***Official Match Thread: City v Swansea***

[Beefymcfc]

Let's get it on!!!

[Beefymcfc]

TEAM NEWS

Manchester City's Vincent Kompany is fit after returning to training ahead of schedule following a calf injury.

Eliaquim Mangala has overcome a knock, but Edin Dzeko and Aleksandar Kolarov are both expected to be out until next month with calf injuries.

Swansea hope to have Nathan Dyer and Wayne Routledge back after injury, while midfielder Jonjo Shelvey is available after a one-match ban.

Defender Federico Fernandez misses out again with a calf problem.

MATCH PREVIEW

Manchester City will be hoping the international break will bring a change of fortune for the resumption of domestic matters.

The champions haven't yet got anywhere near the standards they have set themselves. One win in their last six games in all competitions has been a surprise, and perhaps a source of motivation.

Fifteen Premier League points from the last 27 isn't devastating and it certainly won't have escaped their notice that Chelsea have amassed 23 during the same period. City have to find some consistency and keep the leaders in their sights.

In Sergio Aguero, they have a striker who can, and has, won them the league. He's right at the top of his game and has nine goals in his last six league games alone.

But even the very best can't do it alone. The Argentinian has 12 of their 22 league goals so far; no other player has more than two.

Last season they dropped only five points at home and this was the kind of match that didn't produce too many concerns.

However, they are facing a current Swansea team who are fresh from beating Arsenal, have already been to Manchester and won this season, and who asked Chelsea strong questions at Stamford Bridge. They have only lost once in their last six league matches.

This is the fixture where Premier League life began for Swansea City back in August 2011 under Brendan Rodgers. Garry Monk missed the chance to captain the team through injury and wouldn't have ever thought that his first appearance at the Etihad would be in the dugout. His seamless transition is there for all to see, as is his stamp on the team this season.

He will recall that Aguero came off the bench to score twice on his City debut that night and Monk will be trying to keep him away from the headlines again.

MATCH FACTS

Head-to-head

Manchester City have won all three of their Premier League meetings with Swansea at the Etihad Stadium without conceding a goal.

Swansea's only ever league victory at Manchester City was by 2-1 in 1951.

Manchester City

Manchester City have lost just once in their last eight league matches (W4, D3), with only one defeat in their previous 12 home games.

They have two more points at this stage than they did during last season's title-winning campaign (19).

Only Sunderland (4) have scored more own goals this season than Manchester City (3).

Sergio Aguero has scored 13 goals in his last 13 Premier League appearances, with nine coming in his last six.

Manuel Pellegrini's side have lost just one of the 49 league matches in which Aguero has scored (W43, D5). That defeat was against Chelsea in October 2013.

Swansea

Swansea have gone four games without an away win in the Premier League since beating the Scum.

Despite only one victory, they are yet to concede the first goal away from home this season.

Only Southampton (7) have kept more clean sheets than Swansea (5) during this campaign.

Swansea are one of four sides to have received three red cards already this season, equalling the club's total for last season. They have never received four in a single Premier League season.

Gylfi Sigurdsson has scored or assisted nine Premier League goals this season - only Cesc Fabregas, Diego Costa (both 10) and Sergio Aguero (12) have been involved in more.

[CTID Hants]

TEAM NEWS @MCFC: Hart, Zabaleta, Kompany (C), Demichelis, Clichy, Navas, Fernandinho, Toure, Nasri, Jovetic, Aguero #cityvswans

[CTID Hants]

SUBS NEWS @MCFC: Caballero, Sagna, Mangala, Lampard, Fernando, Milner, Pozo #cityvswans


Nice to see Pozo on the bench

[Beefymcfc]

14:05

Captain Vincent Kompany returns in the centre of Manchester City's defence after missing the draw at QPR through injury. Edin Dzeko and Aleksandar Kolarov remain out with with calf injuries. Striker Sergio Aguero is hoping to continue his run of 13 goals in as many Premier League games.

Swansea's Nathan Dyer is back after injury, while midfielder Jonjo Shelvey has to settle for a place on the bench after a one-match ban. Defender Federico Fernandez misses out again with a calf problem, while Wayne Routledge remains out.

Man City XI: Hart, Zabaleta, Kompany, Demichelis, Clichy, Navas, Fernandinho, Toure, Nasri, Jovetic, Aguero. Subs. Caballero, Sagna, Mangala, Lampard, Fernando, Milner, Pozo.

Swansea XI: Fabianski, Rangel, Bartley, Williams, Taylor, Ki, Carroll, Sigurdsson, Dyer, Montero, Bony. Subs. Tremmel, Tiendalli, Amat, Britton, Shelvey, Gomis, Barrow.

[Beefymcfc]

Looks like we're hoping the partnership with Demi & Clichy is better than that with Mangala as I can't see where Pellers has looked to strengthen that side. Swansea will undoubtedly try to take advantage of that and I'm hoping he is better than he has been of late.

[phips]

not been a fan of Navas' performances all season but i guess keeping Milner fresh for Bayern after playing for England midweek is on Pellegrini's mind.

[Beefymcfc]

Come On The Blues!!!

[mr_nool]

COME ON CITY!

[Dameerto]

Zabba's got a skinhead.

[phips]

Zabba's got a skinhead.

only way to "hide" that's he balding

[Tokyo Blue]

Come on, Blues.

[Dameerto]

So, what's on TV then?

[phips]

i see we've found the same form from pre-international break

[FA cup winners 2006]

Seems as if nothing has changed since the international break. The same slack attitude apparent. Again we are attacked down the centre at will and cannot clear the ball

[Camebro]

Giving away goals like there's no tomorrow. Our defence is shaking more than a shitting dog.

[london blue 2]

Wait all that time for footy and 9 mins in and we're back to normal

[nottsblue]

Bugger. We will get beat today as Charlie Nicholas is covering the game and we always seem to lose when he does it. You could hear his scream of goooooaaaallll a mile away. Twat

[Cit.revenge]

How crap are we , slow ect

[Blackadder]

Bugger. We will get beat today as Charlie Nicholas is covering the game and we always seem to lose when he does it. You could hear his scream of goooooaaaallll a mile away. Twat

We'll get beat today because so far Swansea are a couple of notches above us in touch, technique, pace, passion and desire.