Manchester City welcomed Swansea City to the Etihad Stadium today knowing that another home win would see them close the gap on league leaders Arsenal to six points.
An early Alvaro Negredo goal put Man City on their way, but Swansea came back at them and should have equalised before half time, but Jonathan De Guzman fired over the bar.
That cost the away side, as Samir Nasri struck twice in the second half to wrap up a deserved win.
Read how it unfolded below with our live text coverage.
Hello and thank you for joining us this afternoon. I don't know about you, fellow football fans, but I love Sunday afternoon matches.
So, Swansea City travel to Manchester for what should be a great game. I have a feeling we will be seeing lots of goals today. Fingers crossed that's not the commentator's curse.
The team news is in. Let's start with Manchester City...
MANCHESTER CITY XI: Pantilimon; Zabaleta, Lescott, Demichelis, Clichy; Fernandinho, Yaya Toure, Navas, Nasri; Negredo, Aguero
SWANSEA CITY XI: Tremmel; Tiendalli, Chico Flores, Williams, Davies; Canas, de Guzman, Shelvey, Pozuelo, Hernandez; Vazquez
The big news for the home side is that Joe Hart again sits out, as Pantilimon lines up between the sticks. Joleon Lescott is also in for the injured Matija Nastasic. What do you make of that, home fans?
Swansea are missing Michu and Wilfried Bony through injury, so Alvaro Vazquez leads the line. Somewhat surprisingly, Michel Vorm is on the bench.
For much of his time at Swansea, Vorm was brilliant in goal. However, Laudrup has instead opted for Tremmel as he seeks a way to keep out City's lethal strikeforce.
Whether or not he can is another matter entirely. Manuel Pellegrini's side have been devastating in front of goal this season, averaging 2.83 goals per game.
They have scored 34 in the league, 10 of which have come from the in-form Sergio Aguero. The Argentine striker has struck up a strong partnership with Alvaro Negredo, who has five league goals to his name.
Samir Nasri has also flourished under the management of Pellegrini, demonstrating the type of form that made him such a feared player at Arsenal.
City's demolition of Tottenham was a masterclass in attacking football, but they are still only 6th in the league - proving that they are vulnerable.
They have lost four matches, as many as West Brom in 12th. The issue for Pellegrini has been their away form. In six matches away from the Etihad, City have won only once, and scored just eight.
Swansea, meanwhile, are stronger on their travels than they are at home. They sit 5th in the away table with nine points. A bit like City, the Swans have struggled for goals on the road, notching just six.
Michael Laudrup is missing Michu and Bony today, which is undoubtedly a huge blow to Swansea's chances of leaving Manchester with at least a point.
Just 30 minutes to go before kickoff. Here are the Swansea players making their way out for the warm up.
The Swansea team make their way out for warm-ups as we near 30 minutes to go #cityvswansea #mcfc pic.twitter.com/BKcBUkzhOW
— Manchester City FC (@MCFC) December 1, 2013
I wonder how confident the away fans are? There's no doubt that today is a huge test, but if the Swans were to score first, it could be interesting.
It will be intriguing to see how Swansea approach this one. With their two main attacking threats missing, will Laudrup instruct his players to be uber-conservative? Or, will he risk leaving spaces that City could exploit? Hmm, looking at City's team and their recent home form, I'd have to say my money is on the first.
On the other hand, it's easy to predict that Manchester City will look to attack whenever they can. However, after the win against Plzen in the Champions League, Pellegrini said that his team were working on their defensive problems. "Plzen did not just score two goals but they had more chances. We are working every day in that sense," he told reporters.
UPDATE Hull have beaten Liverpool 3-1 at the KC Stadium. It was 1-1 at the break, but a strike from David Meyler and a Martin Skrtel own goal have secured a great win for Steve Bruce's men.
That result at the KC means that the Blues can jump to 3rd with a win today.
The clock is ticking and we are now under 10 minutes away from kickoff. There's just enough time to get the kettle on.
PREDICTION The players are in the tunnel, so here's my match prediction. Taking into account Man City's home form, I think they will come out on top today, 3-1.
REFEREE WATCH Today's ref is Mark Clattenburg, who is yet to use his red card in seven matches.
KICKOFF Here we go then. Man City get us underway.
CHANCE! That didn't take long! Negredo flicks the ball into the path of Aguero, but his shot is comfortably saved by Tremmel.
Swansea's passing looks sharp early on, as they ping it around midfield.
Apart from that chance in the first 30 seconds, Man City have been mostly chasing the ball. The Swans, as you might expect, are more than happy to play it from side to side.
SAVE! This is a decent stop from Tremmel. The ball is played to Negredo just outside the area and he hammers a low show at Tremmel's goal. However, the goalkeeper is able to get down and push it away.
GOAL! MANCHESTER CITY 1-0 SWANSEA CITY (NEGREDO)
Man City have started to take control of this match and they are rewarded with the first goal of the afternoon. Canas fouls Negredo about 25 yards from goal, and the striker picks himself up to curl a free kick around the wall and past Tremmel.
That was a lovely finish from Negredo. He didn't hammer the ball, just side-footed it into the net.
SAVE! A good response from Swansea ends with Pantilimon tipping away Jonjo Shelvey's blast from outside the area.
GREAT SAVE! Pantilimon saves Man City again, and again it is Shelvey who is denied. The Swansea man is given far too much room outside the box and with no home defender near him, decides to try his luck. Pantilimon does well to keep it out, however.
Looking at the replay, that was a sweet strike from Shelvey. Since the goal, the away side have looked very confident on the ball and are causing Man City problems.
MISS! A few groans go around the Etihad as Swansea go close to equalising. Shelvey breaks and finds Vasquez just inside the penalty area. However, his shot is poor and it goes wide. That was a very good chance for the visitors.
There's no doubt about it, at the moment this looks it will be a difficult afternoon for Man City.
The home side are starting to increase their intensity again, but they haven't tested Tremmel since the goal.
HITS THE BAR! Now they have! Nasri does well in midfield to find Aguero, but Tremmel pushes the ball out for a corner. The cross comes in and Demichelis thumps a header against the bar, with Aguero unable to score from the rebound.
Swansea appeal for a penalty as Hernandez goes down following a challenge by Demichelis. Clattenburg says no, but it did look as if Hernandez was being held back there.
Man City try to counter, but Aguero's pass into the box is intercepted by a defender. Now Swansea have a corner...
That is cleared by Pantilimon and Man City win the free kick.
SAVE! Shelvey has been a thorn in City's side for most of this half. This time he cuts in and finds De Guzman, who steadies himself and fires straight at Pantilimon.
There is so much space in the middle of the park for players to work in, but again the Swans are unable to free Vasquez after good play from Tiendalli down the right.
WHAT A CHANCE! Oh my! It should be 1-1! De Guzman does brilliantly to nutmeg Demichelis, but, with just Pantilimon to beat, he smashes over. What a great chance.
HALF TIME: MAN CITY 1-0 SWANSEA CITY
I'm not sure how De Guzman missed that, but he did, and Man City go into the break 1-0 up.
Let's take a look at the stats from the first half. Swansea had 59% of possession and five shots compared to Man City's six. On the balance of play, you'd have to say that the away side should probably be level.
Michael Laudrup must surely be pleased with how his players responded to going behind after only eight minutes. Considering how Man City have been playing at home, the Swans could have collapsed. They didn't, and arguably have been the better team since.
Jonjo Shelvey, in particular, has looked very lively. He had two decent shots saved by Pantilimon and was useful in possession.
If you missed any of the first-half action, then have a read of our half-time report.
KICKOFF We're off in the second half. Can Swansea get the goal their play has deserved?
Negredo almost gets clear, but his first touch lets him down and Tremmel runs out to smash the ball clear.
YELLOW CARD Aguero is booked for handball after Navas crosses in from the right. Correct decision.
SAVE! A simple save for Pantilimon here. De Guzman shows a good turn of pace to get into the box, but his shot from a tight angle is easily saved. At least he was on target with that one!
MISS! Almost a lovely goal for Man City. A high ball over the top finds Aguero, whose first touch is sublime. Tremmel comes out, and the striker just pushes the ball too far wide and places his shot against the side netting.
Ouch. That is not nice viewing. Aguero and Tiendalli both go for the ball, but the City man comes off worse with an arm to the head. It looks bad, but Aguero is back up.
GOAL! MANCHESTER CITY 2-0 SWANSEA CITY (NASRI)
Oh yes, Samir Nasri. Toure drives forward and slips a lovely pass to Nasri, who beats a defender before placing the ball past Tremmel. A classy team goal for 2-0.
SWANSEA SUB Hernandez makes way for Routledge moments after blazing a shot over the bar.
MAN CITY SUB The home side also make a change as Negredo comes off for Milner.
Man City have been the better team since the break, but you feel that they need a third goal to secure the points.
MISS! And they nearly had it! Tremmel makes a mess of a clearance, firing the ball along the floor to Toure. His pass is then blocked, but the ball breaks to Zabaleta who curls a left-foot shot over from outside the box.
OVER THE BAR! It really should be all over. This time Milner makes space for a cross down the left and delivers the ball into the centre. It falls for Aguero, but the ball is bouncing and his shot goes over from a few yards.
CLOSE! Aguero is at the heart of another City chance, and his drive towards goal has Tremmel scurrying to his right
MAN CITY SUB Pellegrini makes another change as Kolarov comes on for Navas.
GOAL! MAN CITY 3-0 SWANSEA CITY (NASRI)
This is a wonderful team goal and wonderful finish by Nasri, who gets his second of the match. James Milner gives it to Zabaleta on the overlap, he then picks out Nasri, who fires into the corner with his left foot.
You have to say that Man City have been the better team in the second half. They have looked sharp on the ball, and to be honest, it could be more than three.
MISS! There are so many options when the home team go forward. Fernandinho clips a pass to Kolarov on the left in plenty of space, but his shot is too high and Tremmel watches it fly over the bar.
MAN CITY SUB Just after that third goal Aguero came off for Edin Dzeko.
SO CLOSE! Nasri is inches away from getting his third of the afternoon. Dzeko, who has only been on the pitch for a few minutes, has so much time and space and slips the ball to Nasri, who moves into the middle before curling a shot inches past the post.
CHANCE! Swansea just want this one to end now as Fernandinho hammers a shot over the bar from inside the box. However, on closer inspection it looks as if Tremmel got a faint touch to it. In that case, it's a good save.
FULL TIME: MAN CITY 3-0 SWANSEA CITY
The whistle goes at the Etihad and it's another home win for Man City. They were comfortable in the second half, but that miss from De Guzman at the end of the first was crucial.
Overall, Pellegrini will be delighted with another win, but there were signs in the first half that City are vulnerable in defence. On another day, that could have cost them.
UPDATE Chelsea have beaten Southampton 3-1, which means that Man City are third in the Premier League. Swansea drop to 13th.
It was great afternoon for Samir Nasri.
2 - Samir Nasri has scored more than once in a PL game for the first time since Dec 4 2010 (for Arsenal v Fulham). Stroll.
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) December 1, 2013
Give credit to Swansea for the way they played in the first half, but they couldn't handle it when Man City moved through the gears.
That's all we've got time for today. Thanks for joining us here at Sports Mole for what was a very enjoyable 90 minutes of football. Good evening!
Written by
Gary Peters
Gary Peters
