Manchester City kept the gap between themselves and Premier League leaders Chelsea at eight points as they came from behind to beat Swansea City 2-1.
City, third in the league, were stunned inside 10 minutes as Wilfried Bony chested down Nathan Dyer's sublime pass and finished calmly, but the defending champions levelled when Stevan Jovetic clipped in Jesus Navas' cross. City's Gael Clichy hit the bar before Yaya Toure latched on to Fernandinho's back heel to score the winner.
Bafetimbi Gomis poked wide for the visitors and Jonjo Shelvey's deflected free-kick was inches away from levelling in the dying seconds, The BBC reported.
City, who go up against Bayern Munich in the Champions League on Tuesday, move a point behind second-placed Southampton, who are in action on Monday at Aston Villa.
While they have not been at the top of their game, Manuel Pellegrini's side had only lost once in their previous eight league matches and started the day with two more points than they had at this stage in last season's title-winning campaign.
Swansea had lost only once in their last six league matches and knew victory at Etihad Stadium would take them level on points with their hosts. City striker Sergio Aguero had scored 13 goals in his last 13 Premier League games, but it was Swansea's Bony who made the first mark on the game with his fifth goal in six league matches.
Swansea had already won in Manchester this season, a 2-1 opening-day victory at United, but they were without a win on their travels in the Premier League since.
Jovetic prodded in the leveller from Navas' cross as the visitors yet again failed to record a win. The hosts then pushed for the lead as Aguero had a shot saved by Lukasz Fabianski, before Clichy's fierce 30-yard strike was tipped brilliantly onto the bar by the goalkeeper.
The breakthrough came when Toure combined with Fernandinho to finish low under Fabianski just past the hour mark.
City manager Manuel Pellegrini said that they played very well and had a lot of chances to score the third goal and defended well. He added that his side has to play seven games more before the end of December and they have to fight for all of them.
Swansea manager Garry Monk said that they are a little disappointed but City is a very good side and they had their chances. He added that his side had a couple of chances at the end they should have taken, adding that he is just very happy with the journey they are on.
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