MAN CITY 4, CRYSTAL PALACE 0
Manchester City completed a hat trick of victories of victories against Crystal Palace in the current campaign.
It was an impressive showing from City as they temporarily went back to the summit of the Barclays Premier League.
The victory followed on from an away-day success at Selhurst Park and emphatic 5-1 win in the Capital One Cup as they have put 10 goals past them this season, conceding only one.
A double from Sergio Aguero and one goal apiece from Fabian Delph and David Silva made it a joyous afternoon for City after they fired a rare blank in Wednesday’s home goalless draw against Everton.
But it was an afternoon to forget for Palace who have now failed to score in five Premier League games and have picked up two points from a possible 15 as they have begun to fade after a scintillating start to the season.
Palace were slightly unlucky as they more than matched City in the opening half when they failed to take a couple of glorious chances. City, by contrast, were blessed with an element of good fortune to hold a 2-0 interval lead as goalkeeper Wayne Hennessey ought to have done better for both goal.
City manager Manuel Pellegrini was delighted with the victory, especially in view of making five changes from midweek.
He explained: “We have so many matches in January that it is important to have all the squad involved.
“To make five changes and win the way we did today was very important.”
Pellegrini added it was important to score the first goal of the game as that afforded them more space as Palace were forced to open up.
“We are used to coming up against teams with eight or nine players behind the ball but, when we have space, we are more dangerous.”
Pellegrini was also delighted to see Aguero back to his best after an injury-disrupted campaign.
“Though Kun (Aguero) didn’t score in the last game he had one or two chances and made all the movement that he does when he is 100-per-cent fit, and every game he will continue to improve,” he explained.
And City’s manager added that if all his top players remain injury free for the remainder of the season, they will be strong. But even in the absence of the likes of Vincent Kompany, he says he trusts all his players.
Palace manager Alan Pardew described it as a “strange game”.
He explained: “It was not a bad performance and we got into some good positions and posed a threat to City’s goal, something we have not done in other games recently.
“It was a complex result, one that didn’t reflect what happened on the pitch.”
City made five changes from the side that kicked off in Wednesday’s home goalless draw against Everton.
There were recalls for Pablo Zabaleta and Aleksandar Kolarov in defence, midfield pair Silva and Delph and Kelechi Iheanacho.
The players to lose out were Raheem Sterling, Yaya Toure, Jesus Navas, Gael Clichy and Bacary Sagna.
Palace made a bright start and dominated possession in the opening 22 minutes as having an extra player in central midfield enabled them to posed problems for City.
They might even have snatched a second-minute lead when Damien Delaney was afforded a free header from Connor Wickham’s cross forced a great save from Joe Hart.
And it was against the run of play that City took the lead in the 22nd minute against the run of play when Delph made a burst forward and struck a 30-yard drive which arrowed into the bottom corner, though keeper Hennessey will be disappointed as it squeezed under his outstretched arm. It was Delph’s second goal for City.
Palace might have equalised two minutes when Hart’s clearance was charged down by James McArthur. The ball ran free to Delaney who fired over.
And they had another great chance after 33 minutes when Yohan Cabaye struck a free kick over the defensive wall, but Hart pulled off a magnificent save low to his left to turn away the goalbound shot.
But City made it 2-0 against the run of play as Iheanacho cut the ball back to Aguero whose 25-yard shot deflected off Scott Dann and low past the wrong-footed Hennessey for his 12th goal of the season. He has now netted against 19 of the 20 Premier League teams, Leicester being the one elusive club.
City were forced to make a change five minutes into the second half when Clichy replaced the injured Kolarov who left the field on a stretcher after suffering a kick to his calf.
And there was soon a second change when Toure came on for Iheanacho.
Palace remained a threat as Wilfried Saha layed the ball off to Joel Ward whose drive flew narrowly.
But City extended their lead after 68 minutes through Aguero following a flowing move. Silva robbed Ward in the centre of the pitch and the move also involved Aguero, Toure and Kevin De Bruyne who squared a pass to Aguero who fired high into the net from six yards.
Palace continued to create chances as Cabaye’s 35-yard drive looked goalbound until it swerved just wide at the last minute.
It got even better for City when they added a fourth goal with six minutes left. De Bruyne released Aguero who broke from half way, beating Ward and drawing Hennessey before squaring a pass to Silva who fired into an empty net from eight yards. It was only his third goal of the season.
Aguero immediately made way for Navas, City third and final change and they didn’t need to take any undue risks with the game won.