Manchester City vs Swansea: Yaya Toure is 'improving with every game', says Manuel Pellegrini

Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini felt Yaya Toure had delivered an important message after firing the champions to victory over Swansea.

Toure powered forward in typical fashion to drive home City's winner as they came from behind to win 2-1 in a tight Barclays Premier League tussle at the Etihad Stadium.

Toure, City's midfield driving force last season, has been below par for much of the current campaign but his latest performance, particularly in the second half, hinted at a return to form.

His influential performance secured a crucial victory as City prevented leaders Chelsea from extending their eight-point advantage over them.

Pellegrini said: "I think it is important for Yaya.

"He played for his national squad on Wednesday, so he played two games in a week, and maybe he was tired - but he had the personality and the character to try to continue playing until the end. I think he played very well.

"But we cannot analyse all (the time) with Yaya if he scores or doesn't. It is impossible for Yaya to score again the amount of goals he scored last season. That was not normal. He is not a striker, he is a midfielder.

"But it is important for him to score the way he did today, and it is important for him to play well. I think Yaya is improving with every game."

City fell behind as Toure's Ivory Coast international team-mate Wilfried Bony struck after just nine minutes for Swansea.

Stevan Jovetic equalised 10 minutes later and drove a shot against the post, via a fingertip save from Lukasz Fabianski, as City upped the tempo.

Pressure paid off as Toure netted just after the hour but Swansea almost snatched a late equaliser as Bafetimbi Gomis stabbed wide and a deflected Jonjo Shelvey free-kick went close to creeping in.

The win also provided a timely morale boost ahead of Tuesday's crucial Champions League clash with Bayern Munich.

Pellegrini said: "I think we played very well today.

"We started 1-0 behind but we had the trust to continue playing.

"We had a lot of chances to score and finally we won this game against a very good team that played very well.

"It is very important for the Premier League. We have to add more points and, after that, for the team it is always better to arrive in the Champions league, against as difficult a team as Bayern Munich, winning and not losing."

Swansea boss Garry Monk was pleased with the performance of his side but was disappointed they could not claim a draw.

Monk said: "It is the minimum requirement for my team - to make sure we compete for 90 minutes and we did that. We did that very well today against a very good side. It shows how far we have come to come off that pitch disappointed.

"They had some very good chances but the chances we had at the end we should have taken and possibly got a point, but it wasn't to be.

"Our shape was very good and throughout the game we competed very well. We were always in the game.

"Let's not forget who we were playing. They have world-class individuals all over the pitch but we put on a performance that would normally have got us a point."

Swansea defender Neil Taylor was cut above the eye after a clash with City captain Vincent Kompany in the first half. He had to wear a bandage and later received stitches but Monk played down any potential controversy over the collision.

He said: "I think Neil is better looking now. Some scars will do him good! He took a nasty bump to the eye. It was quite swollen at half-time. I didn't see the actual challenge but I don't think there was any malice or intent there. Neil was fine in the changing room. He didn't mention anything untoward. He'll be fine."

PA