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Manuel Pellegrini blames fatigue for below-par display

Manuel Pellegrini says that Manchester City are feeling the pace of a busy festive schedule following today's 1-0 win over Crystal Palace.

Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini has said that his team felt tired ahead of this afternoon's Premier League encounter with Crystal Palace.

City needed a 66th-minute goal from Edin Dzeko to overcome a revitalised Eagles outfit led by Tony Pulis at the Etihad Stadium.

"Of course I was very concerned," the Chilean coach told Sky Sports News. "Before the match, I said when we finished against Liverpool, 48 hours it is impossible to recover for players.

"We didn't have our team fresh and it is very difficult when just one team want to play and the other just wants to defend. So, that was the game we saw today. That is not what we are used to do at the Etihad."

The Citizens top the league table overnight.

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Manchester City's English goalkeeper Joe Hart leaves the pitch sporting a cut to his face after the English Premier League football match against Crystal Palace on December 28, 2013
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Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
CManchester CityMan City38287396346291
2Arsenal38285591296289
3Liverpool382410486414582
4Aston Villa382081076611568
5Tottenham HotspurSpurs382061274611366
6Chelsea381891177631463
7Newcastle UnitedNewcastle381861485622360
8Manchester UnitedMan Utd38186145758-160
9West Ham UnitedWest Ham381410146074-1452
10Crystal Palace381310155758-149
11Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton381212145562-748
12Bournemouth38139165467-1348
13Fulham38138175561-647
14Wolverhampton WanderersWolves38137185065-1546
15Everton38139164051-1140
16Brentford38109195665-939
17Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest3899204967-1832
RLuton TownLuton3868245285-3326
RBurnley3859244178-3724
RSheffield UnitedSheff Utd38372835104-6916


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