Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini has admitted that Yaya Toure and Wilfried Bony are still fatigued from playing in the Africa Cup of Nations at the start of the year.
The Ivory Coast internationals triumphed in the tournament but are struggling to return to full fitness, according to the Chilean.
Bony is still looking to score his first goal for City, since his arrival from Swansea City in January.
"It was important for [Bony] to start the game from the beginning," the 61-year-old told reporters.
"He only played a couple of minutes in the last few games and he only just arrived from the Africa Cup of Nations, where they played a lot of games.
"I think Yaya is also feeling the pace of the games. It would have been better for [Bony] to score but it was more important to start a game. It was also important for him to have some chances and I think he worked very well."
City overcame Leicester City in their midweek Premier League game, winning 2-0 on Wednesday night.
