Saturday 12th December Kickoff: 1500hrs
Manchester City v Swansea City
Football – England – Premier League
Saturday will be the first game Swansea contest without Garry Monk in the charge for over 20 months, following his sacking earlier this week. For caretaker manager Alan Curtis, it could hardly be a stiffer test as he takes his struggling group of players to a Manchester City side who qualified top of their Champions League group, in midweek. With a new man expected to be appointed soon, it may only be a fleeting experience for Curtis, but it will be one the Swansea legend will want to ensure it is a positive one.
Despite inconsistency plaguing their every move thus far this season, Manchester City are still only three points off the top, in the last 16 of the Champions League and have a League Cup semi-final to look forward at the beginning of 2016. It has certainly not been vintage City – at least on a regular basis – but they have shown glimpses and still look well capable of turning what has been a pretty ridiculous season into a successful one. Their first objective is to start a run of winning games in the league, which has been a huge issue for them recently. Last weekend’s loss to Stoke means it is now just two wins in their last six league games – not the sort of form that you expect from a team who looked so dominant in the early stages of the campaign. With five consecutive league games to come, it is the perfect time for the blue half of Manchester to make a statement for the months ahead.
During the last international break I looked ahead to the coming months of the Premier League season and alluded to the struggles that seemed to be building at Swansea. At that time, they were still comfortably in mid-table but the vultures were beginning to circle around Monk. Since resuming, it has been all downhill with two defeats and one draw. Combine that with what has went before means it is now five games since Swansea recorded a win in the Premier League – dating all the way back to October. The mid-table security that they once enjoyed looks to be a distant memory and they are now just one point outside the relegation zone and amongst a group of clubs separated by just three points, illustrating how tight the bottom of the Premier League is at the moment.
There have been more goals scored at the Etihad in eight Premier League games this season, than the whole of Manchester United’s league campaign. It is such a contrast between the two clubs but arguably they are both at extremes, at the moment. City have to find a way to play winning football, without the constant stream of goals against. The absence of Vincent Kompany and the impact that has had on their defence has been well documented, and the City captain will miss out once again on Saturday.
It has been quite the fall from grace for Swansea over the last few months, having finished in eighth place last season – the highest they have ever finished – to where they are now. One major issue has been the lack of goals which has been a problem for them all season. The sale of Wilfried Bony in January – ironically enough, to City – may not have had an immediate impact as the team initially coped without his goals, however there has been a delayed effect and the return of 14 goals is the second worst in the Premier League. With January just around the corner, it would be no surprise to see them strengthen their striking options.
Manchester City v Swansea City Betting Tips
Since winning promotion to the Premier League, Swansea have managed just one win in eight meetings between the two – with City winning all of the other seven. Can they add to their solitary win tomorrow? It’s unlikely. As inconsistent as Manchester City have been, they have been pretty formidable at home. The five games in which they have played teams in the bottom half of the table, the aggregate score reads 18-3 and I would be surprised if they are unable to add to that emphatic tally.
Sergio Aguero may well be missing from the attack but this is the sort of game where Bony can enjoy himself. With supply coming from Raheem Sterling, David Silva and Kevin De Bruyne, it could be a long afternoon for a Swansea defence that has not kept a clean sheet on the road all season. It would not be a massive surprise to see City concede (they have done so in six of their eight league games at home), but rather than trust a misfiring Swansea attack and go for both teams to score, I would suggest Over 3.5 goals. The bet would have landed in four of the last five league games at the Etihad.
Over 3.5 goals 29/20 @ Betfair
