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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.

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Dedryck Boyata of Manchester City competes with Yannick Bolasie of Crystal Palace during the Barclays Premier League match on December 28, 2013
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Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Manchester CityMan City97202091123
2Liverpool97111751222
3Arsenal95311710718
4Aston Villa95311611518
5Chelsea95221911817
6Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton94411612416
7Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest9441117416
8Tottenham HotspurSpurs94141810813
9Brentford94141818013
10Fulham93331212012
11Bournemouth93331111012
12Newcastle UnitedNewcastle9333910-112
13West Ham UnitedWest Ham93241316-311
14Manchester UnitedMan Utd9324811-311
15Leicester CityLeicester92341317-49
16Everton92341016-69
17Crystal Palace9135611-56
18Ipswich TownIpswich9045920-114
19Wolverhampton WanderersWolves90271225-132
20Southampton9018619-131


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