The Ivorian linked up well with Fernandinho to help Manuel Pellegrini’s men come from a goal down to beat Garry Monk’s men at the Etihad Stadium

Yaya Toure was the match-winner as Manchester City emerged from their recent slump by coming from behind to beat Swansea City 2-1 at the Etihad Stadium.

The Premier League champions came into Saturday’s match with just one win from their last six matches in all competitions, and face Bayern Munich on Tuesday with their Champions League hopes hanging by a thread.

Wilfried Bony made the most of frailties among Manuel Pellegrini’s team by handing Swansea an early lead at the Etihad, but recalled forward Stevan Jovetic restored parity after 19 minutes.
Below-par performances from midfield talisman Toure have often defined City’s malaise this term, but the Ivory Coast international showcased his trademark combination of power and poise to net decisively 17 minutes into the second half.

Swansea boss Garry Monk used his substitutions shrewdly to craft a dramatic finish, with replacements Bafetimbi Gomis and Jonjo Shelvey agonisingly close to securing a share of the spoils.

Pellegrini’s men remain eight points behind leaders Chelsea, but close to within a point of Southampton before Ronald Koeman’s second-placed team travel to Aston Villa on Monday.

Captain Vincent Kompany returned from a calf problem for the home team but a similar complaint for Edin Dzeko meant Jovetic started in attack.

Shelvey had to settle for a place on the Swansea bench following a one-match suspension, while Nathan Dyer returned to the starting XI and the winger played a key role in the opening goal after nine minutes.

As it has been so often this season, the champions’ defensive vulnerability was on full display when Bony charged onto a return chipped pass from Dyer to coolly slot past Joe Hart.
There was little conviction in City’s response until Toure released Jesus Navas and the Spain winger fizzed in an excellent low right-wing cross to leave Jovetic with a simple finish to equalise.
Swansea defender Kyle Bartley was booked for a robust 23rd-minute tackle on Sergio Aguero before an aerial challenge between Kompany and Neil Taylor left the visiting full-back with a cut eye – two incidents that gave a feisty edge to an opening period that threatened to boil over when Bartley and Aguero clashed once more.

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The France international exchanged passes with Sammy Ameobi before firing home in the second half to give Alan Pardew’s in-form side their sixth win on the bounce

Stand-in captain Moussa Sissoko led by example for Newcastle United on Saturday, scoring 12 minutes from time to see off QPR in a 1-0 win.

The France international – skippering the side in place of injured Fabricio Coloccini – played a clever one-two with Sammy Ameobi before steering a 78th-minute strike home as Newcastle recorded a fifth straight Premier League victory for the first time since April 2012.

QPR had seemed on their way to a first away point of the season, as Harry Redknapp’s side stood firm for much of the game under plenty of Newcastle pressure.

As Alan Pardew saw his side toil against a resolute backline, he also watched on as Ryan Taylor – who made his first top-flight start in 32 months – limp off with what seemed like another knee problem in the first half.

However, Sissoko was the man to lift spirits around St James’ Park on what would have been a frustrating day, scoring his first Premier League goal of the season.

Another three points for Newcastle move them up to fourth, while QPR slip back to the foot of the table thanks to Burnley’s surprise 2-1 win at Stoke City.

Rob Green’s sloppy clearance almost deflected off Jack Colback and in for Newcastle after six minutes during a keenly contested opening period.

And Pardew, who brought in Taylor and Mike Williamson for injured pair Mehdi Abeid and Coloccini, saw his side continue to threaten with Remy Cabella having Newcastle’s first shot on target.

The Frenchman’s tame effort was easily saved, though, before Charlie Austin muscled Paul Dummett off the ball and fired wide on a rare foray forward from QPR.

Taylor tested Green with two long-range strikes while Massadio Haidara’s effort was blocked well by Richard Dunne before Taylor’s involvement was cruelly cut short.

The former Wigan Athletic man limped off visibly upset having appearing to hurt his right knee, dampening the hosts’ mood after what had been a largely positive half for the hosts.

Matters were almost made worse for Pardew when Dunne’s looping header needed tipping over by Tim Krul shortly before the interval.

Newcastle began the second half in positive fashion, continuing to deliver dangerous crosses, although QPR were able to deal with the aerial threat well.

Joey Barton – making his return to St James’ Park for the first time since leaving Newcastle in 2011- almost found Austin with a lofted ball before Redknapp saw close-season signing Sandro collide with team-mate Yun Suk-young.

The Brazilian also made his return to action recently following a long-term knee injury but, like Taylor, was forced off.

Pardew’s injury concerns were heightened further when full-back Daryl Janmaat was forced off late on, but skipper Sissoko ensured yet another win when he rounded off a slick move.

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Jose Mourinho’s side cruised past the Baggies, whose afternoon was made all the more difficult after Claudio Yacob’s first-half red card for a two-footed lunge on Spain star Costa

Diego Costa was on target yet again as Chelsea beat 10-man West Brom 2-0 to go seven points clear at the top of the Premier League.

Costa and Cesc Fabregas were named in the starting line-up after missing Spain’s clashes with Belarus and Germany due to hamstring problems and played key roles as Chelsea’s ominous start to the season continued.

Jose Mourinho had complained of a lack of atmosphere after the last home game against QPR, but the Stamford Bridge faithful were again given plenty to shout about on Saturday.

Striker Costa scored his 11th goal in 10 top-flight games and Eden Hazard was also on target in the first half as Mourinho’s side made it six Premier League wins out of six at Stamford Bridge.

West Brom had struggled to live with the London club even before Claudio Yacob was shown a straight red card for a challenge on Costa, when he won the ball but appeared to go in with two feet.

Chelsea were in complete control throughout as they caused Alan Irvine’s side all sorts of problems in a one-sided encounter that saw the home side extend their lead over second-placed Southampton, who play Aston Villa on Monday.

Yacob and Chris Baird made their first league starts of the season for Albion, while Craig Gardner and Stephane Sessegnon returned to the starting line-up.

West Brom were caught napping when Chelsea took a short corner in the fifth minute, but Ben Foster produced a fine save with his feet to deny John Terry from close range after Hazard had picked the captain out.

Foster was unable to prevent the hosts taking the lead six minutes later, though, as Oscar picked out the unmarked Costa with a fine cross from the left and the striker showed great composure to control the ball on his chest and volley beyond the England goalkeeper.

Chelsea were brimming with confidence and Foster made a stunning double save to keep out Oscar’s long-range drive and the lively Costa following up.

West Brom were again made to pay for more dreadful defending after 25 minutes, when Fabregas rolled a corner to the unmarked Hazard and the Belgium winger was allowed far too much time to take a touch and fire under Foster.

Things went from bad to worse for the visitors four minutes later, as Yacob was shown a straight red card for a challenge on Costa when he got the ball first, but referee Lee Mason deemed the tackle to be dangerous.

The marauding Branislav Ivanovic was unable to square the ball into Costa’s path with the goal gaping after racing onto a precise Fabregas pass, then Foster did well to thwart Costa, Oscar and Hazard as Chelsea breached the Albion defence all too easily.

Nemanja Matic ought to have added a third goal just after half-time, but volleyed over from inside the six-yard box after he was also left unmarked.

It was a case of damage limitation for Albion and Ivanovic could only tamely volley wide of the far post as Chelsea attempted to enhance their goal difference, but the two first-half efforts proved sufficient as the hosts again showed why they are such strong favourites to win the title.

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