Man City mark Mancini milestone with QPR win
LONDON (AFP) -
Manchester City‘s midfielder Yaya Toure (R) scores during their English Premier League football match against Queens Park Rangers at The Etihad stadium in Manchester. Manchester City won 3-1.
Reigning champions Manchester City celebrated manager Roberto Mancini’s 100th Premier League match in charge with a 3-1 victory at home to Queens Park Rangers on Saturday.
Yaya Toure gave City a 16th minute lead at Eastlands when he scored from close range following a corner.
But Italian boss Mancini would have been fuming when QPR, managed by his City predecessor Mark Hughes, equalised against the run of play in the 59th minute.
England goalkeeper Joe Hart could only parry a fierce drive from Andy Johnson and Bobby Zamora headed into an empty net.
But parity lasted just two minutes with Edin Dzeko heading in an excellent Carlos Tevez cross.
West Bromwich Albion’s defender Billy Jones clears the ball during their English Premier League football match against Everton at The Hawthorns in West Bromwich. West Bromwich Albion continued their superb start to the season with a 2-0 win over Everton as the Baggies moved into third place in the Premier League.
Argentina striker Tevez put the result beyond doubt in stoppage time when he deflected in Dzeko’s wayward shot.
Earlier, Andre Villas-Boas was still left searching for his first win as Tottenham Hotspur manager after a 1-1 draw at home to Norwich.
The Portuguese boss, after several fine saves by Spurs keeper Brad Friedel kept the game goalless, saw his side take the lead when Mousa Dembele, signed from Fulham this week, scored on his club debut in the 68th minute.
But, as happened in their draw with West Brom, Spurs conceded a late equaliser when Robert Snodgrass scored five minutes from time at White Hart Lane.
And Villas-Boas’s day got worse when substitute Tom Huddlestone, only on for seven minutes, was shown a straight red card for a challenge on Jonny Howson.
This result will only increase the pressure on Villas-Boas, sacked by Chelsea last season before Spurs’ London rivals won the Champions League, to prove he can succeed in England.
Norwich City’s Scottish striker Robert Snodgrass (R) celebrates his equalizing goal with supporters during their English Premier League football match against Tottenham Hotspur at White Hart Lane in north London.
“We are very disappointed with the way we have played,” Villas-Boas told the BBC. “The players are down, we lacked the sharpness we needed and perhaps allowed some anxiety to creep into our game.
“I understand why the fans are frustrated. No one wants to draw two games at home like that but we will repay their faith.”
Swansea missed the chance to go top of the Premier League after a 2-2 draw at home to Sunderland.
They fell behind when Sunderland’s £12 million striker Steven Fletcher seized on a loose backpass from Swans defender Ashley Williams to put the visitors 1-0 up in the 40th minute.
But Swansea were level ahead of the break through Wayne Routledge before Scotland forward Fletcher restored Sunderland’s lead in the sixth minute of injury time.
Swansea though made it 2-2 when the in-form Michu headed in his fourth goal this season in the 66th minute.
But five minutes later the Swans were down to 10 men when defender Chico was sent off for a wild challenge on Louis Saha.
Stoke City’s striker Jonathan Walters celebrates scoring during a match in 2011. Wigan Athletic and Stoke City played out an entertaining 2-2 draw in the sun at the DW Stadium on Saturday as the visitors twice came from behind to earn a point.
However, the result was overshadowed for Swansea by the broken ankle suffered early on by Wales full-back Neil Taylor.
West Brom’s impressive start to the season continued with a 2-0 win over fellow high-flyers Everton.
Shane Long gave the Baggies a 65th-minute lead before Gareth McAuley sealed victory eight minutes from time.
Andy Carroll made an immediate impact at West Ham as the £35 million Liverpool reject inspired his new club to a 3-0 win over Fulham at Upton Park, setting up goals for Kevin Nolan and Matt Taylor either side of Winston Reid’s effort.
But the England striker’s debut was marred by a hamstring injury Hammers boss Sam Allardyce reckoned would rule him out of next week’s World Cup qualifier away to Moldova.
“I think almost definitely that he is out of the England squad but we will just have to pray that it is not too severe,” said Allardyce.
West Ham United’s striker Andy Carroll seen on his debut during their English Premier League football match between against Fulham at the Boleyn Ground, Upton Park, in East London.
Wigan and Stoke shared the points in a 2-2 draw.
Shaun Maloney’s penalty put Wigan 1-0 before Stoke equalised through a penalty of their own five minutes before half time, with both spot-kicks awarded for handball.
However, four minutes into the second half Wigan were back in front when striker Franco di Santo scored.
Stoke though made it 2-2 though Peter Crouch’s header 14 minutes from time.
Sunday sees newcomers Southampton at home to Manchester United, Liverpool play Arsenal and Newcastle face Aston Villa.