City miss opportunity to apply pressure at top as QPR resist

The defending champions had the opportunity to put the pressure on their city rivals, with the Red Devils in action tonight at home to Southampton, but found Julio Cesar in fine form.

Gareth Barry and David Silva both saw efforts saved by the former Inter Milan goalkeeper, and Pablo Zabaleta’s header from Silva’s cross came back off the bar.

Adel Taarabt wasted QPR’s best chance of the match when he saw his shot well saved by Joe Hart after bursting through on goal.

While the hosts remain rooted to the foot of the table, they are now just two points behind Reading.

Newcastle held off a spirited second-half fightback from Aston Villa to move four points clear of the relegation zone with a 2-1 win.

Toon boss Alan Pardew fielded two of his four new French signings and one of them, Moussa Sissoko, played in striker Papiss Cisse, who took a touch and slotted low past Brad Guzan in the 19th minute.

The visitors looked to be cruising to their first away victory in any competition this season when Yohan Cabaye magnificently volleyed into the top corner from 25 yards just after the half hour.

Beleaguered Villa manager Paul Lambert made two half-time changes, with Gabriel Agbonlahor and Andreas Weimann replacing Joe Bennett and Darren Bent.

Villa won a penalty after Mathieu Debuchy was adjudged to have tripped Agbonlahor on the edge of the penalty area, Christian Benteke sending Tim Krul the wrong way from the spot.

Krul, however, made several fine saves thereafter as Villa pressed in vain for an equaliser.

They now occupy the final relegation place after second-half goals from James McArthur and Franco Di Santo helped Wigan Athletic rescue a 2-2 draw at Stoke City.

Ryan Shawcross volleyed Stoke ahead in the 23rd minute and Peter Crouch doubled their lead.

But Wigan halved the deficit when McArthur coolly finished and Di Santo secured a well-earned point.

Sunderland and Swansea had to settle for a goalless draw at the Stadium of Light.