Swansea can derail Man City’s title charge with a handicap

Manchester City’s win percentage with David Silva starting this season stands at an imposing 87 per cent, but without their chief creator, it drops to a fairly average 54 per cent.

With Silva suspended for the trip to Swansea after picking up five yellow cards and the Liberty Stadium not being Man City’s happiest hunting ground at the best of times, the Premier League title favourites look primed to drop points in Wales.

Sunderland must certainly be counted as one of Man City’s biggest bogey teams, as after three successive 1-0 defeats at the Stadium of Light, the Citizens fell to another identical defeat earlier this season.

Man City have not even managed to score, let alone win, at Swansea in their two Premier League visits, so it is a surprise to see them as short as 4/7 for victory, especially as they have still not triumphed in back-to-back away games under Manuel Pellegrini either in the top-flight.

Pellegrini’s men have hardly been convincing in their past two home games either, so a return to the road, where they have been previously inconsistent, without both Silva and Sergio Aguero is a recipe for dropped points.

Swansea themselves are without their own leading Spaniard, as Michu is still injured and their recent form of six games without a win in all competitions does not breed great confidence that they can beat Man City.

Yet, 9/2 for a Swansea victory is an appetising price, although the draw at 3/1 does have some added appeal, as this has been the result in three of Swansea’s last five at home.

But, the best bet may prove the 23/20 that Swansea win if profiting from a one-goal handicap, which effectively means a Swansea win or draw will see the bet successful.