15/05/2016 14:00 v Manchester City

19th June

The Swans came from behind to earn a 1-1 draw with Manchester City as the curtain came down on the 2015-16 Premier League season.

After Kelechi Iheanacho had given the visitors an early lead at the Liberty Stadium, Andre Ayew equalised on the cusp of half-time through a deflected free-kick.

Iheanacho put Manuel Pellegrini’s side in front inside five minutes when he tapped home from close range after Sergio Aguero’s initial effort was parried by Kristoffer Nordfeldt.

The Citizens paid the price for missed chances when Ayew levelled the scores on the brink of half-time when his free-kick from 25 yards took a big deflection off Fernando before nestling into the corner of the net.

The hard-earned point means the Swans finish the season in 12th position with 47 points.

The visitors went in front when Iheanacho netted inside five minutes.

Iheanacho tapped home from close range after Aguero’s initial shot was parried by Nordfeldt.

But four minutes later, the Swans thought they had equalised when Angel Rangel’s deep cross was met at the far post by Jefferson Montero. The Ecuadorian bundled home but was penalised for a foul on Bacary Sagna.

The Swans, though, were causing problems for themselves by gifting possession to the away side. Iheanacho had opportunities to punish Francesco Guidolin’s side but was equally wasteful.

Manchester City continued to probe midway through the first half as Nordfeldt had to show quick reactions to deny Kevin De Bruyne and Aguero, while Jesus Navas squandered a good half-chance on the breakaway, curling wide of the target when de Bruyne was in space.

On the cusp of half-time, however, the Swans levelled when Ayew’s free-kick from 25 yards took a big deflection off Fernando, which totally deceived Joe Hart and nestled into the corner of the net.

The Citizens almost restored their lead two minutes after the restart when Eliaquim Mangala rose high in the box to meet de Bruyne’s inviting delivery, only to see his header narrowly clear the crossbar.

At the other end, Federico Fernandez suffered a similar fate when Stephen Kingsley’s deep corner found the head of the Argentinian centre-back.

As was the case in the first half, the visitors dominated possession but lacked cutting edge in the final third as the unusually quiet Aguero scuffed wide a glorious chance when the ball fell kindly for him inside the Swans box in the 68th minute.

Then, in the 72nd minute, Iheanacho saw a similar chance go begging after finding space in between Swansea's pair of centre-backs but took too much time on the ball and sliced his effort over the bar under pressure from Fernandez.

The Swans looked a threat on the counter-attack following the introduction of Modou Barrow, but neither side managed to find the elusive winner.

 

 

SWANS: Kristoffer Nordfeldt, Angel Rangel, Federico Fernandez, Jordi Amat, Stephen Kingsley, Leon Britton (capt), Jack Cork, Leroy Fer, Wayne Routledge, Jefferson Montero, Andre Ayew.

SUBS: Josh Vickers, Kyle Naughton, Jay Fulton, Kenji Gorre, Modou Barrow, Marvin Emnes. Bafe Gomis.

MAN CITY: Joe Hart, Bacary Sagna, Nicolas Otamendi, Eliaquim Mangala, Gael Clichy, Jesus Navas, Fernando, Fernandinho, Kevin De Bruyne, Kelechi Iheanacho, Sergio Aguero.

SUBS: Willy Caballero, Raheem Sterling, Samir Nasri, Aleksandar Kolarov, Wilfried Bony, Martin Demichelis, Yaya Toure.