Tevez fires Manchester City back to top of EPL

LONDON - Two goals from Carlos Tevez fired Manchester City back to the top of the English Premier League in a 4-3 win over Wolves at Eastlands.

Tevez’s goals gave Roberto Mancini’s side their third win in four matches and takes City to 43 points, one clear of Manchester United, who have three games in hand before facing Spurs Sunday.

City unveiled Edin Dzeko, their 27-million-pound signing from Wolfsburg, at the start of the game but it was the visitors who initially had the biggest impact, taking the lead with a scrappy goal after 12 minutes from Nenad Milijas.

Despite struggling throughout the opening period, the home side equalised five minutes before half-time as defender Kolo Toure rifled in from close range from Vincent Kompany’s flicked header.

City stepped up a gear in the second half as Tevez jinked past several Wolves defenders minutes after the restart to score a superb individual goal before Yaya Toure made it 3-1, ending an excellent move involving Dzeko and Tevez again.

And when Tevez headed in Pablo Zabaleta’s cross to make it 4-1, the game appeared to be well and truly over.

But Wolves fought back to threaten the home side’s celebrations as Kevin Doyle converted a penalty before Ronald Zubar’s header five minutes from time ensured a dramatic finish.

At Stamford Bridge, Chelsea moved into fourth place with a much-needed 2-0 victory over Blackburn Rovers to keep alive their slim hopes of defending their title.

After a dismal run of form in recent games, anything less than a win would have piled more pressure on manager Carlo Ancelotti and left the champions’ chances of even qualifying for the Champions League in peril.

The homes side produced a hesitant display in the first half, but Branislav Ivanovic’s low shot gave them the lead just before the hour mark to settle their nerves.

And Ivanovic was instrumental in the second goal as he headed Florent Malouda’s corner into the path of Nicolas Anelka, who flicked the ball into the net to make it 2-0.

At the Hawthorns, West Bromwich Albion claimed a crucial three points after their recent slide towards the relegation zone with a 3-2 win at home over Blackpool.

In a see-saw match, the away side took the lead after 11 minutes through David Vaughan before West Brom hit back to take the lead either side of half time with goals from Peter Odemwingie and James Morrison.

Gary Taylor-Fletcher’s excellent week continued as he pulled Blackpool back level before Odemwingie claimed his second of the match in the closing stages to give West Brom the win that lifts them to fifteenth place.

Elsewhere Stoke moved up to eighth with a 2-0 home win over Bolton and Fulham claimed a 1-1 draw at Wigan.

Later, Arsenal take on West Ham at Upton Park, where win or lose, reports suggest Avram Grant will be sacked after the match and replaced by Martin O’Neill.

Sunday sees Manchester United try to reclaim their place at the top of the league as they face Spurs at White Hart Lane and Kenny Dalglish tries to gain his first win since taking over at Liverpool as his side take on Everton at Anfield in the Merseyside derby.