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Manchester City logo
Premier League
Feb 5, 2017 at 1.30pm UK
 
Swansea logo

2-1

Jesus (11', 92')
FT(HT: 1-0)

Live Commentary: Manchester City 2-1 Swansea City - as it happened

Relive Sports Mole's live coverage of Manchester City's 2-1 victory over Swansea City in the Premier League.
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Manchester City have moved into third place in the Premier League table with a 2-1 victory over Swansea City.

Gabriel Jesus opened the scoring in the 12th minute, but it appeared that City would have to make do with a point when Gylfi Sigurdsson netted with nine minutes left.

However, in the second minute of added-on time, Jesus tapped home from a yard after his initial header has been spilled by Lukas Fabianski.

Read below to see how the action unfolded at the Etihad Stadium.


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Hello, and welcome to Sports Mole's live coverage of the match in the Premier League between Manchester City and Swansea City.

It was some day in the Premier League yesterday, wasn't it? We saw Chelsea strengthen their bid to win the division, we witnessed Liverpool slip up to Hull City and Sunderland score four goals away at Crystal Palace. Romelu Lukaku also chipped in with four goals in a 6-3 victory for Everton against Bournemouth! It is going to take something special to rival the drama of yesterday afternoon, but today's matches could also involve plenty of goals and incidents.

Leicester City host Manchester United in the 4pm kickoff at the King Power Stadium, but first, Manchester City will look to move into third position in the table with success over Swansea City, who travel to the North-West having won their last two fixtures. It has been quite the turnaround under Paul Clement, but they will probably need to improve even further in order to challenge City in front of their own fans.

Anyway, without further ado, let's get cracking with the team news from the Etihad Stadium. Has Sergio Aguero been handed a recall...?

MANCHESTER CITY XI: Caballero, Stones, Kolarov, Clichy, Fernandinho, Toure, Sterling, De Bruyne, Silva, Sane, G.Jesus

MANCHESTER CITY SUBSTITUTES: Bravo, Kompany, Zabaleta, Fernando, Aguero, Navas, Delph

SWANSEA CITY XI: Fabianski, Naughton, Fernandez, Mawson, Olsson, Cork, Carroll, Fer, Routledge, Sigurdsson, Llorente

SWANSEA CITY SUBSTITUTES: Nordfeldt, Kingsley, Amat, Britton, Narsingh, Dyer, Baston

The answer to the Aguero question is that he once again finds himself on the substitutes' bench. Guardiola's decision will only lead to more speculation about his future but after the manner in which City disposed of West Ham United on Wednesday evening, it's a call which can be justified. Guardiola has made two alterations, however, with Gael Clichy and Fernandinho coming into the team in place of Bacary Sagna and Nicolas Otamendi.

As for Swansea, Clement names the same team which defeated Southampton in midweek. The temptation may have been there to hand a first start to Luciano Narsingh but he keeps Wayne Routledge on the flank.

HEAD TO HEAD! Today's match represents the 33rd time in which these two teams have faced each other in a competitive fixture, with City winning 21 times in comparison to the seven victories for Swansea. However, City are unbeaten in their last 10 contests against Swansea, claiming success in all but two of them.

For all the criticism that Swansea have received this season, they currently sit in eighth place in our form table. Not many people backed the appointment of Paul Clement but it's most certainly so far so good. City have recorded just one more point than them over the past six fixtures. Of course, that doesn't tell the whole story but it is a surprise that they are so closely matched over the Christmas period and January. Click here to take a look at all the other sections of our Stat Centre.

However, this statistic will bring Swansea fans back down to earth. Sorry...



Much of the talk is about the non-selection of Aguero, but the same can be said of goalkeeper Claudio Bravo, who misses out to Willy Caballero for the third successive game in all competitions. The stand-in stopper did not have much to do against West Ham but I suppose he played his part in helping City to a rare clean sheet. Guardiola has publicly stated that he will continue to back Bravo but you have to wonder whether the former Barcelona man will leave the Etihad Stadium in the summer after a number of high-profile mistakes.

One battle we are looking forward to this afternoon is between John Stones and Fernando Llorente. Stones hasn't performed to his best for large chunks of this season but he has been entrusted to mark the Spanish forward, who scored twice at Anfield just a couple of weeks ago. Llorente has only netted in five of his 22 outings since signing for the Swans, but he has scored doubles on three occasions. If he gets presented with chances, expect him to take full advantage and City will have to be wary of him.

Gylfi Sigurdsson will also have to be on form if Swansea are to get anything from this match. The Icelandic playmaker has chipped in with seven goals and seven assists in the Premier League this season - which is a phenomenal return given Swansea's struggles - and City know that they can't gift him opportunities in and around the penalty area.

Llorente was posting selfies on social media with less than an hour before kickoff. It appears that Clement is working with a relaxed approach to mobile phones so close to the start of games...



PREDICTION! First things first, we are predicting a lot of goals in this match. While City are favourites, I expect Swansea to try to attack in the same manner which got the better of Liverpool at Anfield. However, City possess more quality in the final third than the Merseyside giants and we think they will prevail by a 4-1 scoreline.

It's time for the two teams to make their way out at the Etihad Stadium. City are still using their temporary tunnel. Anyone know how long that will be in use?

City get us underway.

CHANCE! Huge chance for City with less than two minutes on the clock. Sane does well down the left before crossing for Jesus. He should hit the target with his first-time effort from 12 yards but he sends his shot into the stands.

Swansea don't look too alarmed just yet but it's very much one-way traffic. Every player is camped inside the Swansea half. Llorente is dropping very deep to try to pressurise Toure.

GOAL! Manchester City 1-0 Swansea City (Jesus)

I was just about to say that it was inevitable that City would break Swansea down. The visitors were making this match a game of attack versus defence but they have only kept their hosts out for just over 10 minutes. The ball fell invitingly to Jesus from close range and he made no mistake in directing the ball into the bottom corner.

I had high hopes for Swansea in this match but they are being overwhelmed. They have allowed City to dictate the tempo and have control of possession, and their opponents look comfortable in all aspects of their play.

More of the same from City who are playing with a freedom which suggests that they know that they can pretty much what they want to in this match. I don't understand this approach from Swansea.

BOOKING! Fernandez goes into the book for a foul on Silva on the edge of the area. It's the correct decision, but 30 seconds earlier, the referee opted not to book Toure for stopping a counter-attack. The lack of common sense is outrageous.

SHOT! Toure takes the resulting set piece and his effort appears to be heading for the top corner. However, Fabianski gets across to tip the ball behind for a corner. It's a great save.

It's almost as if this match is a friendly. City have all the time in the world to spray passes from side to side and pick their moment to attack. It's only a matter of time before they score a second.

CHANCE! The second should have arrived here. Silva's corner finds Toure completely unmarked around 14 yards from goal, but he miscues his volley well wide of the post.

I must apologise to Mike Dean. It appears that he didn't book Fernandez earlier on. Still, he should have been giving out two bookings rather than none at all.

SHOT! Toure looks determined to get himself on the scoresheet this afternoon but he continues to fall short. On this occasion, he doesn't make the greatest of connections with a curling effort and Fabianski is able to make the save.

We are still waiting to see Swansea in a threatening position. Llorente could get his phone and take another selfie, and he wouldn't be missed. That said, if they can get to the break facing just the one-goal deficit, I suppose it's job done to a certain extent.

Manchester City have had 10 attempts on goal in this match. Swansea have had none. Five minutes to go in this first half.

BOOKING! De Bruyne goes into the book for hacking down Olsson. It's a deserved yellow but not when you consider that Toure and Fernandez avoided cautions earlier in the game.

BOOKING! Sterling goes into the book for diving. The referee didn't give the decision, the assistant did. It's harsh on the winger, who seemed to be clipped by Fabianski as he entered the penalty area, but it's a case of his reputation from previous games coming back to haunt him.

There will be one minute of added-on time.

HALF TIME: Manchester City 1-0 Swansea City

The half-time whistle goes at the Etihad Stadium and City lead thanks to that early goal from Jesus. They should have a few more to their name, but Swansea have kept it to just the one despite not having a shot in that first period. While the score stays as it is, they are in with a chance.

Both sets of players have made their way back out for the second half. It doesn't appear that any changes have been made.

Swansea get us back underway.

Wow, some ambition from Swansea. Sorry for sounding so cynical. A run from Olsson ends with a free kick being awarded around 30 yards from goal. Sigurdsson is standing over it.

SAVE! What a magnificent effort from Sigurdsson and what an outstanding save from Caballero. His shot is perfect and heading into the top corner but the goalkeeper got across to push it wide.

WOODWORK! I don't think this is intentional but Sane strikes the post for City. I'm assuming he wanted his low cross to go into the six-yard box but instead, it clattered against the post and went wide.

City have overcome that brief rally from Swansea and we are back into the rhythm of the first half. I'd assume that Clement is hoping to get to the hour mark at this scoreline before introducing a substitute.

Sergio Aguero is out warming up for City. It must be weird for him having to play second fiddle at the club. I'm sure he will have a point to prove should he be introduced. We've had a bit of a lull in the action over the past few minutes.

BOOKING! Llorente is booked for leading with the arm when jumping for a header with Kolarov. Correct decision, and some officials may have been a bit stronger with their punishment.

CHANCE! Back come Swansea and after winning a corner, Mawson squanders a huge opportunity. The defender met an outswinging corner but he was unable to direct his header into the far corner. He knows he should have done better.

SUBSTITUTION! Clement decides to introduce Narsingh for Routledge. Let's see what the new signing has got in his locker against one of the best teams in the Premier League.

City spend a minute or so probing around the edge of the area before the move ends with Sterling drilling a cross into the six-yard area, and only an intervention from Mawson stops the ball from finding its intended target.

With 20 minutes to go, I am surprised that Swansea are still in this match but they deserve huge credit for their performance in the second half. City have slowed their pace down but Swansea are making them work hard for a result. Mawson has just had to put in another block to stop Silva finding the bottom corner.

SUBSTITUTION! Swansea make a second alteration with Nathan Dyer replacing Carroll. Cork has been booked for a foul on Jesus.

SUBSTITUTION! De Bruyne is being withdrawn by Guardiola, with Zabaleta coming on in his place.

GOAL! Manchester City 1-1 Swansea City (Sigurdsson)

Swansea have equalised! Unbelievable scenes. After receiving a pass from Narsingh, Sigurdsson was given too much time to shoot from the edge of the penalty area and his low drive deceived Caballero and went into the bottom corner of the net!

SUBSTITUTIONS! Both managers make a change. Borja Baston replaces Llorente for Swansea but for City, Sergio Aguero comes on for Sterling.

Naturally, City are throwing men forward in search of a winner but they have to be careful here. Swansea look a threat on the break. I don't think this will end as a draw.

There will be four minutes of added-on time. Both teams are going for it!

GOAL! Manchester City 2-1 Swansea City (Jesus)

Man City have won it in added-on time! It's heartbreak for Swansea, but City probably deserve this. A cross from Silva finds Jesus, who sees his header saved by Fabianski, but the goalkeeper can't hold on and the Brazilian taps home from a yard.

FULL TIME: Manchester City 2-1 Swansea City

The full-time whistle goes at the Etihad Stadium and City have managed to earn all three points thanks to that late goal from Jesus. Swansea deserve huge credit for how they fought in the second half but that will be no consolation to Clement.

That will be all from Sports Mole for this match but we hope that you can stick around for the clash between Leicester City and Manchester United, which begins at 4pm. Goodbye for now.

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Sergio Aguero sits on the bench during the Premier League game between Manchester City and Burnley on January 2, 2017
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