Manchester City's hopes of retaining their Premier League title were in tatters yesterday as a shock 3-1 defeat at Southampton left manager Roberto Mancini to virtually concede the championship.
Mancini's side needed a victory at St Mary's to keep the pressure on leaders Manchester United, but instead they slumped totheir third league defeat of the season.
Jason Puncheon and Steven Davis put Saints 2-0 ahead by the 22nd minute and, although Edin Dzeko got one back before the break, a Gareth Barry own goal early in the second half sealed City's fate.
Mancini's second-placed team have now gone three league games without a win and remain nine points behind United. "I think we now have a 10 per cent chance of winning the title. I don't think United will drop 12 points," said Mancini. "It was a really poor performance."
While City slumped, Chelsea got back on track after their recent poor run. The third-placed Blues beat struggling Wigan 4-1 at Stamford Bridge. Ramires fired home in the 23rd minute and Eden Hazard doubled Chelsea's lead in the 56th.
Wigan replied through Shaun Maloney two minutes later, but in-form England midfielder Frank Lampard and Marko Marin notched late goals to seal the hosts' victory.
England star Jack Wilshere suffered a worrying thigh injury in 10-man Arsenal's 1-0 victory at Sunderland, while Gareth Bale maintained his sublime form with a brilliant brace to inspire Tottenham's 2-1 victory over Newcastle at White Hart Lane.
Reading's hopes of avoiding relegation suffered a setback with a 2-1 defeat at Stoke.
