• Premier League round-up

Lescott lifts Man City back to summit

ESPN staff
February 12, 2012
Joleon Lescott stabbed in from close range after a well-worked corner © PA Photos
Enlarge

This season ESPN Goals is completely free. It's the first place to see every goal from every Premier League game, all season long

Gallery

Manchester City leapfrogged rivals Manchester United and returned to the top of the Premier League with a 1-0 victory over Aston Villa at Villa Park.

City, who are set to welcome Carlos Tevez back to the club next week to help with their title push, have now moved two points clear of United with 13 games left of the season.

Meanwhile, Villa fans protested against boss Alex McLeish prior to kick-off, and they will have seen little to quell their anger over the subsequent 90 minutes.

After a laboured start to the opening period from both sides, City eventually took complete control of the contest, with David Silva increasingly influential as the half wore on. The closest they came was via Adam Johnson's 25-yard drive, which hit the bottom of Shay Given's left-hand post and came crashing out.

City's frustration continued until the hour mark, when they finally broke through via Joleon Lescott, who stabbed in from four yards after Gareth Barry had diverted Silva's corner into his path.

The visitors were never really tested from that point forward - although Joe Hart made a decent save from Darren Bent - as they closed out one of the most routine three-pointers they will pocket all season.

West Brom grabbed four unanswered goals in the second period © Getty Images
Enlarge

Hat-trick hero Peter Odemwingie earned West Brom victory in the Black Country derby and increased the pressure on Wolves boss Mick McCarthy after the home side were demolished 5-1 at Molineux.

Odemwingie earned Albion their sixth away success of the campaign and it was no more than they deserved after a woeful performance by the home side

Several unhappy Wolves fans vented their anger towards owner Steve Morgan and chief executive Jez Moxey in the directors box in the closing stages as their side were ripped apart.

Steven Fletcher cancelled out Odemwingie's opener in first half injury-time. But Jonas Olsson restored Albion's lead before further goals from Odemwingie and a Keith Andrews strike made sure of victory.

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
Close

ABOUT COOKIES

To help make this website better, to improve and personalize your experience and for advertising purposes, are you happy to accept cookies and other technologies.

More Info Here Cookie Choices