Partied-out City bungle as title hopes evaporate
ALL that partying with Instagram models may have left Manchester City’s players short of puff at the wrong moment.
Having roused themselves from an early setback against Crystal Palace to lead with a couple of Sergio Aguero goals, nobody in a sky-blue shirt could keep up with Wilfried Zaha in the last minute of normal time.
When the Palace winger reached the byeline and crossed, Fernandinho could only stick out a tired leg to divert the ball past his goalkeeper Ederson.
It meant another miserable home result for City against Palace, who were the only visiting team to win at the Etihad last season. On his 49th birthday, Pep Guardiola found his side 13 points behind Liverpool having played two games more.
Although he said he didn’t mind his players living it up with 22 invited women at a Cheshire hotel last weekend to celebrate a 6-1 win at Aston Villa, Guardiola’s mood suggested cheese and pickle sandwiches at a motorway service station might be more appropriate this time.
The City manager was fuming that his side didn’t stay compact for the final few minutes having turned around a 1-0 deficit.
‘The second goal is a mistake. You can not allow Zaha to run, simple,’ he said. ‘It was the wrong decision.
‘In those positions you need to have your back four together and not let them run. We can not let them run in this counter-attack.’
In contrast, Palace boss Roy Hodgson — missing seven key players through injury and suspension — rated yesterday’s battling point as even better than last season’s thrilling 3-2 win.
‘I was proud of last years’ win and perhaps even more proud with this draw,’ he said. ‘There was much more reason to fear a defeat. It is only a point but an important point. I am really pleased with it.
‘City had a strong line-up and a strong bench — almost a direct opposite to where we find ourselves.’
Kevin De Bruyne struck the underside of the crossbar with a thunderous free-kick, Raheem Sterling headed over and Aguero was denied the opening goal by a well-timed tackle from James McCarthy.
But Palace have a reputation for being one of the most resilient teams in the business and, after 39 minutes, a James McCarthy corner found Gary Cahill at the far post. He headed into the danger zone and Cenk Tosun beat Ederson with a glancing header of his own.
After 82 minutes, Benjamin Mendy fired a cross towards substitute Gabriel Jesus and his control was excellent before he dinked a ball to the far post.
It split three Palace defenders but did not evade Aguero, who stuck out a foot to turn the ball in with his right boot for his 250th Manchester City goal.
The 251st wasn’t long in coming — a firm header past Vicente Guaita from inside the six-yard box after Mendy crossed.
But, just as City were congratulating themselves on a wonderful comeback, Zaha sped past Joao Cancelo and John Stones down the left and crossed towards sub Connor Wickham.
But Fernandinho got there first and inadvertently put the ball past his own goalkeeper to gift Palace a point and leave the Etihad fuming.