Manchester City boss Manuel Pellegrini has played down his touchline spat with Crystal Palace counterpart Alan Pardew at Selhurst Park this afternoon.

The duo became embroiled in a heated exchange for the second time in 18 months when Yaya Toure chopped down James McArthur during the Sky Blues' 1-0 win.

Pellegrini and Pardew famously clashed in January 2014 when the latter was in charge of Newcastle United, but the Chilean says that such incidents are par for the course in top-level football.

"He came across my technical zone," he is quoted as saying by Goal.com.

"He was always complaining about every decision of the referee and I was angry because of that important decision – I thought the referee made that important mistake.

"That doesn't matter, it is part of the game. Nothing more."

Second-half substitute Kelechi Iheanacho, 18, settled the fiery occasion with a last-minute winner that preserved the Citizens' 100% start to the Premier League season, with five games gone.