December 31 2017
Crystal Palace claimed a well-earned point at home to title-chasing Manchester City after a 0-0 draw.
Palace will feel aggrieved to not have beaten a City side that was on an 18-game league winning run after Luka Milivojevic missed an injury-time penalty.
However, it will be seen as an important point against the runaway league leaders and it keeps the Eagles a point outside the relegation zone. Although no goals were scored, it was an exciting encounter with many memorable moments.
City keeper Ederson drew the first save of the day by stretching to push out the recalled Patrick van Aanholt's deflected shot.
Palace then suffered an injury in the 20th after Scott Dann injured his knee in a challenge and had to be stretchered off. Dann was swapped for Martin Kelly and now joins fellow centre back Mamadou Sakho on the treatment table.
Three minutes later, City striker Jesus was also taken off the field on a stretcher after he went down with a knee problem.
Then his replacement, Sergio Aguero, was inches away from putting his side ahead after his effort hit Jairo Riedewald and then the post.
City piled on the pressure at the beginning of the second half and Palace were grateful for Wayne Hennessey's vital block from Leroy Sane at the back post.
Andros Townsend missed a glorious chance to net for the Eagles from eight yards but ballooned his strike over.
In the 92nd minute, Palace were awarded another late penalty at home after Wilfried Zaha was fouled in the area by substitute Raheem Sterling.
Milivojevic, who had scored all three of his previous spot-kicks this season, struck this one tamely down the middle and Ederson saved easily.
As City broke on the counter attack, substitute Jason Puncheon scythed down Kevin de Bruyne on the halfway line. Puncheon was booked while receiving treatment on the floor and both players had to be stretchered off with serious-looking injuries.
Palace ran out the clock to secure a big point and a second home clean sheet in the league this season against a team which has netted 101 goals this calendar year.
Palace: Hennessey, Fosu-Mensah, Tomkins, Dann (Kelly 19), Van Aanholt, Townsend, Milivojevic, Cabaye (Puncheon 75, Lee 90), Riedewald, Zaha, Benteke.
Not used: Speroni, Souare, Delaney, Kaikai.
Man City: Ederson, Walker, Otamendi, Mangala, Danilo, Gundogan (Sterling 57), Fernandinho, De Bruyne, Sane, B. Silva (Toure 81), Jesus (Aguero 23).
Not used: Bravo, Stones, Adarabioyo, Zinchenko.
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