As I sit in the Eagles’ Lair on the 13th floor of one of Manchester’s top / cheapest hotels, with panoramic views of Piccadilly Station, I think back to the last time I stayed in the area at the old Thistle Hotel. Then the block opposite had been rubble with one pub still standing, which happened to be the main business centre of the local drug dealers, while the young ladies on the streets apparently wanted to have sex but only as a commercial transaction. How times have changed. You saw that at the Etihad where the half-time adverts included one for the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. What would Palace’s equivalent be – ram raiding in New Addington? I reckon the lads in Fort Neef could remove Hamilton’s tyres quicker than Mercedes but he’d have trouble catching Rosberg with his suspension compiled of bricks.

Sadly this progression also applied to the pitch. Last two visits under Pulis & Warnock, Palace had looked to frustrate City and hit them on the break, and it had so nearly worked in both cases. Pardew chose a different stance: we would go toe-to-toe with one of the richest clubs in Europe. Sadly the heavyweight liked us coming onto him and if City didn’t knock us out they at least left us with a bloodied nose. Sobering thought, Palace didn’t actually play that badly, but in most areas City were better, stronger or faster, especially catching us on the break. Most of the Palace side made errors at some stage but chillingly City were just a better side. If both sides had taken their chances Palace may have scored 4 but City would probably have reached double figures.

Supa-Al’s starting XI was an interesting mixture of recalled “reserves” and first XI players in a 4-2-3-1 formation: Hennessey; Kelly, Mariappa, Dann, Delaney; Ledley, Jedinak; Zaha, Bolasie, Mutch; Bamford. Most interesting was the return of the old midfield firm of Mile & Joe and the resting of Cabaye & McArthur. It wasn’t quite as defensive as the line-up nominally was because Jedinak did push forward to make it more 4-1-4-1 but that actually allowed City space to play. The game started in a strange atmosphere, with the huge third tier on one side & half of one end closed, while the Palace numbers were severely depleted due, as is no doubt posted elsewhere, to coach issues, and City had decided to give all their family stand those damned clackers...

From the start it was obvious City’s fairly strong line-up would test us in midfield where De Bruyne played wide left, Jesus Navas on the right, with Fernando & Touré in the middle. An early error by Dann let De Bruyne clear on goal from the left & the €60m man really should have scored but pushed his shot beyond the far post. Yet Palace were at their best in the first 20 minutes, with Zaha especially down the right: a good combination with Jedi & a deep cross found Bolasie unmarked at the far post but Yala’s header was poor; then Wilf pulled back a cross for one of the midfield (Mutch?) to shoot, only for a block to leave Bolasie with what looked an easy chance – he took ages to control the ball and the chance was smothered. Yannick’s next involvement was a nasty clash of heads that left him prone on the turf for some minutes before he recovered and returned to the field.

City’s breakthrough came from a corner that was headed home by Bony; it looked like Mariappa was marking him but was beaten on the run and Hennessey had no chance. The goal seemed to affect Palace’s confidence and for quite a period we contributed little in an attacking sense, with Zaha & Bolasie looking promising but sadly delivering little. Mutch & Bamford started to drift out of the game while Jedinak’s uncertain passing did not help. Only good work by the defence kept City at bay until just before half time when the youngster Iheanacho (who scored the winner at Selhurst) was played in behind Kelly on the left and provided De Bruyne with a tap in. Palace almost snatched a goal back when Ledley got on the end of a cut-back but put the ball over the bar from about 15 yards. City’s response was just as fast & only a terrific tackle by Delaney kept the deficit at two.

Pardew decided to retain the same XI but City restarted on the front foot, only for a truly awful effort from Bony to save us. Palace did respond and there was a header from a free kick on the left that was cleared off the line – excuse the uncertainty but at the same moment stewards & police descended upon the front row for the heinous crime of placing a flag over an electronic advertising board so my view was blocked by several coppers’ helmets but my spies tell me it was Jedinak who won the ball. In the aftermath Zabaleta was carried off on a stretcher – a mis-aimed truncheon, perhaps?

City then did unto us what we have done so much to others in the last two seasons – they ripped us apart on the break. Hennessey did well to save from De Bruyne (who should have had a hat-trick), and from the ensuing corner juggled the ball off an attacker’s head, but Palace failed to clear and a long cross and return ball gave Iheanacho a simple task to make it 3-0. Palace then showed how to blow a gilt-edged chance: Bolasie’s cross found Zaha ahead of his marker on the penalty spot but Wilf seemed to lose his footing and the ball hit him in the chest; somehow he scooped that ball back to Bamford who, with the keeper and defender on the floor just had to score – he managed to hit Caballero’s foot. That sort of summed up the night.

Lee came on for Mutch but soon City had a penalty – someone went flying in the box and the referee was only too happy to award the spot kick, which Touré put right in the corner giving Hennessey no chance. Popular opinion pointed the finger at Delaney for the foul. City missed more chances while Gayle & Ward joined the fray and then Palace did put on some late pressure: Delaney blasted over after a good knockdown from Dann, then made amends with a strong header from Bolasie’s free kick. But City had the final word, again breaking from our set piece and setting sub Garcia free on goal to coolly draw Hennessey & roll the ball in. 5-1 was about right.

Ratings:

Hennessey – 6 – For a man who conceded 5 goals Wayne didn’t make a great deal of saves. The five he let in were pretty much difficult to blame him for, and City’s other chances were mostly wasted by inaccurate finishing. Did make one fine save from De Bruyne but we conceded not long after anyway.

Mariappa – 6 – Had a difficult but decent game up against De Bruyne and did offer some support to Wilf down the right. Think he lost Bony at the corner for the first goal.

Kelly – 6 – Had a slightly easier time against Jesus Navas and did make some fine interceptions; possibly caught out by Iheanacho for the second goal.

Delaney – 7 – On the debit side looked to be slightly at fault for the third goal when the striker had plenty of room, may well be the sinner in the penalty incident, and did blast over a decent chance (but at 0-4). To his credit are a number of important interceptions, one before half time stopping what looked a certain goal, and a thumping header for our consolation goal.

Dann¬¬ – 7 – Early error went unpunished and can’t say he looked at fault for any of the goals, most of City’s attacks either coming down the flanks or on the counter-attack. Like Damien made important blocks & clearances.

Ledley – 5 – Part of a midfield that was badly outclassed, looked a little off the pace, and did miss a good chance to make it 2-1.

Jedinak – 6 – Started well, linking well with Zaha and making early chances, but was overshadowed by Touré. His poor passing set up many counters (not sure if it was his clearance that led straight to the 3rd goal) and too often played a scooped effort even at short range. His heading at times was poor too.

Mutch – 4 – There was one fine pass that was inch perfect to set Wilf away, but that was on about 60 minutes. He just sort of disappeared.

Zaha – 6 – Good start, setting up two chances for Bolasie & Mutch (?) but after that there was much effort but too often ran into trouble and failed to provide decent crosses. He really should have scored off Bolasie’s cross in the second half but seemed to stumble as the ball came in (little shove from defender?).

Bolasie – 5 – Promised much but delivered little, blowing two good early chances with a poor header and lack of ball control. In the first half he too often failed to get his cross in. Starved of the ball for most of the second half but did set up both the Zaha / Bamford chance and his free kick found Delaney for our goal.

Bamford – 4 – Some good movement early on but always looked a yard behind in thought & deed. Still trying to figure out how, with the entire goal to aim at and Caballero on the floor he managed to hit the keeper’s leg.

Lee Chung-yong – 5 – Provided the worst short corner this season that led to Wilf’s yellow card stopping their counter-attack. Did improve after that but to no great effect.

Gayle – 6 – Looked bright but never quite got on the end of passes.

Ward – n/a – Late sub.

Right – as this is a German-run establishment I’m off to the bar for Schnapps & Bratwürst!