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| Lukasz Fabianski is helpless as a lucky deflection of Kelechi Iheanacho won the game 2-1 |
MANUEL PELLEGRINI's side aquaplaned to the Premier League summit with a touch of late fortune which sunk the stunned Swans.
The garish illuminated advertising hoardings regularly revealed Coldplay’s summer date here next year.
More appropriate would have been the visit of Wet, Wet, Wet – certainly apt for the monsoon conditions but more worryingly a reflection of City’s far from dominant display.
Except for Joe Hart’s acrobatics – the England keeper making five top class saves – managerless Swansea would have headed back to South Wales with some reward for their sense of adventure.
They appeared to have rescued a deserved point when substitute Bafetimbi Gomis crashed home a long ball from Federico Fernandez as the game was about to enter four minutes of added time.
That was enough for most of the bedraggled army of frustrated City supporters to head for the exits.
But maybe because he was wearing the captain’s armband Yaya Toure decided this was now the time to flick the switch which transforms the Ivorian from a lumbering liability to one of the most exciting midfielders in today’s football.
Thankfully for Pellegrini the second persona emerged within seconds of Swansea’s frenzied celebrations.
He found himself on the edge of the Swansea area and after a couple of twists and turns fired towards goal, the ball taking a lucky ricochet off the hunched back of substitute Kelechi Iheanacho and over the despairing reach of Lukasz Fabianski.
A relieved Pellegrini admitted: “It was important to win this game. I knew before it would be very difficult because of the achievement of midweek (beating Borussia Monchengladbach). I think we showed the spirit of the team.”
It has been suggested that one of the reasons for Garry Monk’s sacking was that the Swans had become too rigid – the life had been sucked out of them.
Yesterday they removed the strait-jackets and should have reaped early dividends only for old boy Wilfried Bony to come back to haunt them.
Once the main man at The Liberty Stadium, the big Ivory Coast striker has had to accept a supporting role amidst the stellar Etihad cast.
He entered centre stage from a Jesus Navas corner to lose Swans skipper Ashley Williams and bury a header for only his third Premier League goal of the season.
There was no celebration in respect of the club that set him on the path to the riches which accompany a £28 million move.
But for the anxious City fans who must wonder at times why with so much investment they can still be transformed into paupers there was plenty of relief all round only for the nerves to reappear late on.
They still though look the most likely party poopers as the neutrals continue to will unfancied Leicester City to the main prize.
It was so cruel on the Welsh side who had dominated the opening with City’s porous defence, once again missing their lynch-pin Vincent Kompany, offering up some early Christmas presents.
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| The unfortunate Swans are still managerless after Gary Monk was sacked this week |
Wayne Routledge burst through far too easily only for Joe Hart to come on top in a one on one while the inventive Gylfi Sigurdsson was also denied by the England keeper following a decisive cut back from Routledge.
Even after Bony’s goal City remained an accident waiting to happen at the back, a bullet header from Andre Ayew just inches away while shortly after the break Hart’s chest formed an impenetrable barrier when Sigurdsson once again threatened.
The impressive Icelander also tested him with a swerving free-kick and late on he had to race out to foil Gomis.
Curtis said: “We are bitterly disappointed. This could have been a fantastic point. This is now the standard. If we maintain this we will get out of trouble.”
So round one to Hart as England prepare to face Wales next summer.
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