Overreaction is the word I would use to describe what I’ve heard from some Manchester City fans, fans of other clubs and “experts” since the draw at Crystal Palace on Monday evening.

I can’t deny that it was disappointing to see the Blues drop two points in the title race, but they still have the advantage, being at the top of the league going into the last International break of the season.

As I write this, I don’t know the outcome of Liverpool’s game at Arsenal on Wednesday evening, but win, draw or lose they will still be in second place. If City win all their remaining games, they will have achieved back to back titles again. Even a draw against Jurgen Klopp’s side will mean they retain control.

Drawing at Selhurst Part was not a disaster. Patrick Viera’s team has improved in the second half of the season and on their own ground, backed by some of the most vociferous fans in the Premier League, they are always full of belief.

Wilfried Zaha and Conor Gallagher are dangerous and talented. I thought Kouyate was excellent in the heart of their midfield too. City’s team is designed to dominate possession and smother their opponents and against ninety percent of the teams they play, it works perfectly. The system relies on every component playing together fluently and with great mobility. In most games it just becomes a matter of time, usually in the second half, when their opponents eventually tire and struggle more and more to get out of their own half.

It seemed to be going to plan on Monday. If Cancelo’s shot had nestled in the back of the Palace net rather than rebound to safety of the woodwork, all the criticisms I’ve read of Pep’s City since the game, would have been muted. If Bernardo had made contact with Grealish’s cross, or Laporte scored when the ball bounced back to him with goal wide open, everything would remain on course.

City didn’t score despite the chances they created which then leads to the inevitable call for Erling Haaland to be signed at any price and that City should have replaced Sergio Aguero last summer. City have a goal difference of plus 50 this season. Scoring goals and stopping the other team are not the problem.

If there is an issue it’s that many of City’s goals are scored in roughly the same way. Few goals netted by the Blues are headers or from set pieces. Their goals generally come from slick, clever passing moves through a packed defence. When they get it right, it’s wonderful to watch, but when they are frustrated by a five man back line and little space between the defenders and the defensive midfielders, there appears to be little alternative.

I overheard a couple of City fans at a recent game. The father said to his son, “We’re never going to score here, just hit a cross in and someone will get on the end of it”. The son replied with, “That’s not how Pep’s team plays, they stick to their beliefs, even in the last few minutes when they need a goal, and eventually a goal comes.” It did in that game, and it did recently at Everton, when City won 1-0, but it didn’t at Palace.

I believe Pep does need a plan “B” and by all accounts he will have one next season, but during this campaign it appears that it’ll all be down to plan “A”. Who’s to question the great man? City are top of the league, in the quarter finals of the Champions League and FA Cup and could emulate the United team of 1999 by winning that treble; or they could end the season empty handed or win just one or two.

The overreaction to one bad result at Palace, though, is laughable. Let’s see what happens next and not jump to too many conclusions from just one unlucky day at the office.
 

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