Manchester City shattered at Crystal Palace

English champions Manchester City were rocked on Monday night at Selhurst Park by a spirited Crystal Palace side who belied their mid-table position to beat the English champions 2-1.

Crystal Palace manager Alan Pardew celebrates at the end of the match. Reuters/Suzanne Plunkett

Manchester City suffered a huge blow to their title hopes on Monday night at Crystal Palace with a 2-1 defeat that leaves them nine points behind pacesetters Chelsea with eight games to go.

City were undone in south-east London by goals from Glenn Murray and Jason Puncheon either side of half-time. Cote d'Ivoire international Yaya Touré halved the deficit with 12 minutes remaining. But despite a grandstand finish, City could not force the equaliser that would have at least left them in third place.

City go into this weekend's Manchester derby against United in fourth and with Liverpool fifth, seven points behind them, it's improbable that the Merseysiders will catch City.

Arsenal's run of nine straight wins have propelled them to second and the most likely team to depose Chelsea, especially since the west Londoners have to visit the Emirates on 26 April. But the harsh truth is that Chelsea need to drop at least 10 points in eight games   so far they've only dropped 20 from 30.

Manchester City boss Manuel Pellegrini was defiant after the loss.

"I'm very happy with the way the team played, but I'm very disappointed with the score," he said. "All we can do is try to add the most amount of points we can and we will see who is first, second, third and fourth."

Mathematically, City are still challenging for the title but this is the first time since 15 September that they have been out of the top three.

The only crumbs of comfort for City are that a few weeks ago there were questions being asked over whether Arsenal would finish in the top four - now the north Londoners are in the title hunt. Crystal Palace's ambitions aren't quite that lofty.

Palace sit comfortably in mid-table, their Premier League status assured for another season and manager Alan Pardew believes his side can finish in the top half. "You've got to set goals and adjust them to how you perform and we're performing really well," he said.

Pardew took over in January with the side in the relegation dogfight. The Eagles have taken 22 points from their last 11 games. The rise has led to suggestions that 53-year-old Pardew might be in the running for the manager of the season award.

It's a bauble unlikely to be bestowed on Pellegrini. With the title slipping away, his prospects of being at the helm of Manchester City next season will be decided over the next month.