Second-half goals by Yaya Toure and Carlos Tevez earned Manchester City a 2-0 win over Chelsea yesterday that gave their fading hopes of retaining the Premier League crown a boost.
Chelsea had missed the chance to go ahead early in the second half at the Etihad Stadium when Frank Lampard had a penalty well saved by keeper Joe Hart while City had endured long spells of frustration as their many chances went to waste.
Toure’s sweetly-struck shot into the bottom right broke the deadlock in the 63rd minute while substitute Tevez made sure of the three points with a right-footed missile five minutes from time.
The result puts second-placed City 12 points behind leaders Manchester United, who have 68 points from 27 games, while Chelsea stay third with 49.
“I think we deserved to win because we played well, maybe we could have scored more goals,” City manager Roberto Mancini told a news conference.
In the day’s only other Premier League game, Newcastle United beat relegation rivals Southampton 4-2 at home to move six points clear of danger.
Papiss Cisse scored with a superb long-range effort in Newcastle’s victory.
The visitors took an early lead when Rickie Lambert headed down a Jack Cork cross to Morgan Schneiderlin, who turned and shot into the bottom corner from 10 metres on three minutes.
The lead lasted half an hour before Moussa Sissoko tapped in from six metres and three minutes before the break Cisse smashed a superb shot past Southampton keeper Artur Boruc from 25 metres to put Newcastle ahead.
Southampton’s Lambert side-footed his 100th goal for the club to give Southampton hope, but it proved short-lived as Yohan Cabaye netted a penalty and a calamitous own goal from Jos Hooiveld wrapped up the points for Newcastle.
Newcastle moved up to 14th in the table with 30 points while Southampton are three points adrift in 16th.
Playing today
West Ham vs Tottenham - 21.00
The Championship
Wolves 1 - Cardiff City 2