• Premier League round-up

Man City five clear as AVB's Chelsea fall behind Arsenal

ESPN staff
March 3, 2012
Manchester City got lucky with their opener but they fully deserved the three points against Bolton © PA Photos
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The picture is beginning to look clearer at both ends of the Premier League table after Manchester City stretched ahead of neighbours United on Saturday, while Arsenal strengthened their bid for a top four finish as Chelsea lost. At the bottom Wigan find themselves in deep trouble following defeat to Swansea, while Blackburn move a point closer to safety.

Manchester City can watch Sunday's encounter between Tottenham and Manchester United knowing they hold a five-point lead over their title rivals following a 2-0 victory over Bolton at the Etihad Stadium. With only 11 games of their Premier League campaign left to play, Roberto Mancini's men are showing few signs of cracking, seeing off Wanderers thanks to an own goal from Gretar Rafn Steinsson, in addition to a second-half strike from Mario Balotelli.

The league leaders flew out of the blocks on home soil, Balotelli hitting a post inside the opening three minutes. However, they had to wait another 20 for their breakthrough, and it came from a Bolton man as Steinsson diverted Gael Clichy's drive into his own net.

Bolton were by no means lambs to the slaughter, breaking forward to good effect at times, and it needed a top drawer save from Joe Hart to deny Ryo Miyaichi an equaliser. However, at the other end Balotelli appeared to have a strong shout for a penalty when bundled over by Zat Knight inside the area.

Adam Bogdan worked overtime in the Bolton goal, making a string of saves as City searched for a killer goal, but he was almost beaten by his own player for a second time when Darren Pratley hit his own bar from 20 yards whilst trying to tackle Edin Dzeko. A second goal did finally arrive, Balotelli converting Adam Johnson's excellent work, helping City to become the first top flight side to win their opening 14 home games since Newcastle in 1906/07.

Under-fire Chelsea boss Andre Villas-Boas confessed at the start of the week that he feared for his future at Stamford Bridge, and he will be feeling even more uneasy after seeing his side lose 1-0 at West Brom. Starting the day outside the top four, Chelsea now find themselves three points adrift of Arsenal after Gareth McAuley struck late for the Baggies.

Villas-Boas ignored recent media headlines about an alleged fallout with Frank Lampard by selecting the England man in his starting XI, but it was West Brom who made the better start - James Morrison running the length of the pitch to nearly score a wonder goal.

However, the best chance of the first half belonged to Chelsea, who really should have led when Didier Drogba fed Sturridge. The England youngster was unmarked near the penalty spot, but he skewed his shot wide when it looked easier to score.

Robin van Persie scored both Arsenal goals at Liverpool © Getty Images
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Sturridge had another glorious opening in the second period, sent clean through 35 yards from goal but he failed to take the ball round Ben Foster who came to the Baggies' rescue. And Chelsea were punished when McAuley stabbed home a deserved winner eight minutes from time in a game that saw Petr Cech overworked in the Chelsea goal.

Liverpool hit the woodwork twice, missed a penalty and wasted an open goal as Arsenal somehow left Anfield with an unlikely 2-1 victory, in a game the home side dominated. The Reds missing a spot-kick through Dirk Kuyt before taking the lead through a Laurent Koscielny own goal, and then both Kuyt and Luis Suarez hit opposite posts in addition to Martin Kelly missing an open goal.

However, Robin van Persie snatched a match-winning brace for Arsenal with his only two shots of the afternoon.

Liverpool were without Steven Gerrard for the lunchtime kick-off, but they started superbly in his absence, earning an 18th-minute penalty through the brilliance of Suarez, who exchanged a one-two with Kuyt before being tripped by Wojciech Szczesny. Kuyt stepped up, but the Arsenal keeper redeemed himself by saving both the spot-kick and the follow-up with an incredible double save.

The Gunners had two weak links, one being their anonymous left-back and the other being Laurent Koscielny. The duo combined for Liverpool's opening goal, first when offering acres of space to Jordan Henderson down the right flank, and then when Koscielny inexplicably diverted the ball into his own net under no pressure inside the box. It was a goal Liverpool richly deserved and they should have immediately doubled their advantage when Suarez hit a post.

Arsenal barely registered a presence at the other end in the opening half hour, Van Persie rendered a spectator, yet suddenly he levelled out of nothing from Sagna's magnificent cross. The goal failed to change the pattern of the game, and by half-time Liverpool should have led comfortably, Suarez impishly weaving past four Arsenal defenders only to see his effort denied by Szczesny, before Kuyt hit the woodwork again as Arsenal somehow escaped.

There was more frustration in the second half for Liverpool as Kelly somehow missed his kick in front of an open goal with 20 minutes remaining. And Arsenal punished their profligacy in injury-time, with one lofted Alex Song pass finding Van Persie, whose exquisite volley was a moment of technique worthy of winning any game.

At the bottom of the table Aston Villa threw away a much-needed win as fellow strugglers Blackburn snatched a 1-1 draw at Ewood Park. Victory looked to be heading Villa's way courtesy of a top class strike from Charles N'Zogbia, but Rovers responded five minutes from time to move level with 17th-placed Wolves.

Charles N'Zogbia lashed home Aston Villa's opener at Blackburn © PA Photos
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With top scorer Darren Bent injured and Gabriel Agbonlahor suffering a goal drought, Villa needed a different name to step forward in Lancashire. That man was N'Zogbia, who produced a quite breathtaking finish to hand Villa the lead on 24 minutes, but they could not hold on for a rare win as David Dunn earned Blackburn what may prove a vital point.

Blackburn remain level with Queens Park Rangers after Mark Hughes' awful start to his role as manager barely improved with a 1-1 draw at home to Everton. Rangers had not won any of their previous five games in all competitions, a record that was extended by Royston Drenthe's excellent strike.

Hughes stated when he left former club Fulham that he wanted a bigger challenge, and he certainly has that on his hands at Loftus Road. In fairness to the QPR boss there was little he could do about Everton's opener, which was another unstoppable strike by former Real Madrid man Drenthe.

Rangers did find a response before half-time as one of Hughes' January signings, Bobby Zamora, glanced home an equaliser, and they should have won it but for arguably the miss of the season. Adel Taarabt initially hit a post with a wonderful curling effort, and when the ball came back out Zamora drove across goal, where Akos Buzsaky contrived to hit the woodwork from all of four yards.

Wigan began the day at the foot of the table, and that is where they will stay after Swansea recorded a 2-0 win at the DW Stadium. The Latics are looking increasingly likely to suffer the drop as their home record extended to one win in 14 thanks to two superb strikes from Gylfi Sigurdsson.

Sigurdsson scored either side of half-time, both from range, and Wigan had no response despite a harsh sending off for Nathan Dyer early in the second period, after he was late into the challenge wiith Jordi Gomez.

Elsewhere, Stoke prevented Norwich from moving within a point of Liverpool thanks to Matt Etherington's 72nd-minute winner in a 1-0 triumph at the Britannia Stadium.

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