Crystal Palace shocked the Etihad with a 3-2 win by defeating the Man City on Saturday. Andros Townsend smashed home a sublime 30-yard volley to help Palace cause the biggest shock of the campaign to date by claiming their first win at City.
First, Jeffrey Schlupp equalised with a fizzing angled drive into the bottom corner after meeting James McArthur’s pass on the edge of the area. Then Townsend gave the visitors the lead with a contender for goal of the season.
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The home fans, and everyone else present, anticipated a fightback but Palace quickly kept playing. City sent Kevin de Bruyne, so often a hero of last season’s procession to the title, into the rain to attempt a rescue mission but this was beyond even him.
Palace’s past two visits to Etihad Stadium had ended in 5-0 defeats, but Eagles boss Roy Hodgson said before the game he would not simply attempt to shut City out, and he was true to his word.
Whenever City had the ball – they had 78% of possession – they were allowed little space once they advanced into the Palace half.
City’s usual precision passing failed to find any gaps and the home side were reduced to firing in hopeful crosses – 30 from open play alone – in a vain bid to open the visitors up.
But there was nothing but acclaim for Hodgson and his players at the final whistle on Saturday, as they joined their travelling supporters to celebrate a famous victory.
Both teams are in action at 15:00 GMT on 26 December, with Palace hosting Cardiff, and Manchester City travelling to Leicester, the scene of their penalty shootout win in the Carabao Cup on Tuesday.
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