Crystal Palace 1 Manchester City 2: Watch the highlights as Yaya Toure scores twice on his return to Pep Guardiola’s team as City triumph 2-1 against Palace at Selhurst Park

YAYA TOURE made the perfect return to the Manchester City first team as his brace helped Pep Guardiola's side to a 2-1 away win at Crystal Palace today.

The Ivorian, who has been out in the cold after a very public fall-out with Guardiola, scored a fine goal in the 39th minute, and then notched the winner seven minutes from time.

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Sandwiched in between was a goal for Palace substitute Connor Wickham in the 66th minute after coming on at half-time.

Facts, stats, goals & lols

• Neither of these teams are in blistering form. This was a first point in five for Palace while this was only City’s third triumph in 10 after winning their first 10.
• There was no John Stones or Ilkay Gundogan or Gael Clichy. All three were left in Manchester for a rest. It was an odd decision not to have a centre-half on the bench.
• Yaya Toure was making only his second appearance of the season after finally apologising to Pep Guardiola for having a big-mouthed agent. In total, Toure, Bacary Sagna and Vincent Kompany had just 10 appearances in total for City. Toure was to become the hero.
• There was rapturous minute's applause in memory of 19-year-old Palace fans Dane Chinnery and Harry Davies who died in separate incidents over the last month.

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• There were worries over Kompany who needed treatment for a head injury after a collision with Claudio Bravo. As Guardiola instructed Fernando to warm up, Kompany got to his feet. But in the 36th miunte, he was led off the pitch. This bloke does not have much luck.
• Toure, it just had to be, scored in the 39th minute. He played a one-two with Aguero and then teased Joel Ward before playing a one-two with Nolito. His shot deflected off James Tomkins. It was Toure’s first goal since March. The move came after a mistake by Martin Kelly who was being forced to play at left-back.
• Jason Puncheon sparked some handbags stuff when he tripped Pablo Zabaleta off the ball. Puncheon somehow avoided a booking and City did not even get a free-kick.

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• Christian Benteke forced a cracking save from Bravo after terrific work from Puncheon. Zaha should have done better with the rebound.
• Just seconds after Ward cleared off the line from Aguero, sub Connor Wickham levelled in the 66th minute. Zaha caused a few problems and found Wickham who took two touches to go past Zabaleta before beating Bravo at his near post.
• Toure thought he was going to score a second goal. De Bruyne crossed and Hennessey just got a hand to the ball to take it away from the incoming Toure. But Toure would still be the hero with the winner and one City fan got onto the pitch and celebrating while clutching a small child.

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Big picture

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Social Says

Dream Team ratings

Crystal Palace: Hennessey 5; Ward 7, Dann 6, Tomkins 5, Kelly 6, Cabaye 6, McArthur 7, Zaha 7, Puncheon 6, Townsend (Wickham, 45, 6), C Benteke 6 (Lee Chung-yong, 81, 6).

Subs (not used): Speroni, Flamini, Mutch, Sako, Delaney.

Booked: Wickham

Goals: Wickham.

Manchester City: Bravo 6, Sagna 7, Kompany 6 (Zabaleta 37, 6), Otamendi 6, Kolarov 7, Fernandinho 7, Y Touré 8, Sterling 6, De Bruyne 7, Nolito 7 (Silva, 67, 6), Agüero, 6 (Fernando, 86, 6).

Subs (not used): Caballero, Jesús Navas, Sané, Iheanacho.

Booked: Otamendi, Nolito.

Goals: Toure (39).

Star Man: Yaya Toure

What they said:

Yaya Toure: ";We knew sometimes we need to fight to win games and this was tough. Crystal Palace are in trouble and they needed a performance in front of their fans. I am really happy with the lads.

";For me, to be honest, I just want to help the team. City are always involved in the title race and we will keep it going.

"Maybe my prediction is it will be like 2014. It will go to the end, but we have quality players who can score at any moment."