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Manuel Pellegrini blames fatigue for below-par display

Manuel Pellegrini says that Manchester City are feeling the pace of a busy festive schedule following today's 1-0 win over Crystal Palace.

Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini has said that his team felt tired ahead of this afternoon's Premier League encounter with Crystal Palace.

City needed a 66th-minute goal from Edin Dzeko to overcome a revitalised Eagles outfit led by Tony Pulis at the Etihad Stadium.

"Of course I was very concerned," the Chilean coach told Sky Sports News. "Before the match, I said when we finished against Liverpool, 48 hours it is impossible to recover for players.

"We didn't have our team fresh and it is very difficult when just one team want to play and the other just wants to defend. So, that was the game we saw today. That is not what we are used to do at the Etihad."

The Citizens top the league table overnight.

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Manchester City's English goalkeeper Joe Hart leaves the pitch sporting a cut to his face after the English Premier League football match against Crystal Palace on December 28, 2013
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Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool119112161528
2Manchester CityMan City117222213923
3Chelsea115422113819
4Arsenal115421812619
5Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest115421510519
6Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton115421915419
7Fulham115331613318
8Newcastle UnitedNewcastle115331311218
9Aston Villa115331717018
10Tottenham HotspurSpurs1151523131016
11Brentford115152222016
12Bournemouth114341515015
13Manchester UnitedMan Utd114341212015
14West Ham UnitedWest Ham113351319-612
15Leicester CityLeicester112451421-710
16Everton112451017-710
17Ipswich TownIpswich111551222-108
18Crystal Palace11146815-77
19Wolverhampton WanderersWolves111371627-116
20Southampton11119721-144


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