Crystal Palace 2 - 1 Manchester City: Match report

Glenn Murray celebrates opening the scoring for Crystal Palace. Picture: Getty

Scorers: Palace - Murray (34), Puncheon (48); City - Toure (78)

Murray fired Palace ahead in the first half and Jason Puncheon crashed in a superb second to deal what looks to be a fatal blow to City’s already slim hopes of retaining their crown.

The fading champions pulled one back through Yaya Toure but are now nine points adrift of leaders Chelsea, having slipped to fourth place following wins by Arsenal and Manchester United over Easter.

So poor is their current form – three defeats in five matches – that City have suddenly found themselves as the team Liverpool and Tottenham will be eyeing up as they attempt to steal fourth spot and, unthinkably, deny them a Champions League place.

In contrast, it was another big scalp and a memorable night for Palace, whose revival under manager Alan Pardew shows no sign of letting up.

The hosts gave City a warning that this would not be a routine assignment in the opening seconds when Martin Kelly whipped the ball in behind City’s defence.

Puncheon slid in but could not get a touch and Wilfred Zaha, also at full stretch as he arrived at the far post, could only lift the ball over the top.

It was a big chance and the miss almost proved costly when Sergio Aguero fashioned City’s first opportunity, racing on to Joe Hart’s long clearance and rounding Julian Speroni. With the angle too tight to shoot, Aguero squared the ball to David Silva but Palace goalkeeper Speroni got back to deflect the shot over with his shoulder. Moments later, Aguero made space on the edge of the area and beat Speroni, only to see his shot come back off tthe post.

With the pressure building, a goal seemed inevitable, but when it came it went to Palace.

Joel Ward pumped the ball back into the danger area after City had cleared a corner, Joe Ledley flicked it on and Dann’s shot was blocked by Hart only for Murray to tap in the rebound.

City furiously appealed for offside, claiming both Dann and Murray were beyond the last man, but the flag stayed down and skipper Vincent Kompany’s lengthy protests to referee Michael Oliver proved in vain.

But, if there were question marks about the first goal, there was nothing wrong with the second three minutes after the interval. Murray was barged over 25 yards out and Puncheon stepped up to curl a stunning free kick over the wall and beyond the despairing dive of Hart.

City’s frustration grew when they had appeals for a penalty waved away after the ball appeared to strike Murray’s hand in the area.

Toure’s ferocious curler 12 minutes from the end halved the deficit but they could not find an equaliser, and the final whistle sparked wild celebrations in south London – and probably parts of west London as well.

Crystal Palace: Speroni, Ward, Dann, Delaney, Kelly, Ledley, Zaha (Gayle 88), Puncheon, McArthur, Bolasie (Souare 84), Murray (Sanogo 83). Subs not used: Hangeland, Hennessey, Ameobi, Boateng.

Manchester City: Hart, Sagna, Kompany, Demichelis, Clichy, Jesus Navas (Nasri 77), Toure, Fernandinho (Milner 88),Silva, Aguero, Dzeko (Lampard 66). Subs not used: Zabaleta, Fernando, Caballero, Mangala.