LONDON, Feb 10: Manchester City honoured the memory of Manchester United’s tragic 1958 Busby Babes on Sunday, then dented United’s current Premier League title hopes with an unexpected 2-1 win at Old Trafford.

After the fans of both clubs had observed a minute’s silence to mark the 50th anniversary of the Munich air crash, City stunned United as first-half goals from Darius Vassell and debutant Benjani Mwaruwari gave them their first win at their rivals since 1974 and their first double over them since 1969.

Substitute Michael Carrick’s well-taken stoppage-time goal was no more than a consolation for the home side.

United’s first home Premier League defeat of the season has seriously hit their hopes of retaining the title. The result meant City rose from eighth to sixth in the table, at least until Liverpool play at Chelsea later on Sunday.

Arsenal, who play Blackburn Rovers on Monday, have 60 points from 25 matches, United have 58 from 26, while Chelsea, before playing Liverpool, had 54 from 25.

City, who had won only one of their last seven league and cup matches, deserved their win after withstanding almost constant but not particularly effective United pressure in the second half.

Meanwhile, Everton tightened their grip on fourth place in the Premier League and the prospect of Champions League football with a 1-0 win over Reading on Saturday.

Phil Jagielka headed the winner at Goodison Park to condemn Reading to a seventh consecutive league defeat which left them in the relegation zone for the first time this season.

Everton have 47 points, three more than Aston Villa who moved into fifth after a John Carew hat-trick sealed a 4-1 hammering of Newcastle United, who had led at halftime.

Sunderland improved their survival chances with a 2-0 home defeat of fellow strugglers Wigan Athletic while Birmingham City edged out of the bottom three, above Reading, with a 1-1 draw at West Ham United, who had Lee Bowyer sent off.

Middlesbrough gave a debut to record signing Afonso Alves as they beat Fulham 1-0, the Brazilian coming on as a substitute in the second half.

Tottenham Hotspur beat bottom club Derby County 3-0 while Portsmouth moved into seventh place with a 1-0 win at Bolton Wanderers.

While Villa and Everton appear set to scrap with Liverpool for fourth place, Newcastle are looking anxiously over their shoulders after a dreadful collapse at Villa Park.

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