Carlos Tevez scored twice as Manchester City survived a late fightback to beat Wolverhampton Wanderers 4-3 and move to the top of the English Premier League on Saturday.
Argentine international Tevez struck his 14th and 15th goals of the season, while Ivorian brothers Kolo and Yaya Toure both netted as City took a slender one-point lead over Manchester United.
Serbian midfielder Nenad Milijas had fired Wolves into a shock lead on 12 minutes, rifling home a rebound after a Matthew Jarvis cross.
City’s blushes were spared five minutes before halftime when Kolo Toure controlled on the edge of the six-yard box and prodded a deflected shot past Wolves goalkeeper Wayne Hennessey.
Four minutes after the restart City were in front, captain Tevez weaving his way through the Wolves defense, before finishing calmly.
Yaya Toure made it 3-1 five minutes later, lifting his shot over Hennessey to join his brother on the scoresheet after good work by new signing Edin Dzeko, making his debut for City.
Tevez made it four on 66 minutes, stooping to steer home as City looked to be cruising to victory, but Kevin Doyle slotted a late penalty for Wolves to make it 4-2 and an 86th-minute goal from French defender Ronald Zubar set up a nerve-jangling finale.
City manager Roberto Mancini was happy with the way his side performed after a poor start to the game.
“I think we were bad in the first 20 minutes,” Mancini said. “We didn’t play, but after that we played well. We scored four goals and had two or three good chances.”
Chelsea maintained their title hopes with a labored 2-0 win over Blackburn Rovers thanks to second-half goals from Branislav Ivanovic and Nicolas Anelka.
Ivanovic opened the scoring on 57 minutes, firing a low shot through a forest of legs to the relief of under-pressure manager Carlo Ancelotti, before a flicked effort from Anelka on 76 minutes made the game safe.
The result put Chelsea back into the top four and Ancelotti voiced hope that the result means Chelsea have finally turned the corner.
“I think that the difficult moment is gone,” Ancelotti told Sky Sports. “We are coming back to get good results. It’s not easy to come back and close the gap for the first position, but we have to try.”
In the late kickoff, third-placed Arsenal piled the pressure on West Ham United manager Avram Grant after cruising to a comfortable 3-0 victory at Upton Park courtesy of two goals from Robin van Persie and one from Theo Walcott.
Grant — reported to be facing dismissal earlier on Saturday — was taunted mercilessly by Arsenal’s traveling supporters, who bombarded the beleaguered Israeli with the chant: “You’re getting sacked in an hour.”
A miserable evening for the Hammers was completed when new signing Wayne Bridge hacked down Walcott to concede the penalty for Arsenal’s third, a development that sent the home fans streaming toward the exits.
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger was pleased his side had bounced back from two disappointing results in the FA Cup and League Cup to extend their unbeaten run in the Premier League to five matches.
“We are in a good run in the Premiership and it’s important to continue,” said Wenger, who was delighted with the form of van Persie. “Today is the sharpest I’ve seen him. He gets stronger and stronger with every game.”
At the Hawthorns, two goals from Peter Odemwingie — including an 87th-minute winner — handed West Bromwich Albion a 3-2 victory over Blackpool as the Baggies ended their six-match losing streak.
Blackpool looked to have grabbed a share of the points when Gary Taylor-Fletcher equalized on 80 minutes, before Odemwingie’s late effort denied Ian Holloway’s men a draw.
Stoke City, meanwhile, moved up to eighth place with a 2-0 win over Bolton Wanderers.
Stoke defender Danny Higginbotham opened the scoring, bundling home from close range on 37 minutes. A Matthew Etherington penalty doubled the Potters’ lead on 64 minutes and secured the points.
At the DW Stadium, substitute Andrew Johnson scored an 86th-minute equalizer just 10 minutes after coming on as Fulham secured a 1-1 draw against Wigan Athletic, who had taken the lead through striker Hugo Rodallega.
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