Liverpool’s slip up at home to Chelsea on Sunday in the Premier League handed Manchester City the perfect to gain some ground back on their title rivals away to Crystal Palace; The Blues took this chance with both hands, comfortably negotiating the test of Tony Pulis with a 2-0 win at Selhurst Park. This had been earmarked as one of two tough away games in the remainder of the season, but Manuel Pellegrini saw differently and sent his team out set up for the win.
The game got off to a flying start in London. Manchester City dominated most of the early exchanges, and went in front in just the 4th minute when Bosnian striker Edin Džeko was set up by returning midfielder Yaya Touré to head past Julian Speroni. The cross was inch-perfect from the Ivorian whilst the header from the Bosnian was just as good, giving City a deserved early lead.
The Citizens continued to press for a second goal to settle nerves in the away end, and two minutes before half-time they doubled the advantage. Yaya Touré showed his strength and pace off as he held off Crystal Palace defenders to place the ball into the top corner from inside the box. The move started inside City’s half, before some good passing between Touré, Džeko and Samir Nasri put the Ivorian through. He got a bit of luck when the ball was almost nicked from his foot before rebounding back to him, but the finish was superb and epitomised just how good the former Barcelona man is.
At half-time, the lead was more than deserved for the visitors to Selhurst Park. They had looked sharp and remarkably strong in defence bar a couple of long-range efforts from Jason Puncheon. In the second half, Tony Pulis’ side came out with a much more attacking mind-set and tried to make it a nervy second 45 minutes for Manuel Pellegrini. Despite continued spells of pressure, Joe Hart and the City defence were able to cope with anything their hosts could throw at them and eventually The Eagles just ran out of time in which to produce something.
It’s a far-cry from the beginning of the season under Ian Holloway when Crystal Palace looked almost destined for the drop. Tony Pulis came in in October and has done a superb drop, leading his new team to a very impressive mid-table finish this season. When sides of the quality of Manchester City visit it is always difficult and Palace gave a good account of themselves against a strong City team. Meanwhile, wins against Chelsea and Everton at Goodison Park show The Eagles have potential.
Goodison Park, incidentally, is the next destination of Manchester City’s title challenge. The Blues visit their next weekend in the hope of strengthening their title bid in what is their last big test of the season – or so it would seem. A win would leave City three points behind Liverpool at most, with games against Aston Villa and West Ham (both at home, one of which is a game in hand on the table-toppers) to come for City. Some feel that maybe, just maybe, the title race is swinging back in the favour of the Mancunians.
