Manchester City ground out a 1-0 win over struggling Crystal Palace to go top of the Premier League and champions Manchester United continued their recent revival with a 1-0 victory at Norwich City on Saturday.
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With leaders Arsenal not playing until Sunday, Edin Dzeko's 66th-minute goal earned the points for City who maintained their perfect home record this season but showed none of their usual free-scoring swagger at the Etihad Stadium.
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"I think the team that wants to win the title must have different faces," City manager Manuel Pellegrini told the BBC.
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"We usually score lots of goals at home, but after 45 minutes we knew it would not be like that."
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Mid-table Hull City hammered relegation-threatened Fulham 6-0, Aston Villa struggled again in a 1-1 home draw with Swansea City and West Ham United were held 3-3 by West Bromwich Albion in a thrilling early kickoff at Upton Park.
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In the day's final match, managerless Cardiff City threw away a 2-0 lead to draw 2-2 with bottom club Sunderland in their first game since Malky Mackay was sacked.
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Pellegrini made six changes to the side that overcame Liverpool 2-1 on Thursday and Palace unexpectedly took the game to their hosts with England goalkeeper Joe Hart, who suffered a gashed face in a first-half clash with striker Jerome Cameron, making a string of fine saves.
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Pellegrini made a double substitution, bringing on French forward Samir Nasri and Spanish striker Alvaro Negredo shortly before Dzeko struck.
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Jesus Navas made room and crossed from the right for Bosnian Dzeko to turn and shoot into the roof of the net from 15 metres.
Dzeko and Welbeck, brilliant goals from u guys. More players are needed in this teams in January
Manchester City and Manchester United were always going to win that game because their opponent did nt take their chances