Garry Monk: Swansea 'should have taken a point' at Man City

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Media caption,

Swansea can compete with best - Monk

Swansea City manager Garry Monk was disappointed not to come away from Premier League champions Manchester City with a point.

Wilfried Bony gave Swansea a 10th minute lead but goals from Stevan Jovetic and Yaya Toure saw City secure a 2-1 win.

Monk was pleased with his side's performance but rued missed chances that could have secured a draw.

"It shows how far we have come to come off that pitch disappointed," he said.

Victory at the Etihad Stadium would have taken Swansea level on points with their hosts and Bony, who has signed a new contract extension, gave them the perfect start inside the opening 10 minutes.

Jovetic equalised 10 minutes later before Toure latched on to Fernandinho's back heel to score the winner in the second half.

Swansea could have salvaged a point but Bafetimbi Gomis poked wide and Jonjo Shelvey's deflected free-kick was inches away from levelling in the dying seconds.

"We competed very well against a very good side," Monk added.

Image source, Getty Images
Image caption,

Wilfried Bony celebrates after giving Swansea the lead at Manchester City

"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.

"We defended very well. Against teams like this you have to do some last ditch defending, which we did, but we were always in the game.

"At the end we should have taken our chances and taken a point."

The Swans lost 4-0 at Manchester City in their first Premier League game in 2011 and are still seeking their first win at the Etihad Stadium.

But Monk says he is pleased with his side's progress this season and their performances against the Premier League's top sides.

"Hopefully we're closing that gap more and more as each game goes by with these clubs," Monk added.

"Hopefully in the future we can really compete and take points regularly off these teams.

"Let's not forget everyone wrote us off at the start of the season and saying we're not good enough to be in this league.

"To be competing for 90 minutes against a team that will be competing to win the title shows how far we have come and what quality we do have.

"There's things we need to work on of course but we're getting better and better as the season goes on."

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