Kelechi Iheanacho hit his first goal for Manchester City in the final minute of normal time as Manuel Pellegrini's side extended their lead at the top of the Premier League table with a 1-0 victory over Crystal Palace.
The hosts came into the match as City's closest competitors, three points behind the leaders, and both sides had early opportunities in an end-to-end opening.
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Yannick Bolasie, starting up front for Alan Pardew's side, fired over the bar inside the first minute, but City flashed warning signs when Wilfried Bony's header needed a good save from Alex McCarthy, and the goalkeeper then had to pull off a superb stop to prevent Samir Nasri opening the scoring after the Frenchman was sent through on goal.
Bolasie tested Joe Hart with a low effort and Pape Souare nearly broke the deadlock in spectacular style when he flashed an effort narrowly wide from distance as Palace came straight back at City.
British record signing Kevin de Bruyne came off the bench to make his debut earlier than Pellegrini would have hoped when Sergio Aguero was unable to shake off the effects of a challenge from Scott Dann, but despite the setback, the away side came closest to scoring when Bony forced another save from McCarthy.
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Both sides continued to threaten the goal after the restart, with Aleksandar Kolarov firing over for the visitors and Bolasie's cross-shot needing to be turned behind by Hart.
City began to move through the gears and should have led when Nasri rounded McCarthy only to scuff wide, before Yaya Toure stung McCarthy's palms with a fierce effort as the visitors hunted for a breakthrough, but Puncheon tested Hart with a header at the other end as Palace countered.
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The impressive Wilfred Zaha handed substitute Dwight Gayle a chance to make himself the hero with just two minutes remaning, but the striker could not find the target with his first-time finish from the winger's tremendous cross.
Palace were made to pay for that miss as the clock ticked over to 90 minutes when Iheanacho, who had replaced Bony just seconds earlier, found himself in the right place at the right time to fire home a rebound and move City five points clear at the top.
Tom Nightingale
