Crystal Palace vs. Manchester City: Score, Grades, Reaction from Premier League
Manchester City's Premier League title challenge is in tatters following a 2-1 defeat to Crystal Palace on Monday night at Selhurst Park.
The visitors dominated possession and created the better chances for much of the first half, but Glenn Murray put Palace ahead controversially with a close-range finish in the 34th minute.
While the opener had a hint of offside to it, City could not feel aggrieved by Palace's second goal, as Jason Puncheon curled in a fine free-kick two minutes into the second half.
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City applied pressure throughout the latter parts of the match and pulled a goal back through Yaya Toure's fierce strike in the 78th minute. But the defending champions were unable to equalise, and the resulting loss will serve as a potentially devastating blow to City's title defence.
Following the defeat, City now sit nine points behind leaders Chelsea, who have a game in hand. Perhaps more worrying, Manuel Pellegrini's side have also fallen to fourth place behind in-form Arsenal and Manchester United.
The upcoming fixture list offers no relief, though it will present a chance for some redemption. Up next for City is a trip to bitter rivals Manchester United on Sunday for the latest edition of the Manchester derby. The winner of that match will have not only bragging rights in Manchester, but also a leg up in the race for second.
For Palace, meanwhile, it's a seventh win in 11 league matches under manager Alan Pardew, who joined from Newcastle United in early January. Mired in a relegation fight before the New Year, the Eagles have taken 22 of 33 available points since Pardew's arrival and are now comfortably clear of the drop zone in 11th place.
Up next for Palace is a trip to Sunderland on Saturday.
The atmosphere at Selhurst Park was superb from the opening whistle, and with only a minute on the clock, the home side created the first big chance of the game. With a flowing team move, Palace spread the ball out wide to Martin Kelly on the left. Kelly curled a low, pinpoint cross into the goalmouth, where Jason Puncheon slid in and missed the ball. Wilfried Zaha managed to latch on, but he sent his shot well over the bar.
It was a genuine chance for Palace, but for the next half-hour, City carried by far the greater attacking threat.
In the 12th minute, Sergio Aguero raced onto a long clearance by goalkeeper Joe Hart, rounding Julian Speroni, who had raced off his line in Palace's goal. The angle was tough for Aguero, who pulled back to David Silva. Before shooting, the Spaniard took an extra touch inside the box, allowing Speroni the time to race back and block.
City came close again in the 19th minute following a moment of individual brilliance by Aguero, who created a yard of space for himself along the edge of the box before rifling a low shot off the base of the far post.
Silva had another sight of goal in the 29th minute, curling a low effort on target. Speroni, whose view was partially blocked, saw the ball late but reacted in time to save.
The visitors were decidedly on top, but the opening goal soon arrived at the other end.
The chance came about after City cleared a corner as far as Joel Ward, who lofted a long, high ball toward the edge of the box. From there, Joe Ledley headed down into the path of Scott Dann, who volleyed a hard shot on target. Hart saved with his legs, but the ball rolled to Murray, who slammed in his finish from close range.
City protested strongly for offside in the buildup, but referee Michael Oliver disagreed and the goal stood, giving Palace a 1-0 lead heading into half-time.
"#CRYMCI - Murray's strike was the first #BPL goal for Palace against Man City since a Darren Powell strike over 10 years ago.
— STATS Football (@STATS_Football) April 6, 2015"
But there could be no such complaints when Palace doubled their lead early in the second half.
The hosts won a free-kick in the 47th minute after Fernandinho committed a foul just outside City's box. One minute later, Puncheon went directly for goal, curling the ball up and over the wall and into the bottom corner past the outstretched Hart.
It was a brilliant strike, and it put the defending champions on the ropes. City continued to dominate possession but struggled to create clear chances. Toure ballooned a shot well over the bar in the 51st minute, then missed the target with a free-kick seven minutes later.
City began to exert more pressure as the half wore on. In the 71st minute, Murray went unpunished after handling the ball in the box following a Fernandinho half-volley. Two minutes later, James McArthur cleared another Fernandinho shot off the line.
A goal was coming, and Toure provided it in the 78th minute. Collecting a failed clearance near the edge of Palace's box, Toure took a touch before rifling a powerful, curling drive into the net at the far post.
City had new life, but Palace continued to defend resolutely. In the 81st minute, City substitute Samir Nasri had a shot deflected just wide. Five minutes later, Speroni dived to his left to frantically push away a Toure effort on goal.
The pressure continued throughout four minutes of stoppage time, but Palace's defence held firm for a famous win against the fading champions.
Grades
| Julian Speroni | 6.7 |
| Joel Ward | 6.9 |
| Scott Dann | 7.2 |
| Damien Delaney | 7.0 |
| Martin Kelly | 7.3 |
| Joe Ledley | 6.9 |
| Wilfried Zaha | 6.6 |
| Jason Puncheon | 7.5 |
| James McArthur | 7.3 |
| Yannick Bolasie | 6.4 |
| Glenn Murray | 8.5 |
| Yaya Sanogo (for Murray, 83') | No rating |
| Papa Souare (for Bolasie, 84') | No rating |
| Dwight Gayle (for Zaha, 88') | No rating |
| Joe Hart | 6.1 |
| Bacary Sagna | 6.3 |
| Vincent Kompany | 6.7 |
| Martin Demichelis | 6.7 |
| Gael Clichy | 7.1 |
| Jesus Navas | 6.8 |
| Yaya Toure | 7.6 |
| Fernandinho | 7.6 |
| David Silva | 8.0 |
| Sergio Aguero | 7.3 |
| Edin Dzeko | 5.9 |
| Frank Lampard (for Dzeko, 66') | 6.4 |
| Samir Nasri (for Navas, 77') | 6.5 |
| James Milner (for Fernandinho, 88') | No rating |
Reaction
Bleacher Report's Sam Tighe provided Pellegrini's thoughts on his own job security following the defeat:
Crystal Palace manager Alan Pardew, via Sky Sports (h/t BBC Sport):
"For us, it was a huge night with the champions coming knowing they are under pressure. We didn't see enough of the ball and our wide players were a little ineffective but we were diligent and hard-working and got through with two quality moments.
We just had to lean on our character tonight but we have some really good pros and that showed. In previous games we've shown more flair and exuberance but today was about the old traits that Tony (Pulis) leant on last year—the resilience and character—and it was just a shame that we didn't have enough offensive moments.
We gave a good description of what Palace is tonight. We've got three games before we play the big boys again and we could still be involved in some defining moments but we hope to pick up some points before then and keep creeping up the league if we can.
"
Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini, Sky Sports (h/t BBC Sport):
"For today at least I am very happy with the team played but very disappointed with the score. We have lost our last three games away and we were the best up until Christmas. I think I said two or three weeks ago all we can do is try to add the most amount of points we can in our seven games and we will see who is first, second, third and fourth. It will be very tight and normally you only have one or two points in it.
"
Follow @MiguelCominguez
