Yaya Toure made a spectacular return to Manchester City’s first team – scoring twice as Pep Guardiola’s side saw off Crystal Palace.
Conor Wickham had threatened to spoil the party with his second half strike that looked like earning the home side a point.
But Toure, whose deflected effort put City in front in the first half, tapped home with seven minutes to go to secure a 2-1 win.
The Ivorian was a shock inclusion – starting his first Premier League game of the season.
And he made an emphatic statement opening the scoring after 39 minutes.
Palace came out with renewed vigour in the second half – piling the pressure on City’s goal while Selhurst Park rocked.
And just seconds after Sergio Aguero came within a whisker of putting the game out of sight Wickham struck.
With City staring down the barrell of a fourth draw in their last five Premier League games, Toure was on hand to tap over the line from six yards.
The one negative for City was another injury blow to Vincent Kompany, who lasted only 37 minutes with suspected concussion.
