Iheanacho scores as Man City snatch late 1-0 win at Palace [Match report + Video]

How do you become champions? Nobody does it by winning from the beginning to the end, there certainly will be down times, there would be moments you're destined to settle for a point but the winner in you won't be contented until snatch the maximum points, that's exactly what Manchester City did today at Selhurst Park.

A tempestuous match with key yellow cards saw Crystal Palace give their all, Joe Hart denied Yanick Bolasie and Dwight Gayle should have done better late on with just Hart to beat; on the other hand, some spirited defending helped Palace keep the Citizens at bay but goalkeeper McAuthor was inspirational too. Injury forced Kun Aguero out and on came the big money signing, a familiar face at Stamford Bridge, a certain Kevin Debryne.

Yaya Toure was booked for a harsh tackle and he could sincerely have been sent off, Eliaqim Mangala was cautioned too as well as Sami Nasri, Scott Dan and new recruit Brede Hangeland went into the book too.

David Silva's creativity was sorely missed as Wilfried Bony could only do little. Jesus Navas rounded McAuthor and looked certain to score having been worked through but the spaniard somehow missed.

While there were so much noise about the introduction of Kevin Debryne, it was an unlikely hero who kept City's 100% record with a smart response just after coming off the bench. Nigerian teenage sensation, Kelechi Iheanacho pounced on a rebound with the clock ticking down and handed the visitors their fifth straight win.

It is way too early to crown City, but if this continues, let the noisy neighbors prepare their hands to lift something better than the burdens of last season.