Kelechi Iheanacho sent Manchester City back to the top of the Premier League with a fortuitous injury-time winner against managerless Swansea in a dramatic finish at The Etihad Stadium.
After Wilfried Bony had given the home side a first-half lead against his former club, Swansea looked to have deservedly earned their caretaker boss Alan Curtis a point with a powerful finish after 90 minutes by Bafetimbi Gomis.
But Yaya Toure proved a late, late saviour for Manuel Pellegrini’s side when he cut inside three defenders and curled a finish that bounced off Iheanacho’s back and beyond goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski.
It left Swansea particularly aggrieved as Gylfi Sigurdsson had also had a goal disallowed in controversial circumstances.
Curtis made three changes from the 3-0 home defeat against Leicester, a result that ultimately cost Garry Monk his job after a run of one win in 11 games.
But in monsoon conditions – a match at League One Oldham eight miles away was postponed – Swansea started encouragingly for their new interim boss.
As Manchester City threw bodies forward, Jack Cork nearly undid them on the break with a clever pass that released Wayne Routledge with only Hart to beat. The Swansea winger attempted a low finish but the ‘keeper had narrowed the angle sufficiently and blocked with his legs.
The home side can be brilliant, as in the midweek Champions League win against Borussia Monchendladbach, or dire, like last weekend’s hapless defeat at Stoke.
It wasn’t terribly good for the opening 20 minutes this time either. The only test for Lukasz Fabianski was a scuffed shot from Bony against his former club and even that was comfortable.
David Silva, recently returned from injury, tried to pull the strings in midfield but it was clear Manchester City were missing the runs of Aguero, out for a fourth consecutive time with a heel injury.
One area where Bony does score over the Argentine is in the air and after 27 minutes, he used his head to put Manchester City ahead.
Manchester were awarded a corner and from an inswinger by Jesus Navas, the Ivorian lost Ashley Williams to find room inside the penalty area and stooped to bury his header from six yards.
In true modern tradition, he didn’t celebrate properly in front of his old team-mates, ‘out of respect’. He allowed himself the tiniest of clenched fists but no smile. Daily Mail.