Manchester City's title hopes suffered a damaging blow following a 2-1 defeat against Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park this evening.
Glenn Murray gave the Eagles the lead in the first half with a close-range finish after Scott Dann's header was saved by Joe Hart.
They added a second shortly after the break when Jason Puncheon curled in a low free kick.
Yaya Toure fired in to pull a goal back for City, but it proved to be just a consolation as the Citizens slipped to their third-successive away league defeat.
Find out how the action unfolded below.
Good evening everyone! It was certainly an eventful weekend of action in the Premier League, with no shortage of wonder strikes and big results at both ends of the table. Let's hope that there is more drama in store tonight, as Manchester City try to get their title bid back on track with a tough-looking visit to Crystal Palace
Following Arsenal and Manchester United's wins on Saturday afternoon, City will start today's match in fourth place. Chelsea were also victorious against Stoke, which means that the Citizens are now nine points behind the league leaders. You get the feeling that anything other than a win today will end their hopes of retaining the title this season.
Looking to stop City from picking up all three points are a Crystal Palace side who went into the intentional break in top form. A brilliant first-half display saw them romp to a 3-1 win over London rivals Queens Park Rangers and they followed that up with a very impressive 2-1 victory at Stoke City. Alan Pardew's side are now 10 points clear of the relegation zone and a third-consecutive win tonight would move them to just one shy of the magic 40-point mark.
We'll take an even closer look at each club in just a few moments, but first let me bring you the all-important team news.
CRYSTAL PALACE XI: Speroni, Ward, Delaney, Dann, Kelly, McArther, Ledley, Puncheon, Zaha, Bolasie, Murray
MAN CITY XI: Hart, Sagna, Kompany, Demichelis, Clichy, Navas, Fernandinho, Toure, Silva, Dzeko, Aguero
CRYSTAL PALACE SUBS: Hennessey, Hangeland, Souare, Boateng, Sanogo, Gayle, Ameobi
MAN CITY SUBS: Caballero, Zabaleta, Mangala, Milner, Fernando, Nasri, Lampard
So, that's our teams are looking this evening. Manchester City have made five changes to the side that beat West Brom last time out, as Bacary Sagna and Martin Demichelis come into the back four, Fernandinho and Yaya Toure return to the midfield and Edin Dzeko replaces Wilfried Bony to join Sergio Aguero up front.
Meanwhile, there is just one change for Palace after their victory at the Britannia, with Martin Kelly replacing Pape Souare at left back. That means Glenn Murray, who has scored four goals in his last four games, will once again lead the attack with Wilfried Zaha and Yannick Bolasie joining him in the front three.
With eight games of the season left to play, I'm sure that Manchester City fans were hoping that their team would be top and on their way to defending their Premier League title. However, things have not gone quite to plan and following a patchy run of form since the turn of the year they have dropped well behind the pace-setters Chelsea.
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You only have to go back to New Year's Day to see how City's title bid has faltered. They had claimed a dramatic 3-2 win over Sunderland to join Chelsea at the top of the table and after the Blues fell to a 5-3 defeat against Tottenham later that day, many were tipping Manuel Pellegrini's side as the favourites to win the league.
That proved to be as good as it would get for the Citizens, as they failed to win their next four league games and were knocked out of the FA Cup by Middlesbrough. It looked as if they had rediscovered their good form with thumping victories over Stoke and Sunderland at the beginning of February, but defeat to Barcelona in the Champions League damaged their frail confidence even further.
City have actually lost four of their previous six games, with their only victories coming against bottom-of-the-league Leicester City and a West Brom side who had Gareth McAuley controversially sent off inside the first two minutes. They have looked particularly shaky on the road and their last two games away from the Etihad against Liverpool and Burnley have ended in defeats.
There are plenty of reasons as to why City have faltered this season, with the form of some of their key players a major concern. Vincent Kompany and Yaya Toure were so brilliant in their title-winning campaign, but they have both struggled this time around. There are others who haven't hit the heights expected of them, which has led to numerous reports that there will be a huge summer of spending for the club.
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If City are wobbling at the moment, then the same cannot be said of their opponents this evening. In the space of three months Palace have gone from relegation candidates to mid-table safety and they can surely start to prepare for a third successive season in the Premier League.
The impact that Alan Pardew has made since his arrival has been well documented and his decision to leave Newcastle United has been vindicated, as the Eagles now sit above his former club in the table. With Burnley, QPR and Leicester all picking up points at the weekend Palace are still not mathematically safe from the drop, but it would take quite a disastrous collapse for them to go down now.
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Their recent form has been impressive, with three victories from their last four league outings. The only slight blot for the club under Pardew's management has been their home form, as they have won just two of their six matches since January at Selhurst Park. A repeat of their last home performance against QPR will certainly be welcome, as they dismantled their London opponents with three goals in an outstanding opening 45 minutes.
City aren't the only club at the top of the league that Palace will face in the remaining weeks of the season, as they have visits to Chelsea and Liverpool to come and a home clash against Manchester United. They will surely be looking to secure points from their next three games against Sunderland, West Brom and Hull, with a top-half finish still within their grasp.
When these teams last met back in December it was City who came out on top with a 3-0 win. David Silva made the breakthrough early in the second half and he doubled their lead just past the hour mark. Yaya Toure wrapped up the points with a third late on, as City extended their winning run at the time to eight games.
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This a fixture that City have dominated in recent seasons and they have won each of the previous seven games against Palace. The Eagles haven't even scored in their past four meetings and you have to go back to 2001 for their last success against the Blues, which was a 2-1 win in the old Football League First Division.
PREDICTION: This is a game that I'd expect City to win, but they have been unconvincing in recent weeks. Their title hopes are hanging by a thread and the pressure to pick up three points will be massive tonight. In stark contrast, Palace will be full of confidence and they have the freedom to go out and perform without the fear of relegation. Having said all that, I'm going to back the visitors to edge a 2-1 win in what should be an exciting night of football.
With kick off fast approaching, make sure you have a look at our video preview of tonight's match.
KICKOFF! We are underway at Selhurst Park!
CHANCE! What a massive chance for Palace to take the lead with just a minute on the clock! They break at pace and Kelly is slipped in down the left. He then whips a brilliant ball to the back post that is met by Zaha, but the winger ends up blazing his strike wide.
This has been such a good start to the game by Palace and they look a real threat every time they come forward. They are closing down their opponents quickly and are not giving them any time on the ball and their fans are making plenty of noise.
City have just started to take more control of the ball and they are seeing plenty of possession inside their opponents' half of the pitch. An early goal for them here would really silence the home fans and help to settle any nerves that they may be suffering at the back.
Aside from that early shot from Zaha, we haven't seen too much goalmouth action, with City yet to have an effort on goal. They will have their work cut out to get through this Palace defence, as on a couple of occasions now Silva and Toure have seen dangerous looking passes into Aguero well cut out.
CHANCE! City finally have an effort on goal and it's very nearly the opener. The visitors break at pace following a Palace free kick, with Augero racing onto Hart's long kick. He takes the ball past the keeper, but he is at too tight an angle so squares it to Silva. The Spaniard then works it onto his left foot and drills in a strike, but Speroni gets back in time to turn the ball over the bar.
SHOT! The visitors have taken this game by the scruff of the neck and they have noticeably stepped it up a gear in the past five minutes. Some of their passing has been superb and after a patient build up they work the ball to Fernandinho just outside the box, who can only fire his low strike well wide of the post.
OFF THE POST! It's all City now and Aguero comes within inches of scoring when he receives the ball on the edge of the box, before working some room and drilling in a low strike that cracks against the post. Speroni was left rooted to his spot and was hugely relieved to see that one rebound to safety.
That bright start to the game for Palace looks a long way away now as they are coming under heavy pressure from the Blues. They just can't seem to get out of their own half at the moment, with most of their players sat deep on the edge of their own box.
The Eagles surely can't continue to play this way throughout the match, as it does look to be just a matter of time until City take the lead. Pardew really needs to tell his players to push out and relieve some of the pressure that they are coming under, as when they came forward in the early stages of the match they did look a genuine threat.
SAVE! For the second time this evening, Silva is denied by Speroni. The Spaniard creates some room for himself 25 yards out from goal and looks to drill a low strike into the corner, but the keeper gets across his line quickly to palm the ball wide and away from danger.
CHANCE! City keep knocking at the door and Aguero has another opening when he is slipped in down the left, before drilling a shot narrowly over the bar. Kompany had another chance just moments before with a header that he flashed across goal from a corner that Palace somehow managed to scramble clear.
GOAL! Crystal Palace 1-0 Manchester City (Glenn Murray)
Would you believe it! City have completely dominated, but they find themselves a goal down! Murray is the man who scores his fifth goal in as many games, as he reacts quickly at the back post to poke in after Dann's header was saved by Hart. City feel that Murray was offside, but the linesman keeps his flag down and the referee waves away their appeals.
This really would be a hammer blow to City's title hopes if they end up losing tonight. Of course, there is still a long way to go in the match, but that goal will give Palace a massive boost and something to hang onto.
YELLOW CARD! Delaney is given the first booking of the match for a foul on Aguero.
SHOT! City are desperate not to go into the break trailing and Demichelis has a chance when he arrives to meet Dzeko's flick on from a corner. He gets underneath the ball though and ends up putting it over the bar as Palace survive once again.
Having just looked at the replays for Murray's goal, City can rightfully feel aggrieved that it was able to stand. Dann seemed to be offside as he headed in the effort that was saved by Hart and Murray also looked off when touching in the rebound. It's a massive call for Michael Oliver to give the goal and it could be a serious blow to City's title hopes.
We are going to have one minute of stoppage time.
HALF-TIME: Crystal Palace 1-0 Manchester City
It's half time at Selhurst Park and we could have a shock on our hands. Despite their control of the match, City have gone into the break trailing thanks to Glenn Murray's goal. It looked offside, but the referee didn't spot it and the visitors have got it all to do now as they try to salvage their Premier League title hopes.
A look at the statistics from that first half shows just how dominant City have been. They enjoyed huge spells of possession inside the Palace half and have had a huge 73% of the ball. They have also had 10 shots on goal, while Palace have mustered just three attempts.
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As things stand, City will stay fourth in the table and nine points behind Chelsea with seven games left after tonight. Palace would move above Everton and into 11th place, while also reaching the 39-point mark. That would see them go 13 points above the relegation zone and surely distinguish any lingering fears of the drop.
So, what can City do turn things around? They've got plenty of quality on the bench, with Frank Lampard, James Milner and Samir Nasri all available. They do seem to be a little short in the forward line, as there is no Wilfried Bony, who suffered an ankle injury in training at the weekend.
City take the kick off and get us back underway!
GOAL! Crystal Palace 2-0 Manchester City (Jason Puncheon)
What a start to the second half! Palace open up a two-goal lead, as Puncheon curls in a great free kick from just outside the box that finds the bottom corner. It was Fernandinho who gave away the set piece following a poor challenge on Murray and his team have it all to do now.
City look to get back into this game quickly and Silva leads the charge down the left, before finding Aguero. He is forced wide and goes for a strike, which is blocked but comes back to him. The striker then tees it up for Toure to hit on the edge of the box, but the Ivorian gets it all wrong and hammers the ball high into the stands.
The Palace fans are making all the noise and who can blame them! Their team are 2-0 up against the champions and they are not looking too overstretched at the moment. I expect that to change quickly though as City push everything forward in a desperate attempt to save their season.
YELLOW CARD! Puncheon is the second Palace player to pick up a booking for a deliberate handball. It has given City a free kick in a similar position to the one that the hosts scored in and Toure is standing over the ball.
CHANCE! Toure comes agonizingly close to scoring from the free kick, as he bends it just inches over the bar. Speroni was again left stranded and if that was on target the keeper would have got nowhere near it.
SHOT! The pressure is starting to mount from City and once again they have forced the visitors back on the edge of their own box. Silva has looked the most likely to get them back into this match, but this time he bends a strike from range wide of the far post.
This is something that I hoped we wouldn't see today. It appears that Puncheon was struck by an object as he went to take a corner. He reacted well to the situation though and from the set piece he forced Hart to turn his dangerous cross behind at the front post.
SUBSTITUTION: City are going to make their first change of the match, as the disappointing Dzeko goes off to be replaced by Lampard.
YELLOW CARD! Demichelis is booked by the referee for bringing down Murray on the halfway line.
PENALTY APPEAL! City scream for a penalty when a corner drops to Fernandinho and he sees his strike hit the hand of Murray. However, the referee waves away their claims, even though the replays show that City should have had a spot kick.
CHANCE! I have no idea how this hasn't ended up in the back of the net! From another City corner, the ball is worked to Fernandinho and he flashes a low strike across goal that beats the keeper, but is cleared from just in front of his own goal by McArthur. That could easily gone in, but instead City will have to settle for a corner.
SUBSTITUTION: It's another change for City and Nasri is coming on to replace Navas.
GOAL! Crystal Palace 2-1 Manchester City (Yaya Toure)
We could be in for quite some finish as City have pulled a goal back. It's Toure who gets it, as he receives the ball just outside the box and takes a touch, before lashing a sunning strike into the far corner that leaves the keeper with absolutely no chance.
CHANCE! The visitors almost find a quick second, as Nasri lashes in a powerful effort that takes a slight deflection and drops inches wide of the post. Palace really are hanging on now and they've got plenty of work to do if they are to hold onto their lead in the remaining minutes.
SUBSTITUTION: Murray receives a standing ovation as he leaves the pitch, with Arsenal loanee Sanogo coming on to take his place.
SUBSTITUTION: Palace make another change, with Souare coming on for Bolasie.
SHOT! Nasri has seen plenty of the ball since coming on and he is picked out by Silva inside the box, before turning and firing in a strike that deflects wide of the post.
SAVE! What a great save this is from Speroni. Toure almost grabs his second of the match when he fires in an effort that takes a huge deflection and looks set to loop into the far corner, but Speroni sticks out an arm and manages to claw it out.
SUBSTITUTIONS: City make their final change of the night, with Milner coming on for Fernandinho. There's also a change for Palace, as Gayle is on for Zaha.
Milner almost makes a decisive contribution with his first touch of the ball. He is is slipped in by Silva down the right and whips a brilliant low ball across the six-yard box, but none of his teammates gambled and it heads harmlessly out of play.
We are going to have four minutes of stoppage time.
Palace have got everyone back inside their own half as City keep up the pressure. The visitors are still trying to work their way through, but at the moment they just can't find any space.
FULL-TIME: Crystal Palace 2-1 Manchester City
The final whistle blows at Selhurst Park and Crystal Palace have held on to claim the points. Glenn Murray and Jason Puncheon scored the vital goals, with a late strike from Yaya Toure unable to inspire a fightback. That is a massive blow to City's title hopes and they stay nine points behind leaders Chelsea.
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That's all we've got time for after a stunning game this evening. I'll be back later to bring you analysis and player ratings from the match so stay tuned for that. Until then, goodbye!
Written by
Alex Meyers
Alex Meyers
