Source: Daily_Mail
Palace 0 Man City 2: City send out a £200m team in the Carling Cup
Carlos Tevez opened his Manchester City goals account after the Premier League superstars were given a Carling Cup fright by Crystal Palace. [LNB]Joleon Lescott made his debut in a City side packed with £200million worth of talent, with boss Mark Hughes signalling his intent to justify the club's lavish spending with a trophy this season. [LNB]But owner Sheikh Mansour could have been forgiven for checking some of his receipts at half-time with Neil Warnock's no-nonsense Palace well on top. [LNB] Going through: Carlos Tevez nets Manchester City's second goal as they ease to Carling Cup victory at Selhurst Park [LNB] [LNB]City's all-star forward line of Tevez, Emmanuel Adebayor and Robinho were not relishing the experience as the Palace back four snapped and snarled at them at every opportunity. [LNB]At the other end, Lescott and Kolo Toure, wearing the captain's armband with Richard Dunne set to join Aston Villa, struggled with Palace's pacy attackers Freddie Sears and Victor Moses. [LNB]Palace, whose only summer signings have been loans and free recruits, had the scent of a major upset in their nostrils as the sides trooped off at the interval. [LNB]SWP glee: Shaun Wright-Phillips put City in front [LNB][LNB]But whatever Hughes told his side in the dressing room paid off as Shaun Wright-Phillips finally found some space to hit the opener and Tevez struck a second to seal City's passage into the third round of the competition they last won in 1976 - their last major trophy. [LNB]The visitors created their first chance after just two minutes, with Adebayor and Robinho combining well before teeing up Tevez, who fired wide from just inside the area. [LNB]But after that early wake-up call Palace began warming to their task and almost took the lead when Clint Hill was left unmarked to meet Darren Ambrose's free-kick, only to head straight at Shay Given. [LNB]Palace were intent on unsettling City's new-look back four and Moses' low cross had to be palmed clear by Given before Paddy McCarthy's header was kept out by the Irish goalkeeper. [LNB]The Premier League side were almost caught napping when Shaun Derry put Sears in behind, but the striker's angled drive was too close to Given. [LNB]On the half-hour midfielder Ambrose was afforded too much space by a hastily retreating defence and fizzed a 20-yard shot inches over Given's crossbar. [LNB]A slick counter from City almost paid dividends when Stephen Ireland played in Adebayor, who cut inside onto his right foot and curled in a shot which Palace goalkeeper Julian Speroni blocked at full stretch. [LNB] Run and punch: Shay Given fists one away from Freddie Sears[LNB][LNB]Tevez then played a clever one-two with Ireland but Speroni was out quickly to deny his fellow Argentinian. [LNB]Given came to City's rescue again just before the break after a high ball caught Toure dozing and Sears almost nipped in. [LNB]But City finally found their goalscoring touch five minutes into the second half, and it was two of their homegrown stars who made the breakthrough. [LNB]Ireland fed the ball across the pitch to Wright-Phillips, who had escaped the attentions of Hill for once and hit a fierce drive which beat Speroni inside his near post. [LNB] Pure delight: The Argentinian striker celebrates his goal[LNB][LNB]Two minutes later Ireland sent Adebayor through one-on-one with Speroni, but the goalkeeper spread himself well to keep his side in the tie. [LNB]Barely 60 seconds later City carved Palace open again, Robinho slipping in Wright-Phillips who dinked the ball over Speroni but against the crossbar. [LNB]Palace had a chance to level midway through the second half when Nathanial Clyne found Moses in the area, but the youngster skied his shot. [LNB]And the tiring hosts were made to pay in the 71st minute when Tevez tip-toed in between the centre-halves and nodded Wright-Phillips' corner past Speroni. [LNB]Tevez almost doubled his tally when he danced past Hill and fired in a low shot which Speroni scrambled away. [LNB]At the other end, Given saved well from Alassane N'Diaye and Shaun Derry fired wide, but City did manage to record another clean sheet and maintained their 100% record this season. Tevez says 'lack of respect' at United caused him to jump ship to EastlandsDunne set for Eastlands exit as Villa agree to splash £6m on City skipperMANCHESTER CITY FC
