Crystal Palace 0, Manchester City 2
Two goals in 93 first half seconds earned Manchester City three valuable points as they got their Premier League challenge back on track at Crystal Palace.
Embed from Getty ImagesGabriel Jesus and David Silva scored the goals as City bounced back from a home defeat to Wolverhampton Wanderers before the international break.
Selhurst Park was hardly the ideal place to visit after Wolves’ surprise win at the Etihad two weeks ago.
Things didn’t bode well when City boss Pep Guardiola didn’t name any recognised central defenders in the City line-up.
Kyle Walker was ruled out following his stomach complaint in the Wolves match while Nicolas Otamendi suffered a knock on international duty with Argentina.
Riyad Mahrez, and Sergio Aguero stepped down and were replaced by Benjamin Mendy, Bernardo Silva, Kevin De Bruyne, and Gabriel Jesus.
Rodri and Fernandinho central defence for Manchester City
This meant City’s defence consisted of Fernandinho and Rodri flanked by just fit-again Mendy and Premier League rookie Joao Cancelo.
They were hardly troubled though, even with the odd slip, as City rose to the occasion and dominated their hosts, scoring twice in two minutes at the end of the first half after being thwarted foe much of the first half by Palace keeper Wayne Hennessey.
Hennessey had to pull off a string of saves from the likes of Ilkay Gundogan and Bernardo Silva.
He had to be quick to stop an own goal from Cheikhou Kouyate while he breathed a sigh of relief after De Bruyne’s header beat him but came back off the far post later in the game.
This wasn’t to be a game for goalkeepers though after two qualify strikes settled the game.
Jesus’ flying header converted Bernardo Silva’s cross from the right after 39 minutes while David Silva’s volley was a work of art after Raheem Sterling’s lobbed pass just 93 seconds later.
On another day Sterling could have added to his goal tally but his best effort shaved the woodwork while he was wayward with other chances that came his way.
Palace threatened briefly, also hitting the woodwork, but were held at bay with two brilliant saves by Ederson.
Ederson saved from Palace substitute Christian Benteke, tipping his header onto the bar, and also stopped a Wilfried Zaha shot.
The Ivory Coast striker had been lucky to not concede a penalty after referee Anthony Taylor waved away claims from De Bruyne after an apparent push on the Belgian and VAR stood by the referee’s decision.
It was the perfect tonic to pick City up before a difficult Champions League game against Atalanta at the Etihad Stadium on Tuesday.
MATCH STATS – Crystal Palace 0, Manchester City 2
Crystal Palace: Hennessey, Ward, Tomkins (Dann 83), Cahill, Van Aanholt, Zaha, Kouyate, Milivojevic (Benteke 76), McArthur, Schlupp (Townsend 55), J Ajew
Crystal Palace Subs not used: Meyer, Henderson, McCathy, Riedewald
Booked: Milivojevic
Man City: Ederson, Cancelo, Fernandinho, Rodri, Mendy, De Bruyne (Foden 90+1), Gundogan, David Silva (Stones 79), Bernardo Silva, Sterling, Gabriel Jesus
Man City Subs not used: Bravo, Aguero, Angelino, Mahrez, Garcia
Booked: Sterling
Goals: Jesus 39, David Silva 41
Referee: Anthony Taylor