English Premier League: City turn screw on Fulham and title rivals

Sergio Aguero opened the scoring from the penalty spot after Chris Baird brought down Adam Johnson before a Baird own goal and Edin Dzeko’s strike sealed the win.

The result means City go three points clear at the top of the table with second-placed Manchester United playing Chelsea today.

Sunderland’s impressive form continued as a strike from James McClean secured them a 1-0 win against ten-man Stoke at a wintry Britannia Stadium.

In a contest during which snow fell throughout, a first half of few goalscoring opportunities finished with Potters defender Robert Huth receiving his marching orders in the 45th minute. The German was shown a straight red card following a tackle on David Meyler.

McClean then netted in the 60th, bursting through the hosts’ defence and tucking the ball away to seal a victory which means the Black Cats have now taken 22 points from the 30 on offer since manager Martin O’Neill took charge.

Swansea’s on-loan midfielder Gylfi Sigurdsson played a major role in Brendan Rogers’ side coming from behind to register only their second away win of the season at West Brom.

The Iceland international cancelled out Marc-Antoine Fortune’s opener and laid on the winner for Danny Graham.

Second-half goals from Andrew Surman and Anthony Pilkington ensured Norwich ended a nervy afternoon with a 2-0 win over strugglers Bolton at Carrow Road.

Substitute Kevin Doyle inspired a second-half Wolves comeback at QPR to secure a vital 2-1 victory in west London. The Ireland international came off the bench at half-time and helped set up Matt Jarvis’ equaliser 51 seconds later, before going on to net the winner.

It had looked like QPR would be going home with the three points after debutant Bobby Zamora fired them into a deserved lead just days after his move from west London rivals Fulham. Wolves were given a way back into the game, though, when fellow striker Djibril Cisse was shown a straight red card for an altercation with Roger Johnson in the 34th minute.

Wigan benefited from one of the more bizarre goals the league will see this season but had to settle for a 1-1 draw against Everton at the DW Stadium. Phil Neville blocked a Jean Beausejour cross and the ball somehow found its way past Tim Howard for an own goal.

But the hosts’ lead lasted only seven minutes, substitute Victor Anichebe heading in the equaliser.