Manchester City faced Swansea City for the second time in less than a week on Saturday as they edged a consecutive victory over the side.
City looked to dictate proceedings early on with Swansea happy to sit back and hit them on the break. Though they failed to find any rhythm early on, City took the lead just eight minutes into the game as Sergio Aguero produced an exquisite touch to set himself up to score from close range.
Swansea had a golden chance to equalise after 12-minutes has they worked a great chance from close range only for Claudio Bravo to produce a superb save. The Swans did score barely a minute later, however, as Fernando Llorente fired home a stunning half-volley.
Aguero came close to setting up Raheem Sterling with a cross before almost being played in by David Silva a couple of minutes later. Swansea then had a couple of half-chances of their own as they headed a couple of chances wide.
Kevin de Bruyne found himself through on goal after 34-minutes but he scuffed his effort wide before İlkay Gundogan failed to fire off a shot from a similar position a few minutes later. Gundogan fired over the bar again just before half-time as at the interval the scores remained level at 1-1.
Swansea started on the front in the second period as they looked to press City high up the field. Though they disrupted City’s rhythm, the Sky Blues continued to create and subsequently waste chances, as Silva, Gundogan and Sterling all failed to deliver in the final third.
City were handed a great chance in the 65th minute as Mike van der Hoorn unnecessary elbowed de Bruyne to give away a penalty. Aguero duly chipped the penalty home in a show of eloquence as City regained the lead.
Sterling made the game safe for City in the 77th minute as he slotted home from close range after a magnificent piece of skill on the counter. Fernandinho then almost added another in similar circumstances barely a minute later but was well denied by Łukasz Fabianski.
In other action across the Premier League on Saturday, Sunderland threw away a two-goal lead to go down 3-2 to Crystal Palace, Stoke City and West Bromwich Albion shared the spoils, while Tottenham Hotspur edged to a 2-1 win over Middlesbrough.
Photo: Premier League Website
