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Match Report

Barclays Premier League

Saturday, 20 December 2014,

Man City
3
-
Full Time
Live
-
0
Crystal Pal
Kickoff: 13:45 BST, live coverage on BT Sport
  • Referee: -
  • Stadium: Etihad Stadium
  • Attendance: 45,302
  • 49' David Silva
  • 61' David Silva
  • 81' Yaya Touré

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    Manchester City

    Half time

    Full time

    Crystal Palace

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    City striker-light

    Manchester City have no frontline strikers nor their captain Vincent Kompany available for the visit of Crystal Palace in the Barclays Premier League.

    Forwards Sergio Aguero (knee), Stevan Jovetic (hamstring) and Edin Dzeko (calf) could all be out until the new year while defender and skipper Kompany (hamstring) faces a similar lay-off.

    Teenage striker Jose Angel Pozo, who made his first start against Leicester last week, could get another chance or the likes of James Milner, Samir Nasri or David Silva might play in a more advanced role.

    Kompany suffered a recurrence of a hamstring injury in his comeback match at Leicester last week while forward Dzeko hurt his calf in the warm-up.

    The lack of forward options could mean another opportunity for 18-year-old Pozo or a change of system to utilise a midfielder such as Milner, David Silva or Samir Nasri in an advanced position.

    Pellegrini said: "The strikers, the three of them are out for tomorrow. We will try to play in another way.

    "I hope that midfielders will arrive from the second line and we will score in another way.

    "I know that we play against a team that defend very well also so we will see what is the best solution to play without them."

    Victory for City by four goals or more would take the defending champions back to the top of the table ahead of current leaders Chelsea's trip to Stoke on Monday.

    Pellegrini said: "That is very important - not for the pressure we can put on Chelsea but it is very important to add three more points and to finish the first round of games with the most amount of points we can.

    "We cannot drop any more points here at home because we already dropped the same number of points we did last season."

    But Pellegrini is not taking anything for granted, remembering a difficult home clash with Palace at the same time last year.

    He said: "It was a very tough game. It was just after Boxing Day. We won 1-0 and Edin Dzeko scored. I am sure tomorrow we will have a similar game that we had last year."

    Neil Warnock concedes he will be taking Crystal Palace to face a City side starting to fire on all cylinders - but insists his players will not simply roll over.

    The Eagles face reigning champions City at the Etihad Stadium in Saturday's early kick-off looking for their first win in almost a month - with the Londoners just one point clear of the relegation zone.

    That last victory came over Liverpool, who ran City close in the title race last season, and Warnock - who also rubbished reports linking Palace with Ashley Cole - wants his players to show what they are made of and upset the odds.

    Pellegrini's side are without a number of key individuals but, despite their fitness worries, Warnock knows his side have to be at their best to spring a shock.

    "They are just hitting their form," he said.

    "It is always difficult to go to the Etihad, they play some wonderful football but we have been playing well so we do not go there with any fear, but we realise we have got to be on top of our game to come away with anything. We know our goalkeeper and our back four have got to play well and we have got to create chances.

    "(Sergio) Aguero is as good as anything, him and (Chelsea striker) Diego Costa are probably the best two in the Premier League. But if they wanted to give me Samir Nasri and David Silva I would take them tomorrow.

    "I think they are as good as anybody in the country, those two, the difference between the top clubs and everyone at the bottom end is that every player in the 25 is a top international player who can play in several positions.

    "We have got to know what we are doing and be on top of our game - we have done that well recently but we step it up another gear now. We did well at Swansea and Tottenham but now this is another challenge. We are going to the most difficult place, along with Stamford Bridge, so it is a good challenge for us."

    Palace also have some concerning knocks, with Marouane Chamakh definitely ruled out of the fixture, and Warnock has long-said that he is waiting for the January transfer window.

    91'+3

    End Regular Time

    91'+3

    Attempt missed. Yannick Bolasie (Crystal Palace) right footed shot from the centre of the box is too high following a corner.

    91'+2

    Wilfried Zaha (Crystal Palace) Corner Kick at 93'

    91'+2

    Corner, Crystal Palace. Conceded by Martín Demichelis.

    91'+1

    Joel Ward (Crystal Palace) Throw In at 92'

    91'

    Pablo Zabaleta (Manchester City) Throw In at 91'

    91'

    Jerome Thomas (Crystal Palace) Blocked Pass at 91'

    91'

    Joel Ward (Crystal Palace) Free Kick at 91'

    90'

    Jerome Thomas (Crystal Palace) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

    90'

    Substitution, Crystal Palace. Barry Bannan replaces Joe Ledley.

    89'

    Substitution, Manchester City. Scott Sinclair replaces Samir Nasri.

    89'

    Attempt missed. Joel Ward (Crystal Palace) right footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the right.

    88'

    Joel Ward (Crystal Palace) Throw In at 88'

    86'

    Pablo Zabaleta (Manchester City) Throw In at 85'

    85'

    Jerome Thomas (Crystal Palace) Blocked Pass at 85'

    84'

    Substitution, Crystal Palace. Jerome Thomas replaces Jason Puncheon.

    83'

    Jason Puncheon (Crystal Palace) Free Kick at 83'

    83'

    Wilfried Zaha (Crystal Palace) wins a free kick on the right wing.

    83'

    Martin Kelly (Crystal Palace) Throw In at 83'

    82'

    Substitution, Manchester City. Fernando replaces James Milner.

    81'

    3 - 0

    Goal! Manchester City 3, Crystal Palace 0. Yaya Touré (Manchester City) left footed shot from the centre of the box to the top left corner. Assisted by James Milner following a fast break.

    81'

    James Milner (Manchester City) Assists Shot at 81'

    80'

    Jason Puncheon (Crystal Palace) Corner Kick at 80'

    80'

    Corner, Crystal Palace. Conceded by Eliaquim Mangala.

    80'

    Scott Dann (Crystal Palace) Free Kick at 79'

    79'

    James Milner

    79'

    Mile Jedinak (Crystal Palace) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

    79'

    Brede Hangeland (Crystal Palace) Blocked Pass at 79'

    76'

    Julian Speroni (Crystal Palace) Free Kick at 76'

    76'

    Offside, Manchester City. Samir Nasri tries a through ball, but Aleksandar Kolarov is caught offside.

    75'

    Pablo Zabaleta (Manchester City) Throw In at 75'

    73'

    Aleksandar Kolarov (Manchester City) Corner Kick at 73'

    73'

    Corner, Manchester City. Conceded by Martin Kelly.

    71'

    Julian Speroni (Crystal Palace) Free Kick at 71'

    71'

    Joel Ward (Crystal Palace) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

    70'

    Yaya Touré (Manchester City) Free Kick at 70'

    70'

    James Milner (Manchester City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

    70'

    Joel Ward (Crystal Palace) Throw In at 70'

    70'

    Julian Speroni (Crystal Palace) Free Kick at 70'

    69'

    Substitution, Manchester City. Frank Lampard replaces David Silva.

    69'

    Offside, Manchester City. James Milner tries a through ball, but Jesús Navas is caught offside.

    68'

    Joe Hart (Manchester City) Free Kick at 68'

    68'

    Offside, Crystal Palace. Yannick Bolasie tries a through ball, but James McArthur is caught offside.

    67'

    Julian Speroni (Crystal Palace) Free Kick at 67'

    67'

    Substitution, Crystal Palace. Wilfried Zaha replaces Fraizer Campbell.

    66'

    Scott Dann (Crystal Palace) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

    66'

    Aleksandar Kolarov (Manchester City) Throw In at 66'

    66'

    Martin Kelly (Crystal Palace) Blocked Pass at 66'

    65'

    Aleksandar Kolarov (Manchester City) Free Kick at 65'

    64'

    Samir Nasri (Manchester City) wins a free kick on the left wing.

    64'

    Scott Dann (Crystal Palace) Free Kick at 64'

    64'

    Fraizer Campbell (Crystal Palace) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

    61'

    2 - 0

    Goal! Manchester City 2, Crystal Palace 0. David Silva (Manchester City) left footed shot from the centre of the box to the centre of the goal. Assisted by Aleksandar Kolarov with a cross following a corner.

    61'

    Aleksandar Kolarov (Manchester City) Assists Shot at 61'

    60'

    Corner, Manchester City. Conceded by Joel Ward.

    60'

    David Silva (Manchester City) Corner Kick at 60'

    58'

    Julian Speroni (Crystal Palace) Free Kick at 58'

    58'

    Mile Jedinak (Crystal Palace) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

    57'

    Joe Ledley (Crystal Palace) Blocked Pass at 57'

    57'

    Jesús Navas (Manchester City) Blocked Pass at 57'

    57'

    Joel Ward (Crystal Palace) Throw In at 57'

    56'

    Pablo Zabaleta (Manchester City) Throw In at 56'

    55'

    Scott Dann (Crystal Palace) Free Kick at 55'

    55'

    Yannick Bolasie (Crystal Palace) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

    53'

    Attempt blocked. Yaya Touré (Manchester City) header from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Martín Demichelis with a headed pass.

    53'

    Pablo Zabaleta (Manchester City) Assists Shot at 53'

    52'

    Corner, Manchester City. Conceded by Scott Dann.

    52'

    James Milner (Manchester City) Corner Kick at 52'

    52'

    Attempt blocked. James Milner (Manchester City) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Samir Nasri.

    52'

    Samir Nasri (Manchester City) Assists Shot at 52'

    52'

    Pablo Zabaleta (Manchester City) Blocked Pass at 52'

    51'

    Attempt missed. Yaya Touré (Manchester City) right footed shot from outside the box is too high. Assisted by David Silva.

    51'

    David Silva (Manchester City) Assists Shot at 51'

    51'

    Martin Kelly (Crystal Palace) Throw In at 51'

    51'

    Samir Nasri (Manchester City) Blocked Pass at 51'

    49'

    1 - 0

    Goal! Manchester City 1, Crystal Palace 0. David Silva (Manchester City) left footed shot from the centre of the box to the bottom left corner. Assisted by Pablo Zabaleta.

    49'

    Pablo Zabaleta (Manchester City) Assists Shot at 49'

    49'

    Attempt blocked. David Silva (Manchester City) left footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Jesús Navas.

    49'

    Jesús Navas (Manchester City) Assists Shot at 49'

    47'

    Corner, Manchester City. Conceded by Joe Ledley.

    46'

    Second Half begins Manchester City 0, Crystal Palace 0.

    46'+1

    Halftime

    46'

    Martín Demichelis (Manchester City) Blocked Pass at 46'

    45'

    Scott Dann (Crystal Palace) Free Kick at 45'

    45'

    Joe Ledley (Crystal Palace) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

    44'

    James Milner (Manchester City) Corner Kick at 44'

    44'

    Attempt missed. James Milner (Manchester City) header from the centre of the box misses to the right. Assisted by Aleksandar Kolarov with a cross.

    44'

    Aleksandar Kolarov (Manchester City) Assists Shot at 44'

    43'

    Attempt missed. Pablo Zabaleta (Manchester City) right footed shot from the centre of the box is close, but misses to the left. Assisted by Yaya Touré with a through ball.

    43'

    Yaya Touré (Manchester City) Assists Shot at 43'

    42'

    Martin Kelly (Crystal Palace) Throw In at 42'

    41'

    Joel Ward (Crystal Palace) Throw In at 41'

    41'

    Jason Puncheon

    39'

    Julian Speroni (Crystal Palace) Free Kick at 39'

    39'

    Offside, Manchester City. James Milner tries a through ball, but Aleksandar Kolarov is caught offside.

    38'

    Joel Ward (Crystal Palace) Free Kick at 38'

    38'

    Joe Ledley (Crystal Palace) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

    37'

    Pablo Zabaleta (Manchester City) Throw In at 37'

    37'

    Attempt missed. Yannick Bolasie (Crystal Palace) left footed shot from a difficult angle on the left is close, but misses to the left. Assisted by Brede Hangeland with a headed pass following a set piece situation.

    37'

    Brede Hangeland (Crystal Palace) Assists Shot at 37'

    37'

    Scott Dann (Crystal Palace) Free Kick at 37'

    36'

    Aleksandar Kolarov

    36'

    Jason Puncheon (Crystal Palace) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

    35'

    Jesús Navas (Manchester City) Throw In at 35'

    35'

    James Milner (Manchester City) Throw In at 34'

    34'

    Corner, Crystal Palace. Conceded by Eliaquim Mangala.

    33'

    Pablo Zabaleta (Manchester City) Corner Kick at 33'

    33'

    Yannick Bolasie (Crystal Palace) Free Kick at 33'

    33'

    Joel Ward (Crystal Palace) wins a free kick on the left wing.

    32'

    Julian Speroni (Crystal Palace) Free Kick at 32'

    32'

    Yannick Bolasie (Crystal Palace) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

    30'

    Joel Ward (Crystal Palace) Throw In at 30'

    28'

    Attempt missed. Yaya Touré (Manchester City) right footed shot from the centre of the box is too high.

    24'

    David Silva (Manchester City) Corner Kick at 24'

    24'

    Attempt blocked. David Silva (Manchester City) left footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Samir Nasri.

    24'

    Samir Nasri (Manchester City) Assists Shot at 24'

    23'

    Attempt missed. Yaya Touré (Manchester City) right footed shot from outside the box is too high. Assisted by James Milner.

    23'

    James Milner (Manchester City) Assists Shot at 23'

    23'

    Pablo Zabaleta (Manchester City) Throw In at 23'

    22'

    Mile Jedinak (Crystal Palace) Free Kick at 22'

    21'

    James McArthur (Crystal Palace) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

    20'

    Attempt missed. Fraizer Campbell (Crystal Palace) right footed shot from the left side of the six yard box is close, but misses to the right. Assisted by Yannick Bolasie with a headed pass following a set piece situation.

    20'

    Yannick Bolasie (Crystal Palace) Assists Shot at 20'

    20'

    Jason Puncheon (Crystal Palace) Free Kick at 20'

    19'

    Yannick Bolasie (Crystal Palace) wins a free kick on the right wing.

    19'

    Attempt saved. Mile Jedinak (Crystal Palace) header from very close range is saved in the top centre of the goal. Assisted by Jason Puncheon with a cross.

    19'

    Jason Puncheon (Crystal Palace) Assists Shot at 19'

    18'

    Martin Kelly (Crystal Palace) Corner Kick at 18'

    18'

    Corner, Crystal Palace. Conceded by Martín Demichelis.

    17'

    Joel Ward (Crystal Palace) Throw In at 17'

    15'

    Attempt missed. Samir Nasri (Manchester City) right footed shot from outside the box misses to the left.

    15'

    Samir Nasri (Manchester City) Free Kick at 15'

    14'

    James Milner (Manchester City) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

    13'

    Martin Kelly (Crystal Palace) Throw In at 13'

    13'

    Fernandinho (Manchester City) Blocked Pass at 13'

    13'

    Martin Kelly (Crystal Palace) Blocked Pass at 13'

    12'

    Aleksandar Kolarov (Manchester City) Throw In at 12'

    11'

    David Silva (Manchester City) Free Kick at 11'

    11'

    James Milner (Manchester City) wins a free kick on the right wing.

    10'

    Corner, Manchester City. Conceded by Joel Ward.

    10'

    Pablo Zabaleta (Manchester City) Corner Kick at 10'

    9'

    Pablo Zabaleta (Manchester City) Free Kick at 9'

    9'

    Foul by Fraizer Campbell (Crystal Palace).

    8'

    Attempt missed. Fernandinho (Manchester City) right footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the right. Assisted by Pablo Zabaleta.

    8'

    Pablo Zabaleta (Manchester City) Assists Shot at 8'

    7'

    James McArthur (Crystal Palace) Blocked Pass at 6'

    6'

    Attempt blocked. Jason Puncheon (Crystal Palace) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by James McArthur.

    6'

    Scott Dann (Crystal Palace) Free Kick at 6'

    6'

    Hand ball by David Silva (Manchester City).

    5'

    Joel Ward (Crystal Palace) Throw In at 5'

    5'

    James McArthur (Crystal Palace) Blocked Pass at 5'

    4'

    Joel Ward (Crystal Palace) Throw In at 4'

    3'

    Attempt missed. Samir Nasri (Manchester City) right footed shot from the centre of the box misses to the right. Assisted by Pablo Zabaleta.

    3'

    Pablo Zabaleta (Manchester City) Assists Shot at 3'

    3'

    Joe Ledley (Crystal Palace) Blocked Pass at 3'

    2'

    Pablo Zabaleta (Manchester City) Throw In at 2'

    1'

    Joel Ward (Crystal Palace) Corner Kick at 1'

    1'

    Corner, Crystal Palace. Conceded by Martín Demichelis.

    1'

    Joel Ward (Crystal Palace) Free Kick at 1'

    1'

    Yannick Bolasie (Crystal Palace) wins a free kick on the left wing.

    1'

    First Half begins.

    Show all commentary

    Possession

    73%
    28%
    • Manchester City
    • Crystal Palace

    Shots

    15
    6

    Shots on target

    3
    1

    Fouls

    17
    5

    Corners

    8
    6

    Yellow Cards

    2
    1

    Red Cards

    0
    0

    Head to Head

    Man City3 - 0Crystal Pal
    Crystal Pal0 - 2Man City
    Man City1 - 0Crystal Pal
    Crystal Pal0 - 2Man City
    Man City3 - 1Crystal Pal
    Crystal Pal1 - 2Man City

    Man City

    • 1Joe Hart
    • 5Pablo Zabaleta
    • 20Eliaquim Mangala
    • 11Aleksandar Kolarov
    • 26Martín Demichelis
    • 15Jesús Navas
    • 21David Silva
    • -> Frank Lampard
    • 8Samir Nasri
    • -> Scott Sinclair
    • 42Yaya Touré
    • 25Fernandinho
    • 7James Milner
    • -> Fernando
    • Subs
    • 38Dedryck Boyata
    • 13Wilfredo Caballero
    • 61Thierry Ambrose
    • 3Bacary Sagna

    Crystal Pal

    • 1Julian Speroni
    • 6Scott Dann
    • 2Joel Ward
    • 34Martin Kelly
    • 4Brede Hangeland
    • 7Yannick Bolasie
    • 42Jason Puncheon
    • -> Jerome Thomas
    • 10Fraizer Campbell
    • -> Wilfried Zaha
    • 18James McArthur
    • 15Mile Jedinak
    • 28Joe Ledley
    • -> Barry Bannan
    • Subs
    • 16Dwight Gayle
    • 3Adrian Mariappa
    • 27Damien Delaney
    • 13Wayne Hennessey

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    David Silva double lifts Manchester City to win over Crystal Palace

    David Silva struck twice as Manchester City made light of their absence of strikers to brush troubled Crystal Palace aside 3-0 at the Etihad Stadium.

    Yaya Toure also got on the scoresheet as the champions moved level on points with Chelsea at the top of the Barclays Premier League.

    It was in-form City's eighth successive win in all competitions - one short of equalling a club record.

    Palace offered little in what was a routine victory for City, who will be pleased to have won so comfortably without injured strikers Sergio Aguero, Edin Dzeko and Stevan Jovetic, and captain Vincent Kompany.

    Without a recognised forward, City packed their side with six midfielders.

    James Milner operated in the most advanced role but Silva and Samir Nasri also got forward in support.

    The system worked well against a Palace side who have now won just once in 11 games, but their lack of cutting edge was evident in a scoreless first half in which they got none of their eight attempts on target.

    Nasri had the first of them when he stabbed an effort narrowly wide in the second minute after good work from Jesus Navas and Pablo Zabaleta.

    Palace were limited but did possess some threat in the shape of the skilful Yannick Bolasie, who was by some distance the visitors' most dangerous player.

    Bolasie jinked past Martin Demichelis on the right but Joe Hart, fresh from signing a new contract, parried his cross to safety.

    City survived a scare when Bolasie headed back into the area from a half-cleared free-kick and Fraizer Campbell, onside and unmarked, put an overhead kick across goal and wide.

    City played a patient game as they looked to pick their way through the Palace defence and the chances eventually came - although most went begging.

    Toure twice shot over from outside the box and Silva had a close-range effort deflected wide after Nasri wriggled through the defence.

    Silva then miskicked in front of goal before Zabaleta spurned a great chance when he broke through and clipped the ball over Julian Speroni and wide.

    Bolasie fired into the side-netting but little else came from Palace as City noticeably stepped up a gear in the second half.

    They were ahead within four minutes of the restart as Zabaleta again burst into the box but this time pulled back for the inrushing Silva.

    The Spaniard made a firm connection but he still benefited from a large slice of luck as his shot took a deflection off Scott Dann and looped over Speroni.

    City looked hungry for more after that and Toure blasted over again as they kept up the pressure.

    It paid off with a second Silva goal on the hour, the playmaker this time diverting the ball in from six yards from a good low cross by Aleksandar Kolarov. It proved Silva's last significant action as he made way for Frank Lampard soon after.

    Palace got the ball in the net when James McArthur headed firmly past Hart from a Bolasie cross but the flag was raised for offside.

    It was a tight decision and City sought to ensure Palace did not get so close again.

    They began to close the game down in a professional manner and made it 3-0 with a swift break nine minutes from time.

    Navas released Milner with a fine through ball and the England man did well to hold up play and wait for Toure to take over. Toure collected possession on the edge of the box and powered forward to smash in a shot off Speroni's near post.

    Palace almost forced Demichelis to concede a late own goal but City held onto a clean sheet.

    ends




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