Manchester City leapfrog Liverpool into 4th place
Friday, 4 January 2008
LONDON, Jan 3(AFP): Manchester City added to the pressure on the shoulders of Newcastle United manager Sam Allardyce with a 2-0 Premier League away win at St James' Park on Wednesday that saw them leapfrog Liverpool into fourth place in the table.
Defeat meant Newcastle had taken just one point from a possible 12 as high-flyers City, managed by former England coach Sven Goran Eriksson, went fourth after their first away league win since the opening day of the season.
Liverpool were held to a 1-1 draw by Wigan.
The result was a huge blow to Liverpool's title hopes as it left them 12 points behind leaders Arsenal but saw Wigan move out of the relegation zone.
In the day's other Premier League matches basement club Derby appeared close to a precious away point only to concede an extra-time goal in a 1-0 defeat against Bolton Wanderers.
Elsehwere South Africa international Benni McCarthy scored the only goal of the game as Blackburn Rovers beat Sunderland, a result that saw the visitors, who finished the match with 10 men, return to the bottom three.
Elano gave City the lead shortly before half-time when he shot low past Shay Given after the ball was played into his path by Darius Vassell.
Allardyce, who recently received backing from United chairman Chris Mort amidst reports he was about to be replaced by former Newcastle and England forward Alan Shearer, brought on injury-prone striker Michael Owen at half-time.
Defeat meant Newcastle had taken just one point from a possible 12 as high-flyers City, managed by former England coach Sven Goran Eriksson, went fourth after their first away league win since the opening day of the season.
Liverpool were held to a 1-1 draw by Wigan.
The result was a huge blow to Liverpool's title hopes as it left them 12 points behind leaders Arsenal but saw Wigan move out of the relegation zone.
In the day's other Premier League matches basement club Derby appeared close to a precious away point only to concede an extra-time goal in a 1-0 defeat against Bolton Wanderers.
Elsehwere South Africa international Benni McCarthy scored the only goal of the game as Blackburn Rovers beat Sunderland, a result that saw the visitors, who finished the match with 10 men, return to the bottom three.
Elano gave City the lead shortly before half-time when he shot low past Shay Given after the ball was played into his path by Darius Vassell.
Allardyce, who recently received backing from United chairman Chris Mort amidst reports he was about to be replaced by former Newcastle and England forward Alan Shearer, brought on injury-prone striker Michael Owen at half-time.