LONDON: Manchester City ended a difficult week on a high and climbed to within one point of third-placed neighbours Manchester United thanks to a comfortable 2-0 Premier League victory over West Ham United on Sunday.

After a testing week in which City’s 4-2 defeat at rivals United prompted speculation about the future of manager Manuel Pellegrini and a number of leading players, victory against West Ham provided a welcome boost.

James Collins’ freak own goal and Sergio Aguero’s 20th league strike of the season secured a routine win and the only surprise was that City failed to add to their lead after the Argentine’s 36th-minute effort.

Champions City have 64 points, one behind United who lost 1-0 at Chelsea on Saturday, and two adrift of second-placed Arsenal who have a game in hand. West Ham remain 10th having won one of their last 11 league matches.

“When we lose we have a lot of criticism and that is part of football,” City midfielder Yaya Toure told Sky Sports.

“Today we showed great team spirit and it was very important to get the three points today. We will continue to fight until the end.”

Newcastle United sank to a sixth straight league defeat and are not yet safe from relegation after losing 3-1 to Tottenham Hotspur at St James’ Park with Harry Kane grabbing the third to reach 30 goals for the season in all competitions.

Sixth-placed Spurs are level on 57 points with fifth-placed Liverpool but have played a game more, while struggling Newcastle remain 14th with 35 points from 33 matches.

On Saturday, Eden Hazard scored the only goal of the game against United at Stamford Bridge to leave Jose Mourinho’s Chelsea in sight of their first English title since 2010, moving them to 76 points from 32 matches, 10 more than second-placed Arsenal.

“I feel we are almost there, but there are no ‘almosts’ in football,” said Mourinho.

“Six games to play: three at home, three away. Every game is difficult, every team needs points. But our situation is very good.”

Published in Dawn, April 20th, 2015

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