Easy as you like it for Manchester City

Man City continue to nod in the goals as Blackburn record crucial win and Tottenham extend superb run.

Mario Balotelli
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Spurs are flying at the moment and only seven points behind City with a game in hand [GALLO/GETTY] 

Manchester City continue to look in a league of their own with another huge victory on Saturday over Norwich.

They maintained their dominant start to the English Premier League season with a 5-1 rout of the Canaries. Scoring has become such a regular event, they scarcely bother to celebrate anymore.

Another team going from strength to strength is Tottenham who stayed third with a 3-0 victory over Bolton, two points behind Manchester United who defeated Aston Villa 1-0.

In the early kick-off, London club Chelsea won 3-0 against Newcastle at St James’ Park.

At the Emirates, Sergio Aguero, Samir Nasri and Yaya Toure had put City comfortably ahead 3-0 by the 68th minute, before Steve Morison pulled one back with 10 minutes remaining.

Mario Balotelli and Adam Johnson then added goals in the final minutes as Roberto Mancini’s team recorded their 12th victory in 14 league matches.

Results and fixtures

Saturday December 3

undefined Newcastle 0-3 Chelsea
undefined Man City 5-1 Norwich
undefined Blackburn 4-2 Swansea 
undefined QPR 1-1 West Brom
undefined Tottenham 3-0 Bolton
undefined Wigan 0-4 Arsenal
undefined Aston Villa 0-1 Man Utd

Sunday December 4

undefined Everton v Stoke
undefined Wolves v Sunderland

The visitors’ resistance was broken when Aguero prodded in his 11th goal in 13 league starts with just over half an hour gone.

Nasri produced one of his best performances since joining City from Arsenal in the offseason and added the second when Norwich goalkeeper John Ruddy somehow allowed the Frenchman’s free kick to beat him.

Striker Jermaine Defoe this week said that Tottenham could win the league and after his side claimed their sixth straight win against Bolton, it is looking conceivable.

Gareth Bale tapped home Luka Modric’s corner to open the scoring after six minutes and then removed his boot in front of the Bolton fans as a tribute to former Wales manager and Trotters player Gary Speed.

Gary Cahill was given a harsh red card for a foul on Scott Parker in the 17th minute and Spurs dominated from then on, adding second-half goals from Jermain Defoe and Aaron Lennon to seal the comfortable win which stretched their unbeaten run to 11 matches.

“We played some great football although I think the sending off was harsh. I couldn’t believe it when the red card came out,” said Spurs boss Harry Redknapp.

The result kept Spurs within seven points of leaders Manchester City, who have played one more game.

Manchester United are still five points behind Manchester City but looked to be in better form during a 1-0 win over Aston Villa.

However, manager Alex Ferguson would not have been happy to see Javier Hernandez stretchered off in the first half as his fitness could be instrumental to United’s season. Villa goalkeeper Shay Given also needed help leaving the pitch after suffering what looked like a hamstring injury.  

The goal came from defender Phil Jones who connected with a peach of a cross from Nani in the first half.

Van still the man

Spurs’ London rivals Arsenal also kept up their good run of form thrashing Wigan 4-0 on Saturday. And surprise, surprise – Robin van Persie was once more on the scoresheet.

“It was a great team performance, we controlled the game and could have scored more. There is a difference between the team at the start of the season and now,” Gunners boss Arsene Wenger said.

It was Van Persie’s 14th goal of the campaign and the in-form Netherlands striker took his tally in all competitions to 17 in 19 games.

Mikel Arteta, defender Thomas Vermaelen – with his third goal in his last four league matches – and Gervinho also scored for Arsenal, who have not lost in the Premier League in two months.

The result lifted Arsenal above Newcastle to fifth in the table and dropped Wigan to bottom place in the standings, on goal difference from Bolton.

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     Arteta scores opener for Arsenal before Van Persie gets on the scoresheet again [GALLO/GETTY] 

Ayegbeni Yakubu scored four goals as Blackburn won their first Premier League game in nine matches, beating Swansea 4-2.

The Nigerian striker scored in the 20th and 45th minutes at Ewood Park, before grabbing his hat trick in the 57th. He added a fourth with a penalty kick in the 82nd.

Leroy Lita and Luke Moore scored for Swansea.

The win moves Blackburn up two places to 18th – above Bolton and Wigan – and removes some pressure from under-fire manager Steve Kean.

QPR and West Brom shared the spoils drawing 1-1 at Loftus Road. Heidar Helguson gave the hosts the lead after heading in a Joey Barton cross.

Shane Long scored his fifth league goal of the season for the equaliser late on rescuing a point for Roy Hodgson’s men.

It was not the birthday QPR manager Neil Warnock would have been hoping for.

Source: News Agencies