Swansea City were coming into this game with Alan Curtis taking over as interim manager of the club, after the club parted ways with former-manager Garry Monk on Wednesday.
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Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini says winning the Premier League is more important than success in Europe.
Meanwhile Odion Ighalo’s 10th Premier League goal of the season proved decisive as Watford made the most of a breathtaking start at the Stadium of Light to beat Sunderland 1-0.
But he was adamant that his team can climb the table, with the Swans a point above the relegation zone and poised to appoint a new manager before their home game against West Ham on 20 December. And while every champion since the millennium has recorded at least 80 points, Pellegrini thinks that could change this season.
Sigurdsson forced Joe Hart to turn his effort over following good work down the right from Wayne Routledge, but Swansea’s efforts in keeping City at bay were undone shortly after the midway point in the first half.
But because of the lower points tally, Pellegrini expects plenty of competition for the title, explaining: “It will be one of the closest [races]”.
City move top on goal difference, above previous leaders Leicester City – who host champions Chelsea on Monday – but could be joined on 32 points by Manchester United, who visit Bournemouth later on Saturday.
“It’s important to keep a clean sheet but it’s also important for the team to win this kind of game”, added Pellegrini, who was unhappy that City gave up the late goal in a sub-par performance. City have kept seven clean sheets in the eight Premier League games the Belgian has played this season.
“But it is three important points”.
Substitute Bafetimbi Gomis levelled for Swansea as he lashed into the top corner at the near post in the final minute of normal time.
Even after Bony’s goal City remained an accident waiting to happen at the back, a bullet header from Andre Ayew just inches away while shortly after the break Hart’s chest formed an impenetrable barrier when Sigurdsson once again threatened.
The Spanish magician has just recently returned from injury and has already returned to scoring ways in the Champions League and will look to do so now in the Premier League as well.
“I knew before this game it would be hard”.
Wilfried Bony, signed from Swansea for £28m last January, had given Pellegrini’s team a 26th-minute lead when Ashley Williams lost him from a Jesús Navas corner and he headed in his seventh goal this season.
Only a week ago Manchester City had been beaten easily at Stoke City.
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Joe Hart had a good game for City as he saved a couple of shots and headers from Swansea stars especially the impressive Gylfi Sigurdsson.
