MX23RW : Saturday, December 14 16:38:55| >> :60:3535:3535:

Manchester City title hopes all but over after defeat to Crystal Palace

Manchester City's hopes of retaining the Premier League trophy are all but over after succumbing to a 2-1 defeat at the hands of Crystal Palace on Monday night.

Manchester City's hopes of retaining the Premier League title are all but over after Manuel Pellegrini's charges succumbed to a 2-1 defeat at the hands of Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park on Monday night.

Jason Puncheon of Crystal Palace celebrates scoring his team's second goal during the Barclays Premier League match between Crystal Palace and Manchester City at Selhurst Park on April 6, 2015© Getty Images

The hosts came within a whisker of taking the lead just a minute into the match, Martin Kelly whipping a ball to the back post that Jason Puncheon miskicked and Wilfried Zaha blasted wide.

City slowly worked their way into the game and nearly opened the scoring 15 minutes in when Sergio Aguero rounded Julian Speroni before squaring to David Silva, but the Palace keeper rushed back to save with his shoulder.

The visitors went on to enjoy a dominant spell, Fernandinho firing wide from just outside the box and Aguero blasting an effort off the post with Speroni stranded.

Palace then repelled further efforts from Silva and Aguero before countering in spectacular fashion just after the half-hour mark.

Wilfried Zaha of Crystal Palace misses from close range during the Barclays Premier League match between Crystal Palace and Manchester City at Selhurst Park on April 6, 2015© Getty Images

Joe Ledley sent the ball into the City box where Scott Dann was on hand to lash towards goal, and even though Joe Hart saved the initial effort, Glenn Murray pounced at the far post to tap home.

Vincent Kompany went on to argue with referee Michael Oliver, claiming that several Eagles players were offside, but the goal stood nonetheless.

It would get worse for City after the restart, because Fernandinho's foul on Murray three minutes in gave Palace a free kick just outside the box, which Puncheon expertly curled past Hart and into the net to leave the champions two goals down.

The visitors quickly set about trying to reduce the deficit, and were nearly rewarded just before the hour when Toure's free kick curled just inches over the bar, while Silva blasted a long-range effort wide moments later.

Yaya Toure of Manchester City celebrates his goal during the Barclays Premier League match between Crystal Palace and Manchester City at Selhurst Park on April 6, 2015© Getty Images

There was yet more controversy for City when Fernandinho's shot in the 71st minute appeared to have been handled by Murray in the area, but the referee turned their claims down once again.

Palace's backline eventually crumbled when Toure collected the ball outside the box and unleashed a left-footed drive that beat the diving Speroni on its way into the back of the net.

The latter stages of the game saw the hosts under siege as the champions desperately sought to claw back whatever remaining hopes they had of retaining the title.

Despite a flurry of efforts from virtually the entirety of City's frontline, Palace held firm and saw the game out, leaving their opponents nine points behind Premier League leaders Chelsea, who also have a game in hand.

Meanwhile, Palace climb to 11th in the table and can lay claim to being influential in the title race for the second year in a row, after their emphatic 3-3 draw against Liverpool a year ago at Selhurst Park killed off the Reds' trophy dreams.

ID:215652: cacheID:215652:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:7419:
Written by
Giuseppe Labellarte
No Data Analysis info
Restore Data
Share this article now:
Wilfried Zaha of Crystal Palace misses from close range during the Barclays Premier League match between Crystal Palace and Manchester City at Selhurst Park on April 6, 2015
Read Next:
Half-Time Report: Palace take shock lead against Man City
>
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool14112129111835
2Chelsea1594235181731
3Arsenal1585229151429
4Manchester CityMan City158342721627
5Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest157441918125
6Aston Villa157442323025
7Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton156632522324
8Bournemouth157352320324
9Brentford157263128323
10Fulham156542220223
11Tottenham HotspurSpurs1562731191220
12Newcastle UnitedNewcastle155551921-220
13Manchester UnitedMan Utd155461918119
14West Ham UnitedWest Ham155372028-818
15Everton143561421-714
16Leicester CityLeicester153572130-914
17Crystal Palace152761420-613
18Ipswich TownIpswich151681427-139
19Wolverhampton WanderersWolves1523102338-159
20Southampton1512121131-205


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!