Manchester City are not doing things the easy way this season.

The Blues have stumbled and stuttered their way through a campaign they are trying to rescue with securing Champions League football and lifting the FA Cup.

But at 2-0 down inside the opening quarter and Crystal Palace cutting open the hosts at will, it looked like being another damaging day.

Yet the Blues are still champions for a little while yet and displayed the mentality that had steered them to four in a row to rally.

They were level before the break through Kevin De Bruyne and Omar Marmoush and Mateo Kovacic put them ahead moments into the second half. City dominated from thereon and James McAtee and Nico O'Reilly completed the scoring.

Here's the moments you might have missed from the Etihad.

Pep's gesture

Pep is never quiet on the touchline. Minutes into the contest, Palace struck first to break the deadlock. The City chief wanted a flag raised as the visitors broke.

Guardiola stood, arms aloft as if he was in the Arsenal defensive line of the early 1990s. For a second he watched, yearned for the flag from the assistant referee. It didn't come.

Guardiola stalked back to the dug-out to consult the monitor. It confirmed the officials' decision. The City boss slapped his hands together. Soon after City were two down.

Twenty minutes later, when Marmoush blasted City level, the boss was down the touchline a few paces imploring the crowd for some noise, raised arms, hand cupped to ear, fingers together gesticulating chatter. He wanted more and he got it.

McAtee redemption

McAtee disgustedly disposed of some of the turf. It was a chance missed in more ways than one. The City midfielder had just planted a shot over the bar early in the second period. He should have scored, just as he should in the first half when heading wide from six yards out.

There is a lot to like about McAtee but there was genuine surprise at seeing him in the starting XI with Jeremy Doku, Jack Grealish and Savinho all among the subs. This was McAtee's first Premier league start of the season and first ever for City.

Suddenly, having been overlooked on several occasions, he was thrust into the side. He took up a wide right attacking position and performed well enough but it was spurned opportunities that stuck in the mind as the second half persisted.

Guardiola, not one for subtlety on the sidelines, had looked to the heavens more than once as chances came and went.

Then came McAtee's moment, latching onto an Ederson long ball, McAtee held his run, rounded Dean Henderson and slotted home a game-clinching fourth for City.

When he was replaced in the closing stages there was a cuddle from his manager, a high five and a friendly pat. The two were all smiles and McAtee will hope has done enough to earn more starts in the closing weeks.

Ederson hint

Ederson had endured a difficult opening half, like many of his teammates. The keeper was at least partly at fault for Crystal Palace’s second, misjudging the flight of Adam Wharton’s corner and arriving behind Chris Richards and allowing the Palace defender an easy header.

The Brazilian wasn’t helped by Ruben Dias’ weakness in marking the American and at that stage City were two down and sinking.

The home side had turned it round to lead early in the second half and were 3-2 up when Ederson pinged a delicious long ball for James McAtee to race onto and score the fourth. It was the keeper’s fourth assist of the campaign.

It was cruel luck then that he was forced off in the second half with injury.

But he was able to walk from the field and take his place on the bench rather than head down the tunnel.

And at full time he was on the pitch taking the applause from the fans, perhaps offering an optimistic outlook on his injury.

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