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When the game finally got underway, City had by far the better of the opening exchanges.
Quick thinking saw Andy Dawson play a through ball for Danny Allsopp, but his lob hit the side netting.
Swansea defender Richard Duffy then almost turned into his own net as Stuart Green crossed, but it went just over the bar.
Ben Burgess made a chance out of nothing on the edge of the box, and Roger Freestone just tipped over his overhead lob from underneath the bar.
Stuart Elliott could have done better with a 25th minute shot after a breakaway, but he found the net a minute later for the opener. Andy Dawson's outswinging corner from the left was met by Elliott's head from six yards out and he thumped it past Freestone to the delight of the 20,903 crowd.
Swansea hit back with Mark Wilson having a long-range shot parried out a minute later, but City held on until the break.
The visitors gave City a scare two minutes into the second half when Andy Robinson's shot went over Paul Musselwhite and hit the woodwork.
Freestone saved a Danny Allsopp header, but Swansea came close twice more. The ball was played to Lee Trundle in the box, but a combination of Justin Whittle and Paul Musselwhite just saw the ball out, then minutes later a crossed free kick from Mark Wilson hit the post.
However - despite their pressure - an equaliser looked less likely when Swansea had a player sent off 9 minutes from time. Stuart Elliott had the ball by the corner flag, and Richard Duffy swiped at his ankles. The referee instantly showed him a straight red card, despite his earlier booking.
Some desperate defending made sure that the 10 men were unable to find a way to Musselwhite's goal, and so the 1-0 win puts City two points clear of the Swans at the top of the table.
City line-up (4-4-2): Musselwhite; Hinds, Whittle, Delaney, Dawson; Price, Green, Ashbee, Elliott (Holt 84); Burgess, Allsopp.
Un-used subs: Fettis, Keates, France, Forrester.