Yaya Toure inspired Manchester City to a win at Crystal Palace that saw them close in on leaders Liverpool.
Toure crossed for Edin Dzeko to head City into an early lead before the Ivorian curled in his side's second from 15 yards after Samir Nasri's pass.
Third-placed City are three points behind Liverpool with a game in hand and superior goal difference over the Reds and second-placed Chelsea.
Jason Puncheon came closest for Palace but his low shot was saved by Joe Hart.
Third-placed City have in game in hand over both Liverpool and second-placed Chelsea as well as a superior goal difference.
To earn the victory that once again placed the destiny of the title in their own hands, Manuel Pellegrini's side were indebted to Toure, who was restored to the team after missing the last two matches with a muscle injury.
The former Barcelona midfielder was allowed too much time on the edge of the area and his clipped cross was met by Dzeko's powerful header for the Bosnian's fifth goal in his last eight games and his 24th of the season.
Palace had won their previous five games, a run that began with a 1-0 victory over Chelsea. The 1-0 defeat of West Ham United in their previous fixture guaranteed Premier League survival for the Eagles.
Tony Pulis has guided Palace to 12 wins in 26 matches since taking over from Ian Holloway in November, but the Eagles never looked like adding to that tally against Pellegrini's title challengers.
City controlled the first half comfortably and Toure had a claim for a penalty turned down by referee Howard Webb after his first-time shot from Sergio Aguero's pass hit Damien Delaney on the arm.
With Javi Garcia anchoring midfield, Toure was free to influence attacks and City's second came through another moment of quality from the former Barcelona midfielder.
After swapping passes with Nasri, Toure burst into the penalty area and held off Delaney to curl a left-foot shot beyond Speroni for his 23rd goal of the season.
Hart was forced into his first meaningful save of the match early in the second half. The England goalkeeper dived low to his right to push Puncheon's drive from 20 yards around the post.
Toure curled a shot just over from the edge of the area before making way for substitute Fernandinho with 25 minutes remaining, with Pellegrini seemingly mindful of his side's final three fixtures.
Pulis brought on substitutes Dwight Gayle, Glenn Murray and Tom Ince in search of a goal but City ended the game strongest.
A sharp save from Speroni prevented Dzeko from adding a second as the striker's low shot took a deflection off Scott Dann.
Credit: BBC
