The first half was a tight affair and Palace gave as much as they got and created chances through Yannick Bolasie and Mile Jedinak while City struggled to create clear chances with no arrowhead in attack.
The closest goal chance happened in the 18th minute when Jedinak got on the end of a cross from Jason Puncheon and Joe Hart had to make a close range save.
City ended the first half on top as they sought the opening goal but Palace always had like nine players behind the ball.
But two minutes into the second half, the deadlock was broken. Pablo Zabaleta made a good run into the box on a Fernandinho pass and cut back for David Silva’s shot took a deflection off Scott Dann and bounced over Julian Speroni.
After that City took complete control with neat passing and 61 minutes into the encounter, Silva got his second off more incisive passing. Alexander Kolorov was allowed space to cross, which Silva gratefully accepted with a nice half volley.
Palace were then denied what looked a legitimate goal from a Steven McArthur header as Video replays showed Fernandinho played the midfielder onside with Neil Warnock fuming on the touchline. Frank Lampard replaced Silva to rapturous ovation from the City fans as the midfielder gets up to speed after a lengthy injury period.
The match was finally ended as a contest when on a counter attack; Yaya Toure blasted a shot in off the right-hand post. Martin Demichelis almost took off some of the gloss of the win in added time but his clearance missed goal by inches. Now it is up to Chelsea to take up the challenge.
[myad]
