Manuel Pellegrini blames fatigue for below-par display

Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini has said that his team felt tired ahead of this afternoon's Premier League encounter with Crystal Palace.

City needed a 66th-minute goal from Edin Dzeko to overcome a revitalised Eagles outfit led by Tony Pulis at the Etihad Stadium.

"Of course I was very concerned," the Chilean coach told Sky Sports News. "Before the match, I said when we finished against Liverpool, 48 hours it is impossible to recover for players.

"We didn't have our team fresh and it is very difficult when just one team want to play and the other just wants to defend. So, that was the game we saw today. That is not what we are used to do at the Etihad."

The Citizens top the league table overnight.