Manchester rivals City and Utd kept things tight at the top after overcoming North London opposition.
City and United stay on course; Chelsea forced to share spoils
Manchester rivals City and United kept things tight at the top of the table after overcoming North London opposition in a dramatic weekend of Premier League action.
The city rivals defeated Tottenham and Arsenal respectively to cement their dominance in the top two spots, while Chelsea were another capital side to suffer a setback in a goalless draw at Norwich.
Robbie Keane starred against former club Wolves as Aston Villa enjoyed a derby win, while Fulham pulled off a stunning comeback to thrash Newcastle and Mark Hughes enjoyed his first league win as QPR boss over Wigan.
The first clash in a blockbuster Super Sunday double-header saw
Manchester City edge out
Tottenham 3-2 in the dying stages at Ethiad Stadium to
maintain their dominance at the top of the Premier League and put a dent in Spurs' title hopes. Mario Balotelli was the hero of the afternoon for City; slotting home a stoppage-time penalty after Ledley King hauled him down in the area late on. Debate is still raging over whether the controversial youngster should have still been on the pitch, having escaped punishment for an apparent stamp on Scott Parker earlier in the encounter. The match had burst into life in the second half, with Jermain Defoe pulling one back for Spurs after goals from Samir Nasri and Joleon Lescott before Gareth Bale curled home a stunning equaliser.
Spurs' North London rivals
Arsenal were
also beaten by Manchester opposition as
Manchester United kept the heat on City at the top of the table with a 2-1 victory at Emirates Stadium. A lively Antonio Valencia put the visitors ahead in the first half when he nodded home a well-placed Ryan Giggs delivery, but talismanic Gunners captain Robin van Persie levelled the scoreline after the break after pouncing on a pinpoint pass from teenage ace Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, making his first Premier League start. Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger attracted criticism from the home faithful when he subbed the impressive Chamberlain for Andrey Arshavin 15 minutes from time and the decision proved costly, with the Russian failing to keep Valencia out of the box as he set up Danny Welbeck's 81st-minute winner.
The weekend's action had started with another capital side suffering a setback after
Chelsea could only manage a goalless draw at top-flight newcomers
Norwich on Saturday lunchtime. All eyes were on misfiring striker Fernando Torres, who stretched his goal drought to 15 matches after failing to find the back of the net at Carrow Road. The beleaguered Spaniard blundered the best chance of the game when he somehow fired a shot wide despite being in a central position and eight yards out in the second half. Norwich fully deserved their first league clean sheet this season after goalkeeper John Ruddy and the home backline produced an organised, hard-working display to keep their high-profile opposition at bay.
Robbie Keane returned to haunt his old club
Wolves as he fired home a brace to inspire
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