Manchester City Crash At Crystal Palace, EPL Title Hopes Take Massive Blow

Manchester City’s Premier League title hopes for this season is virtually over after a stunning 2-1 defeat to Crystal Palace Monday night. The Blues entered the game nine points behind leaders Chelsea, who also have a game in hand, and had even dropped behind city rivals Manchester United, who now sit a point ahead in third place on the table.

As usual, City dominated possession for much of the game, and were unlucky not to go in front when Sergio Aguero’s shot deflected off the post in the 19^th minute. The team kept the pressure on for much of the half but had no goal to show for their efforts, and it was finally Palace who took the lead through a controversial Glenn Murray goal.

City cleared an initial Palace corner but it was immediately floated back into the box by Joel Ward right into the path of Scott Dann, whose shot was saved by Joe Hart, but Glenn Murray kept calm to poke the ball into the net. Replays showed both Dann and Murray might have been offside.

The Blues had no excuses for Palace’s second goal though, a beautifully placed Jason Puncheon free kick into the bottom right corner of the net barely three minutes into the start of the second half. Yet again, it was Murray involved, being the Palace player fouled in the first place.

His involvement in the game was to not end there, as Man City’s appeals for a penalty were waived by referee Michael Oliver after it looked like Murray had cleared handled the ball inside the box. City finally scored in the 78^th minute with a left footed belter from Yaya Toure, but it ultimately proved only to be a consolation goal as Palace held out for a well deserved victory.

The defeat left City in fourth place on 61 points, with Manchester United and Arsenal having overtaken them this weekend. Leaders Chelsea, meanwhile, are nine points ahead on 70 points, with a game still in hand. The club’s poor form – three losses in their last five matches- could be dangerous with Liverpool and Tottenham still chasing a top four spot to qualify for the Champions League. It also bought into focus Manuel Pellegrini’s future at the club.

"I'm not concerned about my job. That is one thing I am never concerned with. I never have fear about it, I do my work, I'm very happy. The team maybe have a difficult season but never worry about me,” Pellegrini told to reporters after the game.

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