Carlos Tevez hit a hat-trick as Manchester City crushed Norwich 6-1 at Carrow Road yesterday to pile the pressure on Premier League leaders Manchester United.
Roberto Mancini’s side moved within two points of title rivals United thanks to a treble from Argentina forward Tevez, two goals from Sergio Aguero and an Adam Johnson strike.
United now need to beat Aston Villa at Old Trafford today to re-establish their five-point advantage at the top.
After City’s defeat at Arsenal last weekend, it was widely expected that United would cruise to their 20th English league crown, but the champions’ midweek stumble at Wigan and back-to-back wins featuring 10 goals for Mancini’s men have breathed new life into the title race.
Mancini tried to keep the pressure on United when asked if the title was back in City’s sights. “It’s finished,” he said.
He did admit that Tevez’s absence for five months following the striker’s touchline row with the City boss at Bayern Munich could be crucial.
“I think we did well without Carlos for four or five months, but I’m sure if we had Carlos with Sergio Aguero, Edin Dzeko and Mario Balotelli we would have scored more goals,” Mancini added.
Elsewhere, bottom club Wolves earned a creditable 0-0 draw at Sunderland, but Terry Connor’s side still look destined for relegation.
With only four games to play, Wolves are eight points from safety despite ending a woeful run of seven successive defeats.
Blackburn remain second bottom of the table and sit three points from safety after a 3-0 defeat at Swansea.
Steve Kean’s side fell behind in the 37th minute when on-loan Hoffenheim midfielder Gylfi Sigurdsson struck with a swerving shot.
Nathan Dyer curled in an impressive second six minutes later and Rovers defender Scott Dann deflected Sigurdsson’s shot into his own net in the 63rd minute.
To make matters worse for Kean, Rovers were hit by injuries to Ayegbeni Yakubu, Grant Hanley and David Hoilett.
QPR’s survival hopes suffered a setback as Mark Hughes’ side were beaten 1-0 at West Bromwich Albion.
The west Londoners thrashed Swansea in midweek but a superb 22nd-minute goal from Scottish midfielder Graham Dorrans at the Hawthorns left them just two points above the drop zone.
Results and standings
Premier League
Norwich 1
Surman 51;
Man. City 6
Tevez 18, 73, 80; Aguero 27, 75; Johnson 90;
HT: 0-2. Att: 26,812.
Sunderland 0
Wolves 0
Att: 37,476.
Swansea 3
Sigurdsson 37; Dyer 43; Dann 63 og;
Blackburn 0
HT: 2-0. Att: 18,985.
West Brom 1
Dorrans 22;
QPR 0
HT: 1-0. Att: 25,521.
Standings
| P | W | D | L | F | A | Pts | |
| Man. United | 33 | 25 | 4 | 4 | 78 | 28 | 79 |
| Man. City | 34 | 24 | 5 | 5 | 85 | 27 | 77 |
| Arsenal | 33 | 20 | 4 | 9 | 66 | 41 | 64 |
| Tottenham | 33 | 17 | 8 | 8 | 57 | 38 | 59 |
| Newcastle | 33 | 17 | 8 | 8 | 50 | 42 | 59 |
| Chelsea | 33 | 16 | 9 | 8 | 56 | 38 | 57 |
| Everton | 33 | 13 | 8 | 12 | 38 | 34 | 47 |
| Liverpool | 33 | 12 | 10 | 11 | 40 | 36 | 46 |
| Sunderland | 34 | 11 | 10 | 13 | 42 | 41 | 43 |
| Fulham | 33 | 11 | 10 | 12 | 43 | 43 | 43 |
| Norwich | 34 | 11 | 10 | 13 | 47 | 58 | 43 |
| Swansea | 34 | 11 | 9 | 14 | 38 | 44 | 42 |
| West Brom | 34 | 12 | 6 | 16 | 40 | 47 | 42 |
| Stoke | 33 | 11 | 9 | 13 | 32 | 45 | 42 |
| Aston Villa | 32 | 7 | 14 | 11 | 35 | 44 | 35 |
| QPR | 34 | 8 | 7 | 19 | 38 | 57 | 31 |
| Wigan | 33 | 7 | 10 | 16 | 31 | 57 | 31 |
| Bolton | 32 | 9 | 2 | 21 | 36 | 65 | 29 |
| Blackburn | 34 | 7 | 7 | 20 | 45 | 73 | 28 |
| Wolves | 34 | 5 | 8 | 21 | 34 | 73 | 23 |
Playing today
Man. United vs Aston Villa - 17:00
Tomorrow
Arsenal vs Wigan - 21.00
Top scorers
27 goals: Van Persie (Arsenal).
22 goals: Rooney (Man. United).
21 goals: Aguero (Man. City).
Next fixtures
Saturday: Premier League 13.45 Arsenal vs Chelsea. 16.00 Aston Villa vs Sunderland; Blackburn vs Norwich; Bolton vs Swansea; Fulham vs Wigan; Newcastle vs Stoke. 18.30 QPR vs Tottenham.
Sunday: Premier League 13.30 Man. United vs Everton. 17.00 Liverpool vs West Brom; Wolves vs Man. City.
The Championship
Barnsley 0 - Cardiff City 1
Birmingham 2 - Bristol City 2
Burnley 1 - Coventry 1
Crystal Palace 1 - Ipswich 1
Derby 0 - Middlesbrough 1
Doncaster 3 - Portsmouth 4
Leeds 4 - Peterborough 1
Millwall 2 - Leicester 1
N. Forest 0 - Blackpool 0
Watford 1 - Hull City 1
West Ham 6 - Brighton 0
Standings: Reading 85; South-ampton 82; West Ham 79; Birmin-gham 71; Blackpool, Cardiff 68; Middlesbrough 66; Brighton 63; Leicester, Hull 62; Burnley, Leeds, Derby 60; Watford 59; Ipswich 57; C. Palace 55; Millwall 50; Peterborugh 48; N. Forest, Barnsley 47; Bristol City 44; Coventry 40; Portsmouth 37; Doncaster 32 (relegated).
League One
Brentford 0 - Notts County 0
Bury 1 - Bournemouth 0
Carlisle 0 - Charlton 1
Colchester 1 - Sheffield Wed. 1
Hartlepool 1 - Chesterfield 2
Preston 1 - Huddersfield 0
Rochdale 3 - Exeter City 2
Scunthorpe 0 - MK Dons 3
Sheffield Utd 3 - L. Orient 1
Walsall 0 - Tranmere 1
Wycombe 2 - Oldham 2
Yeovil 0 - Stevenage 6
Standings: Charlton 94 (promoted); Sheffield Utd 88; Sheff. Wed. 84; MK Dons, Huddersfield 74; Notts County 67; Carlisle 66; Brentford 64; Stevenage 63; Colchester 55; Tranmere 54; Bournemouth 53; Hartlepool, Preston, Bury 52; Scunthorpe, Yeovil 50; Oldham 49; Walsall, L. Orient 46; Wycombe 43; Chesterfield 39; Exeter, Rochdale 38.
League Two
Aldershot 1 - Dagenham 1
Bristol 7 - Burton 1
Cheltenham 4 - Accrington 1
Crawley 1 - Wimbledon 1
Macclesfield 2 - Crewe 2
Morecambe 0 - Port Vale 0
Northampton 1 - Bradford 3
Oxford 0 - Gillingham 0
Shrewsbury 3 - Rotherham 1
Swindon 1 - Plymouth 0
Torquay 0 - Southend 0
Standings: Swindon 89; Shrewsbury 81; Torquay 80; Crawley 77; Southend 74; Cheltenham 71; Oxford, Crewe 67; Gillingham 63; Rotherham 62; Aldershot 58; Accrington 56; Morecambe 55; Bristol Rovers 54; Port Vale 53; Burton 51; Wimbledon 48; Bradford, Dagenham 46; Northampton 45; Plymouth 44; Barnet 40; Macclesfield, Hereford 37.