Roy Hodgson has revealed that the key to Crystal Palace's shock win over Manchester City was to allow the Premier League champions' centre-backs more time on the ball.
Andros Townsend scored one of the goals of the season as Roy Hodgson's inspired Palace came from behind to condemn City to their first league defeat at the Etihad Stadium since April.
Townsend struck with a 30-yard volley after Jeffrey Schlupp had cancelled out Ilkay Gundogan's opener on a rain-soaked afternoon.
A penalty from Luka Milivojevic sealed victory although Kevin De Bruyne's cross-cum-shot gave City, who also hit the post through Leroy Sane, late hope.
The defeat was City's second in three league games and handed the title initiative to Liverpool, whom they face on January 3.
Palace's performance was completely unexpected, the Londoners having lost five of their last six away games and 5-0 on their last two visits to the Etihad. Indeed, it was their first away win over City since 1990.
Following the win, Hodgson said: "The structure and the discipline the players showed to stick to the gameplan was superb.
"We realised we were playing against a team who were fantastically good on the ball and it’s very difficult to pressurise them high up the field without opening yourselves up, so we allowed their centre-backs a little more time on the ball and we were very disciplined to make certain that our back four and midfield four blocked all the spaces there.
"We know that it was tough and we rode our luck when the free-kick hit the post but I must say that over the 96 minutes the players feel deserved to be proud of themselves and we don’t need to apologise for getting the three points here today."
Of his side's attacking threat, Hodgson said: "It is very difficult to heap anything but praise on the players today.
"I thought it was a very concentrated, focused and disciplined performance where we took our chances on the counter-attack.
"We were quite dangerous as I guessed we might be with Wilf and Andros, and luckily this time it paid off."
Additional reporting by the Press Association.
