Manchester City moved level on points with Chelsea at the top of the Premier League with an easy 3-0 victory over Crystal Palace.
For a side starting this game with no strikers on the pitch, to be one goal short of the 4-0 win that would have put them top of the table (on goals scored, with 37) was quite a feat for Manchester City against Crystal Palace.
By the end of this display of patient passing and probing, much of the crowd had enjoyed it, too. There may not have been any recognised attackers on the pitch, but three goals had been scored and an eighth consecutive victory assured.
With James Milner otherwise occupied in a forward role, the raiding down the flanks of Jesus Navas and the two full-backs suddenly served to open the visitors up in a bright second-half spell between the beginning of the half and the 65th minute.
On this showing, the likes of Edin Dzeko, Stevan Jovetic and Sergio Aguero may yet struggle to get back into a City side that is clearly moving into some serious trophy-chasing form.
Player ratings (1-10; 10 = best. Players introduced after 70 minutes get no rating):
GK Joe Hart, 7 — Another game spent attempting to keep his body temperature up to a decent level. Called upon to first clear on a couple of occasions (making contact with his chin on one), but little of serious note to keep out from a shot-shy Palace attack until the final five minutes.
DF Pablo Zabaleta, 8 — Another controlled display of textbook tackling and support play up the right flank. Was through on the goalkeeper after 44 minutes but dinked his final effort just wide of the far post. Played the final ball in for David Silva’s first goal on one of his many forays into the opposition penalty box.
DF Martin Demichelis, 7 — Interesting spat with the giant Brede Hangeland at set pieces and with Fraizer Campbell in open play, but little else of note to do. Continues to look the part alongside Eliaquim Mangala, with both having solid games. One dubious tackle on Yannick Bolasie might have yielded a penalty, but the referee was not interested.
DF Eliaquim Mangala, 7 — Has clearly moved into another phase of his City development. Unhurried and accurate in his delivery, fast to intercept balls coming in to the near post, his form is unrecognisable from the nervy early games. A broad smile when wrongly penalised by a linesman’s flag showed him to be in a relaxed mood.
DF Aleksandar Kolarov, 7 — His slow start mirrored the performance of many on the pitch, but he played a robust part in City’s up-tempo game after the break. Also fed in a wonderfully accurate left foot cross for David Silva’s second goal — a reward for the string of passes he had provided from the left all afternoon.
MF Fernandinho, 7 — It was Fernandinho who delivered the crucial defence-splitting ball to Zabaleta for the Argentinean to set up the opening goal. Up to that point, the wiry Brazilian had had his usual tidy game in deep midfield, an essential conduit through which so many of City’s critical out balls can be fed as defence is turned quickly into attack.
MF Yaya Toure, 8 — Supported the attack well and was a constant feature in City’s extensive passing repertoire, finishing off a great move with a rasping shot in off the near post for the third goal. By this time he had already three efforts over the bar and looked closer to his all-action best.
MF Samir Nasri, 8 — What a clever little player the Frenchman is, weaving and turning through the massed ranks of defenders. Often forced to play laterally rather than being able to force a meaningful hole in the wall of opposition players he faced, but nonetheless instrumental in pulling the visitors out of shape.
MF Jesus Navas, 7 — The customary mix of fast raiding down the flank and dithering when in a dangerous position, Navas seemed to suffer from the fact that there was frequently little to aim at in the box and found the barnstorming Zabaleta performing his role better than he could for much of the time.
FW James Milner, 7 — Great effort as always from Milner, as he closed down spaces between Palace goalkeeper Julian Speroni and his defenders as athletically as he could. Did his best to unsettle an unambitious Palace side, which often packed eight or nine behind the ball.
MF David Silva, 9 — Man of the match display from the little Spaniard, weighing in with a fortunate deflection and a sublime finish for the first two City goals. Was often further forward than the nominal striker Milner and made hay around the packed Palace defence.
David Silva struck twice for City, who played the match without a recognised striker up front.
Substitutes:
MF Frank Lampard, 7 — On for Silva after 68 minutes to bring a sense of enduring calm to the City middle orders as Palace’s shape began to break down.
MF Fernando, N/R — Not enough time to rate and only managed nine minutes of midfield action, the most notable of which was to fail to deliver a through pass to fellow substitute Scott Sinclair when the opportunity arose.
MF Scott Sinclair, NR — Arrived in the 88th minute for his first league game since April 2013 to a bemused reaction from the crowd and almost had the chance to really set the place alight, but Fernando failed to play him in for a shot at Speroni.