Manuel Pellegrini: 'Penalty wasn't crucial'

Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini has said that his side's controversial penalty was not a crucial factor in deciding this afternoon's match against Everton.

City were awarded a seemingly harsh spot kick midway through the second half when Seamus Coleman was adjudged to have pulled down Pablo Zabaleta.

Sergio Aguero's penalty was saved by Tim Howard, but the ball rebounded back off the American keeper and crossed the line for an own goal.

That completed the scoring in a 3-1 win for City and effectively ended the Toffees' challenge in the match.

However, Pellegrini is convinced that his side would have gone on to win even if the penalty had not been given.

He told BBC Sport: "I don't think the score of this game was for a penalty kick or not a penalty kick.

"We had at least four or five clear chances to score and I don't remember Everton having too many chances to score, so I don't think the difference between the two teams was the penalty."

City are currently the Premier League's highest scorers this season, averaging 2.43 goals per game.