MANCHESTER CITY YAIBAMIZA SWANSEA 3 - 2

Where do you go when the challenges dry up? The desert, it would seem.
The wisdom of Manchester City’s plans to hold a fixture in the United Arab Emirates this month is open to some debate. But, then again, they are making the Barclays Premier League look rather easy at the moment.
They even win away from home these days – that’s two in a row in the league now. And eight in nine overall when you factor in their sensational record at the Etihad Stadium. All of which is quite impressive.
VIDEO Scroll down to watch Pellegrini and Laudrup post match reactions

Bottom corner: Yaya Toure put Manchester City 2-1 up with a fierce low drive at the Liberty Stadium

Unstoppable: The goalkeeper looks on in shock as the ball rifles into the net

Embraced: City, and Toure, can't stop scoring at the moment in the Premier League

Sealed it: Left-back Aleksandar Kolorov notched the third as the away side comfortably saw of the challenge

Pellegrini: Scoring the second goal was crucial for us

Leveller: Wilfried Bony heads in a surprise equaliser right on half-time for the hosts

High five: The Ivorian celebrates his strike with team-mate Roland Lamah (left)

Controversial: But was he offside?

Rainy day: On a glum New Year's Day, Bony produced a moment of magic in the last few minutes from long range

SPORTSMAIL'S SUPER STAT

Manchester City have won five in a row for the first time since their run of six culminated in the title in 2011-12.

But they won. And in moments like this, in storms as torrential as that which swept the Liberty Stadium on New Year's Day, that is what matters. A wet Wednesday in South Wales? Survived.
And how they can thank Yaya Toure for that. There is plenty of guile in Pellegrini’s team, a blitz of creative riches and soft touches - even with David Silva suspended - but then there is Toure, who has a lot of everything.
He was the best player on the pitch here, predominantly stationed in Swansea’s half but drifting deep and doing the dirty work as well.
It was strangely fitting that his goal – City’s second – was probably the grubbiest of the lot in terms of finish, but the sweetest in its creation.
It also killed what had been a growing momentum in Swansea’s favour. Until that moment in the 57th minute, this looked like the sort of entertaining but error-strewn game that might have got away.

Thump: Fernandinho scored the first goal in 2014, suitably after 14 minutes

Opener: City looked well on their way to victory after the Brazilian's strike

Wilfried Bony's second goal deserved to be a winner - check out more stats and fixtures on our fantastic match zone service here

Wilfried Bony

NEW YEAR'S WISH

Man City: To find some consistency on the road. City have now won three of their past four away, but are still some way short of matching their home form.
Swansea: To improve domestically now that the Europa League schedule is thinning out. They run the risk of being sucked into the relegation fight and Michael Laudrup knows it.

City went ahead after 13 minutes when Samir Nasri’s corner was partially cleared by Jonathan de Guzman and driven low past Gerhard Tremmel by Fernandinho.
Nice finish, but Swansea, for all the flakiness of their performances, don’t often lie down. They certainly didn’t here.
In one sweet passing move, De Guzman, Wilfried Bony and Roland Lamah exchanged quick flicks before De Guzman went clear. Joe Hart made a save which was far more comfortable than it should have been.
Swansea also had a shout for a penalty rejected when Phil Dowd’s rightly ruled that Vincent Kompany could not have got his arm out of the way of an Ashley Williams shot.
That decision could have gone either way – Michael Laudrup has bemoaned a few this season – but the next one went against City on the stroke of half-time when Bony, offside by maybe half a yard, headed De Guzman’s cross past Hart.

Laudrup: We could have done more with their first and third goals

New partnership: Without Sergio Aguero, City's front two Edin Dzeko (left) and Alvaro Negredo (right) look to link up

Having trouble there? Swansea goalkeeper Gerhard Tremmel struggled to change his kit early n, perhaps because of his gloves

Cue the storm of Swansea attacks and driving rain. City weathered both. Jesus Navas created the goal that turned this game round, beating two men down the right before crossing into the box.
Tremmel punched it away, Jose Canas couldn’t quite connect in an attempt to clear more sufficiently and up popped Toure with a low shot that deflected wildly off Williams.
‘It came at the right moment for us,’ Pellegrini said.
That goal, Toure’s 10th in the league this season, disappointed Laudrup but not as much as the next, shortly after the hour when Aleksandar Kolarov robbed Wayne Routledge on the right and charged 30 yards unchallenged.
His shot deflected off Canas and that was that until Bony landed a 20-yard haymaker in stoppage time. It was, as Laudrup admitted, ‘Bony’s best performance for Swansea’, but his wider feeling was that this defeat was partially self-inflicted.
He said: ‘You know when you play at this level that when you are in control it can turn in a few minutes. That is what happened with Toure’s goal. And the third really hurt.’ 
Arsenal, Chelsea and Liverpool might just feel the aftershock.

Unhappy: Vincent Kompany reacts after a free-kick is given against his team

Aerial duel: Bony challenges Joe Hart in the box

Technique: French midfielder Samir Nasri has a go from long range at the Liberty Stadium

Well marshaled: Dzeko (abve) and Negredo (below) were dealt with well by the Swans' defence

Category: uingereza