Carlos Tevez scored his first goal for Man City in a 2-0 win at Crystal Palace in the second round of the Carling Cup.
Wright-Phillips opens scoring as Palace provide stiff test
Carlos Tevez scored his first goal for Manchester City as Mark Hughes' side won 2-0 at Crystal Palace in the second round of the Carling Cup.
Argentine ace Tevez made certain of City's place in the next round of the competition with the second goal on 71 minutes after Shaun Wright-Phillips had broken the deadlock five minutes after half-time.
Palace gave as good as they got in the first half, with City keeper Shay Given coming to the rescue of his defence, which featured new boy Joleon Lescott, on several occasions.
However, Palace fell behind on 50 minutes when Wright-Phillips burst into the box and fired a fierce drive inside Julian Speroni's near post.
Tevez then opened his account for City after being allowed a free header from inside the six-yard box following Wright-Phillips' corner.
With City boss Hughes having sent out a strong side at Selhurst Park, the visitors created their first chance after just two minutes, with Emmanuel Adebayor and Robinho combining well before teeing up Tevez, who fired wide from just inside the area.
But after that early wake-up call Palace began warming to their task and almost took the lead when Clint Hill was left unmarked to meet Darren Ambrose's free-kick, only to head straight at Given.
Palace were intent on unsettling City's new-look back four and Victor Moses' low cross had to be palmed clear by Given before Paddy McCarthy's header was kept out by the Irish goalkeeper.
Caught napping
The Premier League side were almost caught napping when Shaun Derry put Sears in behind, but the striker's angled drive was too close to Given.
On the half-hour midfielder Ambrose was afforded too much space by a hastily retreating defence and fizzed a 20-yard shot inches over Given's crossbar.
A slick counter from City almost paid dividends when Stephen Ireland played in Adebayor, who cut inside onto his right foot and curled in a shot which Palace goalkeeper Speroni blocked at full stretch.
Tevez then played a clever one-two with Ireland but Speroni was out quickly to deny his fellow Argentinian.
Given came to City's rescue again just before the break after a high ball caught Toure dozing and Sears almost nipped in.
But City finally found their goalscoring touch five minutes into the second half, and it was two of their homegrown stars who made the breakthrough.
Ireland fed the ball across the pitch to Wright-Phillips, who had escaped the attentions of Hill for once and hit a fierce drive which beat Speroni inside his near post.
Two minutes later Ireland sent Adebayor through one-on-one with Speroni, but the goalkeeper spread himself well to keep his side in the tie.
Barely 60 seconds later City carved Palace open again, Robinho slipping in Wright-Phillips who dinked the ball over Speroni but against the crossbar.
Palace had a chance to level midway through the second half when Nathanial Clyne found Moses in the area, but the youngster skied his shot.
And the tiring hosts were made to pay in the 71st minute when Tevez tip-toed in between the centre-halves and nodded Wright-Phillips' corner past Speroni.
Tevez almost doubled his tally when he danced past Hill and fired in a low shot which Speroni scrambled away.
At the other end, Given saved well from Alassane N'Diaye and Shaun Derry fired wide, but City did manage to record another clean sheet and maintained their 100% record this season.
