson's effort with the game still scoreless. Despite the hosts being in front, you would have to say that, considering the run of play in the first half, the points are still there for the taking.
FULL TIME: MANCHESTER CITY 2-1 SWANSEA CITY.
That's all for our live coverage from Manchester. Good bye!
Late drama at the Etihad as Bafetimbi Gomis and Yaya Toure exchange goals in the final minutes as the Citizens survive an impressive response from the Swans following Monk's departure. Pellegrini's side move top of the table for the time being, with Leicester and Arsenal still to play this weekend.
Commentary
More…