David Silva nets brace as strikerless Man City beat Crystal Palace

David Silva and Yaya Toure got in on the scoring as Manchester City struggled through a difficult opening period – playing without a striker – to come through against Neil Warnock’s side and draw level on points with Chelsea at the top of the Premier League.

Having suffered a number of injuries to key forwards in recent weeks, manager Manuel Pellegrini was forced into six changes from the side that won at Leicester, with the versatile James Milner playing in a ‘false nine’ role – leading the line for the hosts.

City unsurprisingly controlled the play for much of the match, but despite an array of attacking options in midfield, struggled to break down the resolute Palace defence. At times it seemed that the hosts, forced into playing with an unfamiliar game plan, were unsure of how best to carve open their opposition.

Perhaps the finest example was that City who, prior to the fixture had scored in 74 of their last 75 home games, failed to land a single shot on target during the opening half.

Palace, to their credit, approached the fixture with real discipline and had a number of chances to open the scoring in the first period, but were unable to find the back of the net. And in the end they were made to pay as City showed their quality, Silva netting twice to put the game to bed before Yaya Toure rounded off an impressive win following a tricky first 45 minutes.

20’ – HALF CHANCE! City are really struggling to deal with set-pieces, and almost go 1-0 down through Campbell's acrobatic volley from six yards. The City players are furious with the linesman, who keeps his flag down as Campbell volleys just wide, but he was onside. A real chance for the visitors.

27’ - GREAT CHANCE FOR CITY! On his 200th Man City appearance, David Silva should score. Nasri and Kolarov work the ball down the left before the latter delivers a wonderful ball on to the six-yard box. Silva arrives and should put it in the back of the net, but completely miskicks the ball and it rolls out harmlessly for a goal kick.

43’ - SHOULD SCORE! Zabaleta ventures forward, running around the back of the Palace defence and receives the ball from Toure, whose divine pass splits open the two centre-halves. Zabaleta's first touch is impeccable, and all he has to do is scoop it over the onrushing Speroni, but he pulls his effort agonisingly wide.

49’ - GOAL!!Man City 1-0 Palace: City finally get their breakthrough, and it is thanks to Zabaleta, whose movement opens up the Palace defence. The full-back's incisive run allows him through on goal but rather than shooting, he has the awareness to pull it back to Silva. The Spaniard's shot takes a massive deflection, looping over Speroni and into the back of the net.

61’ – GOAL!!Man City 2-0 Palace: Game over. After a wonderful couple of minutes of possession football, City add their second. Kolarov gets to the byline and smashes the ball back across the face of the goal. Silva is there to guide it past Speroni and into the back of the Palace net.

68’ - DISALLOWED GOAL!! But it shouldn't be. McArthur is picked out perfectly by Zaha and heads past Hart. The flag goes up, but Fernandinho was playing the Palace man onside. Terrible decision.

81’ - GOAL!! Man City 3-0 Palace: What a wonderful counter attack by City. Clearing a Palace corner, Navas leads the City charge. Bursting towards the Palace goal, he feeds Milner out wide, who, in turn, spots the run of Toure and plays him through on goal. The Ivorian takes one touch to set himself and smashes the ball of the post and into the back of the net.

Crystal Palace have lost on each of their last eight PL visits to the city of Manchester, since 1-1 in this fixture on 10 September 1994.

City become the second team to win six matches in a row this season, after their city neighbours did so last weekend.

Manchester City have now won seven in a row against Crystal Palace in all competitions.

Do Man City have the strength in depth to retain their title? Manuel Pellegrini’s side struggled in the final third without a recognised striker – as would every other side in the Premier League – but the reigning champions should possess the quality to break down Palace, even without a focal point up front. They struggled throughout the opening period, but looked a different side during the second 45 and deserved the win.

David Silva (Man City): In a game that lacked quality during the opening period, Silva proved the difference between the two teams. Helped by the brilliant full-backs on each side – each who provided an assist for him – Silva showed that City didn’t need a striker at all.

Man City: Hart 6, Zabaleta 8, Demichelis 6, Mangala 6, Kolarov 7, Fernandinho 6, Navas 7, Yaya Toure 7, Silva 8, Nasri 7, Milner 6. Subs: Lampard 6, Sinclair N/A

Crystal Palace: Speroni 6, Kelly 7, Dann 7, Hangeland 6, Ward 6, Bolasie 7, Jedinak 6, Ledley 6, McArthur 7, Puncheon 6, Campbell 6. Subs: Bannan N/A, Thomas 5, Zaha 6,