express– Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola listed the four key reasons why his side suffered a shock 2-0 defeat by Crystal Palace on Saturday. The champions’ Premier League title chances took a blow as they lost for just the second time this season.
Wilfried Zaha opened the scoring inside six minutes at the Etihad Stadium before Conor Gallagher rounded off an excellent performance by former City midfielder Patrick Vieira’s side.
Zaha was particularly sensational and finished well past Ederson with his weaker left foot. With City desperately trying to find an equaliser in the final few minutes, Palace broke and Gallagher thumped in the clincher.
Guardiola’s side were poor and lacked an attacking impetus. They were, though, unlucky with a couple of tight refereeing decision.
Defender Aymeric Laporte was sent off in first half added-time for dragging down Zaha. The Ivory Coast international appeared to be racing through on goal and it was unclear whether any covering City defender might have caught up.
Striker Gabriel Jesus then had a goal disallowed after VAR showed that he was inches offside. That would have levelled the score at 1-1 with 25 minutes still to play.
And Guardiola said there were more reasons than just the red card and disallowed goals for his side’s defeat.
The 50-year-old also felt that his players failed to create enough chances, while crediting Palace for defending well.
“It could be a yellow card or red card, depends on decision of the boss, the referee,” Guardiola reflected.
“The goal disallowed I didn’t see it but imagine the line said offside but we didn’t lose for that. Against Brighton the line said (their goal) was offside but that stood.
“We conceded the first goal and after we worked really well but after played 10 against 11.
“We need to do everything right but the players showed character. Unfortunately, it went wrong in many, many things.”
He added: “We conceded the goal early on so how many chances they had? The goal and no more.
“It is quite similar to the last seasons when Crystal Palace came here under Roy Hodgson, lost one and drew one.
“The keeper took the momentum and then long balls and they defended really well with solidity and defend the gaps and block the shots.
“We didn’t have many chances in the first half but we had enough to score. At the end the counter-attack anything can happen.”
