Andros stunner as City Kop a title setback
Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola called for calm despite losing ground on league leaders Liverpool.
Andros Townsend smashed home a sublime 30-yard volley as Crystal Palace stunned City in their first win at the Sky Blues in 28 years.
Ilkay Gundogan put City ahead but Roy Hodgson’s Palace fought back through Jeffrey Schlupp and Townsend.
Luka Milivojevic followed up with a penalty before Kevin De Bruyne pulled one back but City could not break through again.
Guardiola said: “It is better to win but there are a lot of games to play.
“The problem is when you think about the future and are not in the present.
“Sometimes football is like this. Sometimes a team shoots three times and get three goals.
“Their second goal was an incredible goal and the third goal, we have to avoid it. But the response was perfect, you cannot say that they didn’t try.”
The game appeared to be following a familiar script when Gundogan ghosted into the box to head City into the lead from Fabian Delph’s cross.
But the events of the next eight minutes left the home fans in stunned silence.
First, Jeffrey Schlupp levelled with an angled drive into the bottom corner after meeting James McArthur’s pass on the edge of the box.
Then Townsend gave the visitors the lead with a fabulous volley after Bernardo Silva halfcleared a free-kick.
In 51 minutes Milivojevic slammed home after Max Mayer was felled in the box.
With time running out Belgian star De Bruyne hit a cross that ended up going past Palace keeper Vicente Guaita.
Gabriel Jesus then botched a header that could have stole a draw but it ballooned over.
Palace gaffer Roy Hodgson said: “Today was one of those bonanza days. It makes you wonder where they’ve been.”