Savvy Swansea can hold Aguero-less Man City in Wales
Published:Man City are in merciless mood as they enter 2014, winning 10 of their last 11 games in all competitions, but Swansea, despite their miserable form, should be able to take a share of the spoils in south Wales.
The Citizens are warm 8/13 favourites, with their hosts a lengthy 9/2 for victory, but a hearty 3/1 about a repeat of last year’s Liberty Stadium deadlock looks the canniest wager.
Swansea fans could forgiven for dreading the visit of Manuel Pellegrini’s side given the Welshmen have won just two of their last 15 games.
However, during that period only two of their seven home matches saw the away side take the laurels.
Furthermore four of those matches saw honours even and five of them saw the Swans allow their guests a goal or less.
Michael Laudrup’s men can take further heart from the way City’s lust for the net has waned since Sergio Aguero’s injury.
Although they rustled the onion bag on four occasions at Fulham, this was a Cottagers team subsequently spanked 6-0 by the usually toothless Hull City.
Since then they’ve been limited to an Etihad brace against Liverpool and notched just once against a Crystal Palace side infused with Tony Pulis-trademarked obstinacy.
The stout Argentinian notched five goals in his last five away trips for the Citizens and his superb form and flair for the unusual have been vital to them shrugging off their early-season road-bottlers tag.
Without Aguero’s goals on their Premier League travels City would have garnered five less points from their last five away fixtures.
The Swans have already proved in going down 1-0 at Stamford Bridge that they are possessed of the mettle to frustrate quality sides missing a vital, not so secret ingredient.
Indeed they shut out City in a 0-0 at Liberty Stadium stalemate last term– a repeat can be backed at 14/1 – and can even draw on the emboldening memory of a home win against their illustrious visitors.
The Swans were one of just five sides to best the Manchester mob during their title-winning 2011/12 campaign.
All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing.
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