Southampton’s Jason Puncheon celebrates after scoring against Manchester City during their English Premier League match at St Mary’s Stadium in Southampton, yesterday.
LONDON: Manchester City’s Premier League title defence fell apart at the seams in a 3-1 defeat at Southampton yesterday when goalkeeper Joe Hart committed a howler and Gareth Barry scored a bizarre own goal.
First Barry lost the ball in midfield after seven minutes and Jason Puncheon stormed forward before coolly finishing off a rebound after Hart’s sprawling stop.
Hart, let a Rickie Lambert shot go through his legs and Steven Davis slid the ball in midway though the first period.
Edin Dzeko replied for City after a quick counter attack but just after the break, a weak cross came in and Barry decided to pass the ball back to Hart only to send it into the corner of the net with the keeper beaten.
Chelsea boss Rafa Benitez admitted this week that he hasn’t spoken to notoriously demanding Blues owner Roman Abramovich for three weeks, sparking suggestions the Spaniard could be in danger of losing his job after Chelsea’s recent poor run.
But the third placed Blues were too strong for struggling Wigan and cruised to their first win in five matches in all competitions.
Chelsea produced a sweeping move to open the scoring as Fernando Torres played a fine first-time pass towards Ramires and the Brazil midfielder fired home in the 23rd minute.
Belgian playmaker Eden Hazard doubled Chelsea’s lead with a cool finish from Cesar Azpilicueta’s cross in the 56th minute.
Wigan replied through Shaun Maloney two minutes later, but in-form England midfielder Frank Lampard and Marko Marin notched late goals to seal the hosts’ victory.
Meanwhile, Arsene Wenger’s team went ahead in the 35th minute when Theo Walcott set up Santi Cazorla and the Spanish midfielder fired home.
Wilshere hobbled off following a strong challenge from Alfred N’Diaye and Arsenal were reduced to 10 men when right-back Carl Jenkinson was dismissed for a second booking after fouling Stephane Sessegnon in the 62nd minute.
Gareth Bale maintained his sublime form with a brilliant brace to inspire Tottenham’s 2-1 victory over Newcastle at White Hart Lane.
Bale added to the growing belief that he is currently the best player in the Premier League with a superb free-kick to open the scoring early in the first half.
The Wales winger then bagged the late winner after Yoan Gouffran had equalised with his first Premier League goal for Newcastle.
Reading’s hopes of avoiding relegation suffered a setback with a 2-1 defeat at Stoke.
QPR rooted to the bottom of the table after a 4-1 defeat at Swansea.
In the day’s other fixture, Norwich shared a dour 0-0 draw with Fulham. AFP
