Report & Reaction: Late Haaland penalty gives Man City victory

Summary:

• Milivojevic and Schlupp come into starting XI for Eze and the suspended Doucouré
• Rodri volley forces Guaita into an early save
• Grealish checks inside but fires wide for the visitors
• Zaha miscues inside box as both teams enjoy early chances in SE25
• City dominate possession but Palace threaten on the counter
• Haaland blazes clear chance over from six yards
• Palace go direct as Zaha effort deflects narrowly wide
• Visitors apply pressure but Palace hold firm
• HT: Palace 0-0 Manchester City
• City start second-half brightly as Guaita beats away Gundogan free-kick
• Alvarez turns sharply and shoots over when well-placed
• City increase the pressure but Palace defend set-pieces well
• Visitors take the lead with quarter-of-an-hour remaining as Haaland converts penalty kick
• Norwegian fires wide from one-on-one with Guaita moments later
• Haaland heads over from close range as Palace commit bodies forward
• Hosts apply surge of pressure but cannot find late equaliser
• FT: Palace 0-1 Manchester City

Heading into a period in which Palace were set to face the Premier League’s top two sides – plus Brighton & Hove Albion away – in the space of eight days, Patrick Vieira had called for his players to deliver a display against City of two ingredients: togetherness, and fearlessness.

They provided both, but in the end, it sadly did not prove enough.

With Luka Milivojevic starting in midfield in place of the suspended Cheick Doucouré, fear was never likely to be on the agenda, with the club captain and Jeffrey Schlupp returning to the starting XI as Palace’s two changes.

Nevertheless, Pep Guardiola’s City side remained the Premier League's top scorers this season by some margin, and set about their task at Selhurst with plenty of early attacking intent.

Indeed, Palace were grateful for the sharp reflexes of Vicente Guaita inside the opening few minutes, the Spaniard reacting quickly to beat away Rodri’s fierce volleyed effort following a half-cleared free-kick.

Jack Grealish was next to come close for the visitors, jinking inside the Palace defence and firing a low shot wide of the near post; Guaita again, however, had it covered.

With the visitors beginning to dominate possession, Palace were by no means passive offensively themselves, and could have gone ahead moments later when Nathaniel Clyne’s low ball into the box wouldn’t quite sit properly for Wilfried Zaha to connect from six yards.

With Schlupp and Michael Olise tucking inside for extra protection, and all 10 outfield players covering plenty of grass, City were probing consistently, but finding it difficult to create clear chances.

They should, however, have taken the lead after 26 minutes. With 27 goals in 25 Premier League appearances prior to the match, Erling Haaland seemed all-but-guaranteed to sweep home after being found six yards out by Nathan Aké, but the forward got his finish horribly wrong under pressure from Marc Guéhi.

The remainder of the first-half saw the same pattern apply; City dominated possession, with Palace continuing to look dangerous on the counter. Zaha came closest for the home side when his curling effort deflected narrowly wide of the far post.

When the players re-emerged after half-time, Palace once again showed their mettle against a high-flying team, their resilience and work-rate coming to the fore as they looked to deny the visitors any clear openings.

Yet when City can bring on the likes of World Cup winner Julian Alvarez off the bench, that is always likely to be a tall order, with the Argentine shortly after spinning intelligently on the edge of the box – but smashing a rising effort well clear of the bar when he perhaps should have scored.

No team have had a better defensive record from set-pieces in the Premier League this season than Palace, and that statistic was tested further in the second-half as City continued to deliver a barrage of crosses into the box.

Joachim Andersen in particular made a number of headed clearances under pressure, and Guaita saved stinging drives from distance from Alvarez and Ilkay Gundogan.

But as the game ticked into its final quarter-of-an-hour, City’s sustained attacks eventually led to the break-through; Olise was judged to have fouled Gundogan on the follow-through, and up stepped Haaland to send Guaita the wrong way from 12 yards and set the visitors on course for victory.

Palace poured bodies forwards in search of an equaliser, giving Haaland two further clear chances – firing wide when one-on-one, before heading over from a central position – but the margin remained just one goal.

Unfortunately, while second-half substitute Eze did see one shot deflect wide and Zaha's late pull-back narrowly evaded Edouard six yards from goal, Palace's one big moment in front of goal did not arrive - the home team frustrated once more, without reward for their showing of fight.

Palace: Guaita (GK), Clyne (Ward 71), Andersen, Guéhi, Mitchell, Milivojevic (Ahamada, 61), Lokonga, Ayew (Eze 70), Olise, Schlupp (Edouard, 70), Zaha

Subs: Whitworth (GK), Tomkins, Richards , Riedewald, Mateta

Manchester City: Ederson (GK), Dias, Stones (Walker 89), Aké, Akanji, Gundogan, Rodri, Silva (De Byurne 79), Foden (Alvarez, 58), Grealish, Haaland

Subs: Ortega (GK), Lewis, Phillips, Laporte, Mahrez, Palmer

Vieira: Our frustration is conceding the penalty

20:35

Patrick Vieira attributed Palace's defeat to Manchester City to a lack of concentration and organisation at a crucial moment.

Palace were once again competitive and resolute in their defending against an in-form opponent at Selhurst Park, but suffered a 1-0 loss after a foul on Ilkay Gundogan inside the box late on allowed Erling Haaland to convert the resulting penalty.

Vieira said: “It’s happened too many times when I’ve mentioned we should have got something from the game. I’m really frustrated because we defended well against City. We needed to defend well, and I think we did.

“The frustration is about conceding the penalty: this is something we should avoid, and the lack of concentration in that moment gave away the hard work from the players on the field today.

“We needed to make it tough because we know how good they are. We were well-disciplined, we were aggressive, we tried to kill those spaces they like to use, and I think we did it really well.

“But that moment from the corner, where there was a lack of attention and organisation… I expect the players, in those moments, to take more leadership, for somebody to have more voice and organise [us] to defend better.”

Vieira praised the display of goalkeeper Vicente Guaita, who made an impressive string of saves, saying: “Vince has been fantastic. Since I’ve been at this football club, he’s been really consistent in his performance and he was excellent today.

"All the 10 outfield players were really good because we needed to be at our best to stop City scoring goals and creating situations. Even at our best, it was tough and difficult, but to concede that penalty… there’s a lot of frustration.”

The manager backs 21-year-old Michael Olise, who conceded the late penalty, to learn from the experience: “We want to play in a better way, to create more chances and score goals. We want to play in a better way, but the process is taking time.

“Michael made that foul inside the box and that shows a lack of experience in those kind of important periods and moments, and this is how he’s going to learn.

“He has been excellent and Michael is growing as a player. He’s good out of possession and he understands the game better because he’s been playing a lot of games.

“Of course, sometimes that mistake will cost us like today, but overall he had a really good game and I’m happy with how he’s improving.”

Guaita: It's important we stick together

20:05

Vicente Guaita says togetherness is the most important quality Crystal Palace should retain from their performance in defeat to Manchester City on Saturday.

The Spaniard was once again on-hand to make a series of strong saves as Palace restricted their title-chasing visitors largely to shots from distance.

But that resistance was broken inside the final quarter-of-an-hour when City won a penalty, converted by Erling Haaland, to take all three points, despite Palace’s collective show of fight.

Guaita told Sky Sports: “I think the team worked hard for 90 or 95 minutes. [It was] good work, but today, [we were] unlucky. [They had] one chance… but I think the most important thing is the team was together for this game.

“I think it’s important the team is together, [and] looks up. Wednesday is another game [away to Brighton & Hove Albion]. Today we lost 1-0, but it’s part of football and next week, we’ll have another chance to take some points, because every game is important now.

“It’s [about being] together. Every game, every week, every day, the most important thing is Crystal Palace is all together.

“When you play, every game you want to take the points. Now, it’s about the next game because another team took the points [today].

“We stay in the same situation, but Wednesday we’ll have the chance to take points – this is the important [thing].”

Full-time

90+5 mins

There we are. City see out the narrowest of victories - and it's disappointment for Palace once more.

90+4 mins

We're deep into stoppage time but the ball is at the wrong end of the pitch...

90 mins

Ohhhh!

Zaha's brilliant skill leads to a pull-back which is begging to be converted... but it's fractions behind the run of Edouard! Ahhh...

88 mins

Time running out here for Palace to get back into this one.

For all their fight, they have once again deserved better.

85 mins

Handball?!

Ahamada and Eze play the ball around the City box and. the latter shoots, only for the effort to appear to deflect off Gundogan's arm... nothing doing from the referee.

Come on, lads...

84 mins

Haaland should have had another, getting his header all wrong after being found by Grealish.

Gaps opening up now as we pour bodies forward...

Double change for Palace

80 mins

Schlupp and Ayew come off, and on come Edouard and Eze.

A big 10 minutes ahead. Can we claw our way back into this one?

79 mins

They should have had another. Grealish plays him in but he fires wide under pressure from Guaita.

As if to make matters worse, De Bruyne comes on for City to replace Silva.

Haaland scores

78 mins

Here comes Haaland...

Into the bottom-left corner. City lead late on.

Penalty to City

76 mins

The visitors want a penalty after Gundogan comes together with Guéhi - but the centre-back won the ball.

But a moment later.. City have a penalty, as Olise is judged to have fouled the Germany midfielder on the follow-through.

73 mins

We've just been struggling to sustain any forward momentum in the last period of the game and, as a result, that ball keeps getting sucked right back towards our goal as City up the ante.

That could, of course, play into our hands, if we can make the increasing gaps at the back count on the break...

Second Palace substitution

71 mins

As City continue to turn up the heat on the Palace goalmouth, Joel Ward comes on to replace Nathaniel Clyne at right-back.

65 mins

40 yards from goal, Ahamada gets his head down and drives forward with the ball, appearing to be fouled by Rodri. The referee gives nothing and City eventually clear.

They then break and have a free-kick from a promising position... but Alvarez drives an effort straight at Guaita, who holds comfortably enough.

63 mins

Aké is booked after being beaten by Olise on the halfway line. A cynical foul.

First Palace substitution

61 mins

Naouirou Ahamada is on for Milivojevic in midfield.

60 mins

Alvarez is involved straight away as he produces some impressive skill to get into the box, but he blazes over in front of goal.

Decent chance, that.

58 mins

City make their first change as World Cup winner Julian Alvarez comes on for Foden, who's had a poor afternoon.

Moments later and Zaha spins Dias on the halfway line with some brilliant trickery, the Portuguese booked for his troubles.

Great save Guaita

56 mins

It's been a long delay before this one's been taken... there are an almighty number of players in that wall, both City and Palace...

Gundogan goes low towards the keeper's side.. and Guaita saves! Great stop once more.

54 mins

Now this is a chance for City.

The visitors have been applying plenty of pressure since the restart, and Milivojevic is adjudged to have pulled back Grealish inside the 'D'.

It's right on the edge of the box, but it's a free-kick which plenty of City players are interested in...

49 mins

City straight on the attack in the second-half, winning a free-kick and - subsequently - a corner in quick succession.

Palace deal with both comfortably enough, Andersen the ma heading clear at the second attempt.

Here we go again

46 mins

The home team get the second half underway.

COME ON PALACE!

The best photos of the first 45

Half-time

It's the last opportunity of the first period, as referee Robert Jones sounds his whistle.

Plenty of encouraging signs in that opening half once more for Vieira's men.

43 mins

Now then.

The ball is launched high, Haaland tussles with Guéhi on the halfway line, and the Palace man goes down. It looked, for a moment, like an arm was swung in his direction.

The home supporters are in uproar but the referee opts to give Haaland a talking to on this occasion.

Up the other end, Akanji brings down Zaha, and we have a big set-piece chance of our own... Olise to deliver from the left... Dias heads away.

41 mins

The visitors win a free-kick inside the Palace half but, when Foden swings it in, Ayew not only wins the first header, but then sprints onto the clearance and wins a goal-kick for his side.

Worth noting - while touching wood - that no team has conceded fewer goals from set-piece situations in the Premier League this season than Palace (five, including penalties), while we have also scored a league-high share 43% of our goals from them this term (nine out of 21).

37 mins

The Palace players are working so hard off the ball to contain City's movement, and so far, it's by-and-large paying off, Schlupp the latest player to deny Foden a route to goal with some impressive defending.

Plenty of encouraging signs for Vieira's men thus far... although City have a corner now as Andersen heads behind... it's delivered deep and Andersen nods away, before Foden's low ball back in is cleared by Guéhi.

It probably won't surprise you to learn that Guardiola's side have had 75% possession so far - but no greater number of clear chances, I'd argue.

33 mins

Ohh, Zaha comes close!

It's a clever move from Palace to play the ball forwards quickly and allow the Ivorian to sprint in behind Stones at right-back. He checks back inside and attempts to curl one towards the far corner... deflected behind for a corner!

Olise delivers and City clear this time. Both teams have come close now on multiple occasions.

30 mins

Close again from Haaland, who drills a low cross along the six-yard line. Guaita parries straight at Andersen, who can't quite sort his feet... and the Norwegian nearly gets the rebound, only for the ball to be cleared.

But City recycle and Milivojevic is booked for a foul in midfield. The visitors will deliver it here through Gundogan...

Another great save Guaita! The Spaniard makes himself big to deny Rodri's header at the far post - but the midfielder was offside nevertheless.

City beginning to turn the screw now.

Big chance for Haaland

28 mins

Wow. Haaland blazes over from six yards when it looked for all the world like he'd scored.

The forward is picked out by Aké on the overlap and has plenty of time to sweep home, but clears the crossbar with a poor effort.

"What was that?" the Holmesdale Road end sings - perhaps with different language than that which I'm using here!

26 mins

More impressive defending from the Eagles as Bernardo Silva pulls out left and puts the ball in towards the head of Haaland, but Guéhi is well-placed to head clear of the box under pressure from the Norwegian forward.

For all of City's goalscoring feats in recent seasons, they're finding it hard going here at Selhurst so far, which is of great credit to Vieira's men.

18 mins

Diligent defending from Andersen as the Danish centre-back tracks Grealish's run and blocks his attempted through-ball for Haaland.

Palace are getting plenty of numbers in and around the edge of the box whenever City build up a head of steam, and so far, you have to say, it's been fairly even in terms of goalscoring opportunities.

15 mins

... and that approach almost pays dividends as Foden dallies on the ball near the halfway line, Olise nicks it off his toe and drives forward, looking for the right moment to play in Zaha...

He slides him in down the outside and the Ivorian attempts to round Akanji, but his left-footed effort is blocked by the defender and the danger passes.

10 mins

After a blistering start, the game has become a bit more scrappy in the last five minutes, with City perhaps predictably enjoying more of the possession, but no real chances of note.

Palace appear to be set-up in their 4-2-3-1 shape of late, with Ayew and Zaha up front hassling and harrying the defenders off the ball, and Schlupp and Olise putting tucking in centrally to support in midfield, before pulling out wide when the chance comes to attack.

Half a chance!

5 mins

What an open start to the game we've had here!

After Dias appears to handle a bouncing ball on the edge of the City box, it breaks to Olise, who feeds Clyne on the overlap. The No. 17 fizzes in a low delivery towards Zaha at the near post... ahh, the Ivorian mis-kicks, and it's cleared!

Up the other end and Mitchell does superbly to pressure Foden into miscuing his cross.

4 mins

Another warning sign for Palace as Grealish jinks inside from the left wing and fires a near-post daisycutter just past the woodwork - Guaita likely had it covered.

A confident start from the visitors, it must be said.

2 mins

City win the first corner as Aké's clipped delivery deflects off Clyne and goes behind.

Andersen is well-placed to nod away... but then Rodri forces Guaita into a magnificent save with a volleyed effort!

It's pinball inside the Palace area as Dias follows up, Mitchell blocks, it's pinging around everywhere... and then, thankfully, is cleared.

Kick-off

1 mins

We're underway at Selhurst Park as Manchester City kick us off.

17:25

Here come the sides - and an almighty roar with them!

"I'M FEELIN' GLAAAD ALL OVER!" - Vieira said he knew the Palace fans would deliver a big atmosphere tonight, and he was right.

COME ON PALACE!

17:20

17:15

The warm-ups wind down as the players retreat down the tunnel.

Some final words, perhaps, from left-back Tyrick Mitchell ahead of kick-off: “The Premier League is the most exciting league. Anyone can beat anyone on their best day, so we’ll try to be on our best and hopefully we can give the Palace fans a win.

"It’s a team effort. There’s a game every week when we can put the last game right. It’s something we all know in ourselves, and it’s something [the manager] tells us all the time: we have to keep going, and luck will turn our way.

“It’s not something that’s going to last forever, so it’s just all about sticking together.

“That’s the Premier League. You’re not going to play a full season of great matches. It’s just about riding the bad waves and getting past them, and also enjoying the good ones.”

17:10

Warming up under the Selhurst lights... the feel of another big game is upon us in south London.

Under-18s kick-off the weekend with a win

17:00

Palace's U18s were the first team to play this weekend - and they got us off to the best possible start with an enthralling 4-3 win over Arsenal in south London!

A brace from Asher Agbinone along with a spot-kick from Cormac Austin saw Palace overturn an early 0-1 deficit, before a late David Obou winner claimed all three points after the young Gunners had fought back to draw level.

You can view highlights below!

16:50

Jeffrey Schlupp, restored to the starting XI, has been speaking to the media ahead of kick-off...

“We’ve got a chance. I think everyone knows how good they are – they’re fighting to try and win the league, and we’ve got a different fight, but it’s 11 against 11 today. We obviously need the three points, so we’re going to be going for it.

“We’ve had good performances [here against big teams]. Obviously we’ve not managed to pick up a win this year so far, so it’s not good enough, but we’ve had tough games and we’ve managed to get good results against teams fighting towards the top of the table. Today is another game we’re going to give everything to try to win.

“If they’re on their game, we might need a bit of luck, but we’ve got a gameplan and we need to stick to it, play together and have the belief that we can win.”

16:40

Palace today come up against the Premier League’s current top goalscorer on Saturday, City’s Erling Haaland, who has scored an impressive 27 times in 25 league games so far this season.

Vieira said at his pre-match press conference yesterday: “Obviously he’s an important player for City and he is at the end of all the opportunities they are creating, but you need to stop people providing those opportunities.

“That is why our performance tomorrow has to be a team performance. If we defend well as a team, we’ll stop him scoring goals, so stopping [City players] creating opportunities will be our objective tomorrow.

“The concentration has to be from the start to the end because of the quality of the players that they [City] have. It was a learning process for us against them in the first game [a 4-2 loss in Manchester], but we have to be brave, we have to play the best we can and give them problems, and I strongly believe that we can give them problems.”

16:35

The teams are in

16:30

Club captain Luka Milivojevic and Jeffrey Schlupp both start, the two changes to Palace's starting XI for their Premier League clash with Manchester City.

The Eagles’ skipper Milivojevic replaces the suspended Cheick Doucouré – sent-off in the defeat at Villa Park last weekend – in midfield, while Schlupp is also reintroduced to the starting line-up, with Eberechi Eze moving to the bench.

The match marks Milivojevic’s first start for Palace since the Carabao Cup loss on penalties away to Newcastle United in November.

Manager Patrick Vieira names an unchanged back five, with goalkeeper Vicente Guaita protected by Nathaniel Clyne, Joachim Andersen – who scored his first Palace goal in the reverse fixture in August – Marc Guéhi and Tyrick Mitchell.

Milivojevic slots into midfield alongside Sambi Lokonga, with the likes of Schlupp, Michael Olise, Jordan Ayew and Wilfried Zaha set to take on the attacking roles ahead of them.

Midfielder Will Hughes, whom Vieira revealed had been suffering from illness this week, does not feature in the matchday squad.

Palace: Guaita (GK), Clyne, Andersen, Guéhi, Mitchell, Milivojevic, Lokonga, Ayew, Olise, Schlupp, Zaha

Subs: Whitworth (GK), Ward, Tomkins, Richards, Ahamada, Riedewald Eze, Mateta, Edouard

Manchester City: Ederson (GK), Dias, Stones, Aké, Akanji, Gundogan, Rodri, Silva, Foden, Grealish, Haaland

Subs: Ortega (GK), Walker, Lewis, Phillips, Laporte, De Bruyne, Alvarez, Mahrez, Palmer

16:25

Here we go then... team news is just five minutes away...

Macca's back in town

16:20

Well, in theory, he never left – but James McArthur is your cover star for the Crystal Palace v Manchester City matchday programme.

The experienced midfielder discusses his long-awaited return to action and his desire to add experience to the squad in our feature-length interview, which you can read a preview of here.

“I always feel sorry for people who haven’t had much of a career yet and get these injuries,” McArthur says.

“For me, I’ve had a good career and if I get back that’s amazing and I will work hard to do that. But I knew going into that operation that there was a chance I wouldn’t, and if it was the end I had had a good run at it. I felt I had done well for the club and they had done well for me. So I was content with what the final outcome was.”

It’s a cracking read, if we do say so ourselves.

You can get your hands on the Man City programme from vendors in and around Selhurst Park for just £3.50. You can also order programmes online for delivery straight to your door. You’ll need to do this at least three days before the game. Alternatively, you can read a digital version right now for £1.99 by clicking here or below.

Gold, Junior Eagles Gold and International Members, and Season Ticket+ holders, get the digital programme sent direct to them at no extra charge – you can become a Member by clicking here!

16:10

Crystal Palace is delighted to unveil its eco-friendly Lifestyle collection, available for purchase now.

The collection features a variety of Palace landmarks, such as 'SE25' and 'Holmesdale’, as well as 'South London and Proud' (abbreviated to S.L.A.P., which should be a conversation starter!).

For every sustainable sweatshirt ordered from the collection, our collaborators Ecologi have planted a tree in the Iringa, a region in the south of Tanzania.

Find out more here.

16:00

That interview with Odartey formed part of Palace’s widespread celebrations of International Women’s Day on Wednesday (8th March).

As part of this, and in support of Women’s Football Weekend, the club has been giving away 1,000 free Adult tickets to Palace Women’s fixture against Blackburn Rovers on Sunday, 26th March (kick-off 12:00 GMT at Hayes Lane in Bromley).

Find out more about how to attend here.

We also shared plenty of stories from within the club to celebrate, inspire, and empower.

Unite For Access

15:50

The club is proudly supporting Level Playing Field’s Unite For Access initiative at today's game.

The players will be wearing t-shirts during the warm-up and messaging will be present to show our support for the campaign, which is an annual period of inspiration and celebration of good access and inclusion at sports venues.

Level Playing Field is the leading charity advocating for disabled sports fans in England and Wales, and our dedicated 'Unite For Access' matchday is one of many happening across stadiums up and down the country over two weeks.

Earlier this week, we spoke to Palace’s new Disability Liaison Officer, Rhianna Odartey, here.

15:40

As always, there are plenty of ways you can follow the action from SE25 this evening.

You’ve got this live blog for one - hello! - and our Match Centre, where as well as a range of stats and facts, you can also find every piece of build-up to the game you could possibly need.

Then, one hour before kick-off (16:30 GMT), attention turns to team news across all our web, app and social (Twitter and Instagram) channels.

During the game, Palace TV+ offers live audio commentary, and there’ll be instant reaction across all our channels on the final whistle as well.

Alternatively, the game will be broadcast on Sky Sports in the UK. You can take your pick!

Find out more about How To Follow today’s game.

Welcome to Selhurst

15:30

A very good evening to you, and a warm (figuratively!) welcome back to Selhurst Park for our live coverage of Crystal Palace’s Premier League clash against Manchester City!

The tough tests just keep on coming for Patrick Vieira’s men of late, with fixtures against a remarkable eight of the 11 sides above them in the current table since the turn of the year – and none versus the sides below.

Opponents don’t get much trickier than Pep Guardiola’s reigning Premier League champions, but the Eagles can be buoyed by impressive performances in home draws against the likes of Manchester United, Newcastle United, Brighton and Liverpool.

Put simply: get this Selhurst Park crowd involved, and the form book often seems to fly out the window.

Refresh this page periodically for all the latest build-up to the game from SE25 (kick-off at 17:30 GMT) – COME ON PALACE!