Manchester
City moved level on points with Chelsea at the top of the Premier
League after goals from David Silva and Yaya Toure sunk Crystal Palace
at the Etihad Stadium.
City,
playing without a striker, missed a host of chances during the first
half but the Premier League champions’ dominance eventually paid off as
Silva helped himself to two second-half goals before Toure rounded
things off with 10 minutes to go.
James
McArthur had a header wrongly ruled out for offside for the visitors
midway through the second half but in truth Manuel Pellegrini’s side ran
out comfortable winners as they searched for a fourth goal to send them
top of the league on goal difference.
They
did not find the goal they needed to top the table but the champions
sent out a warning in the title race as they stretched their winning run
to eight matches in all competitions.
Pellegrini
started the afternoon fielding a team without a recognised striker
after injuries ruled out regular trio Sergio Aguero, Stevan Jovetic and
Edin Dzeko. James Milner was used as an emergency striker with Silva and
Samir Nasri providing support to the England international.
Palace
made two changes, with Jason Puncheon and Fraizer Campbell coming in
for Wilfried Zaha and the injured Marouane Chamakh, and it was the
Eagles who made a positive start at the Etihad.
Neil
Warnock’s side forced an early corner which Joe Hart, fresh from
signing a new five-year deal, needed to punch clear in commanding
fashion.
Just
minutes later City produced their first chance of the match after an
intricate passing move released Pablo Zabaleta down the right, but Nasri
could not convert the full-back’s cut back.
Pellegrini’s
men were starting to tighten their grip on the game with Fernandinho
and Nasri going close with long-range efforts, however the visitors
looked dangerous on the break through the speedy Yannick Bolasie.
In
the 15th minute, the DR Congo international breezed past Zabaleta and
once again Hart was forced into action, the England No 1’s parry falling
to safety. Hart was called on again minutes later as he beat away
another corner at the near post with Eagles skipper Mile Jedinak poised
to pounce.
Warnock’s
side were now enjoying their best period of the game and they were
inches from taking the lead when Campbell beat the offside trap, but his
acrobatic over-head kick drifted just wide of the post.
The
home side responded with chances of their own and Nasri was the man
looking most likely to unlock the well-drilled Palace back four. The
Frenchman produced a direct run into the penalty area before playing in
Silva but the Spaniard poked his shot wide.
Next
it was Toure with a shot – after a brilliant one-two with Aleksandar
Kolarov – but once again he failed to test Julian Speroni.
Half
chances fell to both Campbell and Bolasie as the visitors continued to
trouble the City defence but the majority of possession was with the
home side and they nearly made it tell just before the break.
Toure,
who was starting to have more influence on the game, produced an inch
perfect through ball as Zabaleta timed his run to perfection, but with
the goal gaping his lobbed finish shaved the outside of the post.
City
continued to press forward in search of the opener through their other
full-back but Milner failed to make proper contact with Kolarov’s
dangerous cross, allowing Joel Ward to clear the danger.
Whatever
Pellegrini said to his side at the interval worked as they came out
with renewed attacking vigour and it paid dividends straight away as
Fernandinho found Zabaleta on another storming run and the Argentine’s
clever pass was fired into the net by Silva after a deflection.
The
goal was no more than the home side deserved and they could have
quickly doubled their advantage, but Toure’s powerful shot flew high
over the bar.
Palace
were hanging on and Jesus Navas was next to test the visitors’ defence,
driving past two defenders before putting in a testing early cross, but
with Milner poaching at the front post Scott Dann cleared the danger.
It
was all City and they made their dominance count. This time it was the
other full-back causing problems as Kolorov’s cross from the by-line
found Silva, who pulled away from his marker to produce a tidy left-foot
finish from six yards to score his second of the afternoon.
Palace,
who threw on Zaha for Campbell in the 67th minute, thought they grabbed
a foothold back in the match and it was the lively Bolaise who was at
the heart of it as his cross found McArthur, who beat Hart with a
powerful header. But the flag wrongly went up with Fernandinho playing
the midfielder onside.
It
was certainly a huge let-off for City, who replaced two-goal hero Silva
with Frank Lampard, but the result was never really in doubt and all
three points were secured with 10 minutes remaining when Toure finished a
fast counter-attack with a thumping finish, beating Speroni at his near
post.
The
win means City pile the pressure on Chelsea and move level on 39 points
with Jose Mourinho’s side, who play Stoke City on Monday Night
Football.
No comments:
Post a Comment