Crystal Palace 2, Manchester City 2
Manchester City came from behind to salvage a point at Selhurst Park after Crystal Palace deserved to hold on for a win against the ailing Blues.
City have now won just one game in their last nine – and their hosts arguably deserved more than a point after City midfielder Rico Lewis – who scored their second equaliser – was sent off for a second book able offence with six minutes to go.
Eagles full back Daniel Munoz had earlier been given the freedom of Selhurst Park to open the scoring after just four minutes following a great pass by Will Hughes to pick him out with Kyle Walker at fault for playing him onside.
Erling Haaland converted Matheus Nunes’ cross to head home the equaliser after half an hour.
But the Blues failed to heed the warning as they fell to another set piece as Hughes’ corner was headed past Stefan Ortega by Maxence Lacroix after 56 minutes.
Rico Lewis’ smart finish looked to have earned a point for City after Bernardo Silva set him up for a fine shot into the top corner from the edge of the box.
But the young defender was sent off for a second yellow card after a foul on Trevoh Chalobah with 6 minutes to go.
The red card cannot be appealed as it was a second yellow card and it leaves City with just three recognised defenders for the visit of United on Sunday in an eagerly awaited Manchester Derby.
The out of form Walker will have to form a defence with Ruben Dias and Josko Gvardiol as the only available senior defenders to City boss Pep Guardiola.
City are eight points behind leaders Liverpool who saw their Merseyside derby at Goodison Park postponed due to Storm Darragh but the search for a bit of consistency continues with a trip to Juventus on Tuesday.
It’s a game which Lewis will be available for and they will travel to a Juve side who have been hard to beat but in indifferent form recently.