Manchester City fans dropped more points in the Premier League yesterday, drawing with Crystal Palace.
After Liverpool’s game with Everton was postponed, there was a chance for Manchester City to close the gap on the Premier League leaders.
A trip to Selhurst Park was always going to be difficult though, and that proved to be the case as City played out a 2-2 draw with the Eagles.
City twice came from behind to level the scores, with Erling Haaland and Rico Lewis on target for the visitors.
Bernardo Silva thanked Man City fans for their amazing support on what was a miserable day weather-wise, but there is more frustration within the fanbase.
One of the key incidents in the game was when Rico Lewis was sent off during the closing stages – and Alan Shearer has given his thoughts on that decision.
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Alan Shearer insists Rico Lewis sending off vs Crystal Palace was correct decision
Rico Lewis of Manchester City is shown a red card, his second yellow by match referee Robert Jones during the Premier League match between Crystal ...
Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images
Rico Lewis was dismissed by referee Rob Jones via two yellow cards.
The first was as a result of dissent and the second was what Jones deemed to be a late challenge by Lewis on Trevoh Chalobah.
Pep Guardiola wasn’t happy with the decision, and marched over to the officials just after the full-time whistle. He then criticised it in his post-match interview.
The incident was analysed on Match of the Day last night, but Alan Shearer doesn’t see what all the fuss is about.
He said: “This was the first yellow, and it wasn’t the first time he was having a pop at the referee so it was probably inevitable as soon as he did that he was going to get the yellow card, which is stupid.
“And then, soon after that when you’re on the yellow card you dive in like that and of course VAR can’t get involved because it’s a second yellow card. He doesn’t get the ball. Maybe a tad harsh, but you can’t really complain, I didn’t understand his words either towards the end, Pep’s.”
The sending off will have been a big frustration for Lewis. Former City goalkeeper Shay Given felt Lewis had been City’s best player up until his dismissal, and him leaving the action did seem to kill the momentum for the visitors.
City are within their rights to complain about Lewis red card
The sending off did happen quite late in the game, but there was still enough time for that decision to harm City’s cause.
You can definitely understand why Guardiola was far from happy with the decision.
Crystal Palace Man City
Goals – 2 Goals – 2
Shots (on target) – 12 (3) Shots (on target) – 12(4)
Possession – 31% Possession – 69%
Fouls – 4 Fouls – 10
Yellow cards/reds – 1/0 Yellow cards/reds – 2/1
Corners – 6 Corners – 8
Lewis plants his foot in the ground and then Chalobah’s foot goes on top of Lewis as a result of his momentum following the clearance.
It wasn’t as though Lewis made contact with Chalobah with his lunge – get hit he ground first and then natural momentum saw them come together. Lewis even pulls away hurt from the duel.
It was a decision that City could really have done without, because Lewis is now suspended for the next game against Manchester United.
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