Caretaker England manager Stuart Pearce was a surprise spectator at Ashton Gate,  having made the journey West to run the rule over Palace wonder-kid Wilfried Zaha.

Born in the Ivory Coast but eligible to play for England and still just 19, the talented Eagles winger was quick to show why his performances have been the subject of rave reviews this season.

Having tormented Robins left-back Ryan McGivern at Selhurst Park in October, the teenager picked up where he left off, skinning the Irishman and letting fly with a low drive that required David James to make a diving save after just five minutes.

When Zaha next threatened, surging past Stephen Pearson and McGivern and deep into the penalty area, there was nothing the former England number one could do to prevent the winger's rising shot finding the roof of the net.

Zaha was demonstrating exactly why he was linked with a host of Premier League clubs during the January transfer window and City, at sixes and sevens in defence, appeared powerless to keep the youngster in check.

Blessed with two experienced central defenders in Anthony Gardner and Paddy McCarthy, Palace have forged a reputation for being difficult to break down under manager Dougie Freedman and the visitors seemed content to put men behind the ball, keep things tight and await opportunities to hurt the Robins with swiftly-launched counter-attacks.

Disjointed and unsure of themselves, City failed to muster a single on-target effort until Marvin Elliott tested Julian Speroni with a speculative drive from range after 32 minutes.

Encouraged by that foray into enemy territory, the home side gathered a head of steam and almost conjured an equaliser moments later, Pearson timing his arrival on the edge of the penalty area to perfection to send a powerful drive thudding into the cross bar.