Swansea 2-3 Man City: Pellegrini Takes Team Top Despite Bony Brace

Manchester City went top of the Premier League table ahead of the rest of the New Year's Day fixtures with a 3-2 away win at Swansea. Wilfried Bony scored twice, but strikes from Fernandinho, Yaya Toure and Aleksandar Kolarov sealed victory for the visitors. Both teams put together incisive moves early, but missed the target. First Edin Dzeko lashed across the face of goal for City and then Bony had Joe Hart scrambling at the other end as a 25-yarder flew wide. Swansea lost winger Pablo Hernandez early to a hamstring problem. Roland Lamah, who scored in their draw at Aston Villa last time, came on. City then went ahead inside 15 minutes through Fernandinho. The hosts could only clear a right wing corner to the Brazilian outside the box and his sweet strike flew through Jose Canas's legs and beyond Gerhard Tremmel. Hart then saved low from Jonathan De Guzman. Michael Laudrup's Swans later saw a penalty appeal against City skipper Vincent Kompany turned down by referee Phil Dowd when they were in the ascendancy. Bony also lashed across the bows of Hart again before half time. It proved third time lucky for Swansea striker Bony as he headed the home side level in stoppage time. Surviving offside appeals, he nodded in De Guzman's near post centre. City were pegged back at the break. Toure restored the visitors' lead 12 minutes into the second half, making it a dozen for the season in all competitions, with a deflected effort that went in off Swans captain Ashley Williams. On 65 minutes City increased their lead. Wayne Routledge lost possession to Kolarov and the Serbian wingback raced forward from his own half. His shot found its way past Tremmel after going through the legs of Jose Canas. Bony stung the palms of Hart after some fancy footwork. The England goalie then flapped at a Swansea corner and was fortunate Williams did not turn the ball home. Manuel Pellegrini shut up shop, content to defend a two-goal advantage. Swans frontman Bony grabbed another stoppage time goal when he smashed past Hart, but it just proved a consolation. It results go against then Laudrup could see his team slip further down the table.