Man City close in on United

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's 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.

CITY BREAKTHROUGH

City's derby defeat at Old Trafford had prompted talk of the realignment of the balance of power in Manchester so the visit of a sliding West Ham side was timely.

The hosts fashioned a number of early chances with their slick passing but their breakthrough in the 18th minute came from an unlikely source.

The marauding Jesus Navas burst down the right flank and his low cross careered off defender Collins before looping over goalkeeper Adrian and deflecting in off the crossbar.

The second goal, however, was more eye-catching.

After intercepting a stray Stewart Downing pass the hosts broke with searing pace and Aguero, after exchanging passes with Navas, fired under Adrian.

City had cause for concern in the 67th minute, however, when playmaker David Silva was carried off on a stretcher after being hit in the head by Cheikhou Kouyate's elbow.

Spaniard Silva, who was treated for nearly 10 minutes on the pitch, was taken to hospital and City manager Manuel Pellegrini later said they were checking if he had broken a cheek bone.

NEWCASTLE DEMISE

There were reports of Newcastle fans boycotting the game at St James' Park because of Mike Ashley's ownership of the club and most of the 47 427 inside the stadium were unhappy to see Nacer Chadli's precise strike put Spurs ahead after 30 minutes.

Jack Colback equalised for Newcastle 18 seconds into the second half but the home side failed to stay level for long as Christian Eriksen's floated free kick into the box evaded everyone and bounced past goalkeeper Tim Krul into the net.

Harry Kane's close-range volley was then brilliantly saved by Krul but the England striker notched his 20th league goal of the season in all competitions late on when he applied a calm finish after Spurs caught Newcastle on the counter attack.

Kane, who leads the league scoring chart with Aguero, became the first Tottenham player to score 30 goals in all compeitions since ex-England striker Gary Lineker in the 1991-92 season.

Inzaghi: It wasn't a penalty

Filippo Inzaghi believes referee Luca Banti was right not to award a penalty against AC Milan Luca Antonelli in Sunday's 0-0 draw with Inter.

In a match that produced few clear-cut chances at San Siro, a pivotal moment came in the second half when Hernanes' effort struck the arm of Antonelli in the penalty area.

The decision not to award a spot-kick attracted the ire of Inter head coach Roberto Mancini, who felt Banti should have pointed to the spot.

Milan boss Inzaghi agrees that similar incidents have been punished in the past, but felt it would have been a harsh decision had the referee given the penalty.

"It was an involuntary handball," he told Sky Sport Italia.

"It's true that penalties have been given for less, but I would not give a penalty for that."

Inzaghi felt that a draw, which means Milan have now lost just one of their past nine Serie A matches, was a fair reflection of the game but was disappointed that his side did not score during a promising spell in the first half.

"I expected more from Milan in the first half when we created several important chances," he added.

"The stakes for the game were high and the boys did their best. The draw is a fair result."

Antonelli: Milan must qualify for Europe

Luca Antonelli says AC Milan can't afford to miss out on European qualification and called on the side to win their last seven games.

The Rossoneri were held to a 0-0 draw by Inter on Sunday night, a result that means they remain one place and one point above the Nerazzurri, but still sit ninth in the table, seven points behind fifth-placed Sampdoria.

Extra European spots could become available depending on results elsewhere, with third-placed Napoli bidding to qualify for the Champions League by winning this season's Europa League, and leaders Juventus playing second-placed Lazio in the Coppa Italia final.

Consequently, Antonelli believes Milan still have every chance of qualifying for continental competition next season - providing they deliver on their side of the bargain by finishing the campaign with a flourish, starting with Saturday's trip to Udinese.

"We played better in the first-half, while in the second half we risked a bit too much by dropping deeper," the full-back told reporters after the stalemate at San Siro. 

"It was a tense match, and especially for me as a Milan fan, it was doubly so. 

"We have kept Inter behind us in the league table and now let’s focus on winning away at Udinese. 

"We need to have the desire to go and qualify for Europe. We cannot fail. 

"It will be difficult versus Udinese, but we have to go there and try and win. 

"There are now seven finals to go and we will try and bring home 21 points."  

Antonelli, who came through the youth team ranks at Milan, rejoined the club from Genoa during the winter transfer window.

Inter denied a clear penalty - Mancini

Roberto Mancini was left fuming that Inter were denied a penalty for a handball against Luca Antonelli in Sunday's 0-0 draw with AC Milan.

Inter had two goals ruled out - one for a foul in the build up and another for offside - and they will feel they should have had the chance to earn bragging rights at San Siro when Hernanes' effort struck the arm of Antonelli in the second half.

Mancini feels Milan were lucky to get a point out of the game and was disappointed referee Luca Banti failed to point to the spot.

"I take consolation from the way we played for 70 minutes of tonight’s match. We did well and tried to win. AC Milan defended well and were lucky at times," he said.

"I’m pleased with the team, they gave everything, but it was a definite penalty. There needs to be consistency in the refereeing.

"I’ve said nothing for 20 games but I think I can say it now."

Mancini, though, did not have any complaints that an own goal from Philippe Mexes was chalked off with less than 20 minutes remaining, conceding that Rodrigo Palacio had fouled Antonelli.

"The disallowed goal, there is the foul from Palacio," he added. "I saw the replay and it was a definitely a Palacio foul."

Andrea Ranocchia believes a share of the spoils was fair for both teams, but shared his coach's anger at not having been awarded a spot kick.

"The 0-0 scoreline really fits the game. We had a great match and created many chances. That we were denied a penalty is sensational. In games like this, such errors are huge,"