There was a sense of genuine relief for Manchester City at the end of this awkward, chilly afternoon in south-east London. Erling Haaland, scorer of the only goal of the game, could be seen beating his chest wildly, the City players hugging eagerly.
A 1-0 win with a goal from the spot against a Crystal Palace team that hasn’t won at home since October is hardly the stuff of the springtime cavalry charge. But sometimes these games just need to be won, and City managed to do so here despite fielding a depleted team, with no natural width in the full-back areas and a notable lack of fizz in their attacking combinations.
