Crystal Palace 0-1 Man City: Kelechi Iheanacho scores last-minute winner

Kelechi Iheanacho scored a last-minute winner to give Manchester City a 1-0 win at Crystal Palace.

The teenage substitute forced the ball home from close range within a minute of his arrival to maintain City's 100 per cent start to the season and move five points clear at the top of the table at Selhurst Park.

City had looked like being denied with Sergio Aguero's first-half injury hampering their progress but the late goal ensured new signing Kevin De Bruyne, Aguero's replacement, marked his debut with a win.

It was tough on Palace who began the day in second spot and played their part in a feisty game. They might even have won it themselves through fellow substitute Dwight Gayle just moments before Iheanacho's goal.

But City certainly had the better of the second half and should have gone ahead much earlier when Jesus Navas missed an open goal.

David Silva's injury and the late withdrawal of Raheem Sterling forced Pellegrini into changes and he switched to a 4-4-2 with Samir Nasri and Wilfried Bony coming into the side.

Despite the impressive atmosphere at Selhurst Park, Palace's home form has struggled to match their counter-attacking efforts on their travels but they started well against the leaders.

Yannick Bolasie troubled the City defence down the right channel and twice fired shots at Joe Hart's goal in the early stages.

Pardew's men continued to push hard and Yohan Cabaye had the home fans excited soon after when he went down in the box under a challenge from Fernandinho.

The City midfielder did catch his foot but Cabaye's collapse did not persuade referee Mike Jones and it was from the subsequent clearance that Aguero was chopped down.

Dann had been turned near the halfway line and elected to foul his man. The challenge appeared to jar the Argentine's knee and he was soon signalling to be withdrawn. Any involvement against Juventus in midweek would seem unlikely.

De Bruyne replaced him in a deeper role and had some encouraging early moments on his debut, threading a pass through to Wilfried Bony that might have brought the opener.

Bony turned Brede Hangeland with ease but his left-footed shot was well saved by Alex McCarthy and the striker couldn't connect properly when the ball came back to him.

It was an evenly-fought contest and it was soon a booking each when Yaya Toure committed one foul too many. There were even strong words on the sidelines as Pardew and Pellegrini clashed.

But the breakthrough goal still wouldn't come, although Navas really should have been the man to find it early in the second half after impressive work by De Bruyne as City broke away.

Navas took De Bruyne's pass and rounded McCarthy under pressure but on his weaker left foot, his shot was skewed wide of the near post.

That chance ushered in a period of City dominance with the likes of Toure, Aleksandar Kolarov, Fernandinho and Samir Nasri all firing off shots from distance. Nasri had a shout for a penalty too when Cabaye seemed to trip him inside the box.

But while City controlled the ball there were still chances at the other end with Jason Puncheon's header from Papa Souare's cross midway through the second half forcing a fine save from Hart.

Substitute Gayle went even closer in the final minutes but missed the target, seemingly from an offside position, from Wilfried Zaha's right-wing cross and moments later it proved costly.

Samir Nasri fired in a hopeful shot from distance and McCarthy was unable to hold onto the ball.

Iheanacho, who had only come onto the pitch a matter of minutes before as a late substitute for Bony, burst beyond his markers and forced the ball home for his first Premier League goal.

The Nigerian might even have scored a second in stoppage time but he will settle for the winner that, as well as extending City's lead at the top to five points, also moves them 11 points ahead of champions Chelsea.

Player Ratings

Crystal Palace: McCarthy (6), Kelly (7), Dann (6), Hangeland (6), Souare (7), Cabaye (7), McArthur (6), Sako (6), Puncheon (7), Zaha (7), Bolasie (7).

Subs: Gayle (6), Jedinak (6), Lee (6).

Manchester City: Hart (7), Sagna (7), Kompany (7), Mangala (6), Kolarov (6), Toure (7), Fernandinho (7), Navas (6), Nasri (7), Bony (7), Aguero (6).

Subs: De Bruyne (7), Iheanacho (7), Demichelis (6).

Man of the Match: Samir Nasri