MX23RW : Thursday, November 21 17:38:25| >> :120:4506:4506:

Edin Dzeko goal puts Manchester City top

Manchester City move to the top of the Premier League table with a narrow 1-0 win over Crystal Palace.

A goal in the second half from Edin Dzeko was enough for Manchester City to maintain their 100% home record against a spirited Crystal Palace and move to the top of the Premier League table.

City could have gone ahead inside five minutes as Dzeko beat the offside trap to latch on to David Silva's ball, but could only scuff his left-footed effort wide.

Dedryck Boyata of Manchester City competes with Yannick Bolasie of Crystal Palace during the Barclays Premier League match on December 28, 2013© Getty Images

Silva then had a chance of his own as he played a one-two with Fernandinho but rifled his effort just wide from the edge of the box.

Palace, under pressure up to this point, managed their first effort on goal when Yannick Bolasie collected a diagonal pass from Jason Puncheon before cutting inside and shooting off target.

The visitors started to improve and were on top of the game after the half-hour mark, when Bolasie put in a dangerous cross that Puncheon could not turn in on the stretch.

Just before the break Fernandinho came as close as City managed as he tested Julian Speroni into action with a header that was tipped over the bar.

After the break Puncheon almost matched Dwight Gayle's winner against Aston Villa, as he beat Joe Hart with a superb strike that curled just wide of the post.

Manchester City's Bosnian striker Edin Dzeko celebrates with Alvaro Negredo and Vincent Kompany after a goal against Crystal Palace on December 28, 2013© Getty Images

Not long afterwards City finally created a chance good enough for them to take the lead. Jesus Navas picked up a partially cleared cross and found Dzeko, who side-footed the ball in for a City lead.

Palace might have levelled soon after the goal, but Joel Ward's ferocious strike was tipped wide by Hart. A final good chance proved too much for Palace to muster and they fell to a narrow, yet spirited, defeat.

ID:126975: cacheID:126975:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:4441:No Data Analysis info
Restore Data
Share this article now:
Dedryck Boyata of Manchester City competes with Yannick Bolasie of Crystal Palace during the Barclays Premier League match on December 28, 2013
Read Next:
Half-Time Report: Palace holding City
>
rhs 2.0
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


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!