Haaland and Foden help power City to a key victory at Crystal Palace

A brace from Erling Haaland and fine strike from Phil Foden helped inspire City to a crucial 3-0 win at Crystal Palace – and back to within two points of Premier League leaders Arsenal.

In what proved a tough and demanding test at Selhurst Park, a towering 41st minute header from Haaland had broken the first half deadlock.

Palace proved dangerous opponents and twice hit the City woodwork through Yeremy Pino and Adam Wharton.

But Pep Guardiola’s side were not to be denied and a brilliant 69th minute strike from Foden stretched the advantage.

An 88th minute Haaland penalty - awarded after substitute Savinho had been brought down - then sealed the deal.

It was our fourth straight league win and put us back within touching distance of the leaders with the title race really ramping up.

With City pitted against a talented and well drilled Palace side, a cagey, tactical contest took time to really ignite.

It was Palace who created the game’s first real opening on 16 minutes with City relieved to see a Yeremy Pino shot hit the top of the bar.

MIDDLE MARCH: Tijjani Reijnders in the thick of things at Selhurst Park.

After evading the offside trap, the Spaniard latched onto the dangerous Adam Wharton’s inviting through ball and from 16 yards his shot beat Gianluigi Donnarumma but clipped the top of the bar.

City sought to summon up a response and Palace keeper Dean Henderson needed to be alert on the half hour to keep out a 25-yard Phil Foden free-kick after Nico had been blocked on the edge of the box.

And out of nowhere, City broke the deadlock on 41 minutes through, who else, Erling Haaland .

For the first time, the Blues were able to deliver an inviting ball into the heart of the box thanks to Matheus Nunes.

Haaland evaded the attention of Chris Richards and the Norwegian rose superbly to head home his 22nd goal of the season for City in all competitions

RISE AND SHINE: Erling Haaland rises to make the breakthrough.

At the other end Donnarumma was again alert to twice deny Jean-Phillipe Mateta as Palace looked to respond.

City were then grateful to intervention of the woodwork once again four minutes after the restart, a low Wharton drive clipping the foot of the right post – much to Donnarumma’s relief.

However, City looked a real threat ourselves going forward and only a smart save from Dean Henderson stopped Tijjani Reijnders from extending our advantage on 57 minutes after a lightning break from Pep Guardiola’s men.

But City were not to be denied and Foden thenstruck on 69 minutes to double our advantage.

The England star maintained his brilliant form by latching onto a fine pass from Rayan Cherki before beating Henderson’s despairing dive to drill home his 10th goal of the season.

City still needed to be alert as Palace sought to conjure up a late revival.

But victory was then sealed two minutes from time when Haaland converted his second and City’s third from the penalty spot.

The Norwegian struck again after substitute Savinho had been brought down by Henderson after breaking clear to set the seal on a superb afternoon’s work.

CELEBRATION TIME: Erling Haaland is mobbed after his first half header.

CRYSTAL PALACE: Henderson, Clyne, Richards, Lacroix, Guehi (C), Mitchell, Wharton, Kamada (Hughes 66), Sarr, Pino, Mateta (Nketiah 63)

Subs: Benitez, Lerma, Uche, Esse, Canvot, Sosa, Devenny

CITY XI: Donnarumma, Nunes, Dias, Gvardiol, O’Reilly (Ait-Nouri 89), Nico, Reijnders (Savinho 85), Bernardo (C) (Lewis 89), Foden, Cherki, Haaland (Marmoush 89)

Subs: Trafford, Ake, Khusanov, Bobb, Mukasa

There were several compelling candidates but, not for the first time this season, Josko Gvardiol really caught the eye.

On what was a testing afternoon in south east London, the Croatian defender showed all of his class and composure.

He even shrugged off the effects of taking an elbow to the face early on to also demonstrate his bravery.

STOP START: Josko Gvardiol in control for City .

Today’s victory helped further extend what has become a superb record for City at Selhurst Park.

We are now unbeaten there in the past 11 Premier League games – a remarkable record given how tough a venue the Eagles’ lair is to play at.

That’s now four straight wins in league for the Blues who are really building up a head of steam you feel.

And coming on the back of last Wednesday’s win at Real Madrid it was even more of a statement.

Given Pep Guardiola’s side traditionally only get into top gear once we enter the second half of the season, our current form and record really feels encouraging as we close in on the halfway mark of the season.

THE BOSS: Pep Guardiola watches over proceedings.

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GET IN: The celebrations start after Phil Foden's strike.

A fourth successive Premier League victory means City remain in second place in the table and move back up to within two points of leaders Arsenal.

We have now played 16 games and have accrued 34 points. The Gunners have 36 from their opening 16 matches.

View full table

City are back in action on Wednesday, December 17, when we play host to Brentford in the quarter-finals of the Carabao Cup.

Kick-off at the Etihad is slated for 19.30 (UK)