Manchester City FC moved to within three points of stuttering Premier League leaders Chelsea FC courtesy of a resounding 4-1 triumph at lowly Fulham FC.

Fulham, managed by former City boss Mark Hughes, fell behind in the sixth minute when Carlos Tévez held off a defender and fired in Gareth Barry's pass. The visitors, who had drawn their previous two league matches 0-0, were three up by the break through Pablo Zabaleta's venomous strike and Yaya Touré's low finish across Mark Schwarzer.

Tévez increased the lead by flicking in Zabaleta's shot after a corner had only been cleared as far as the left-back, before substitute Zoltán Gera reduced the arrears with a deflected drive. In the day's other fixture, Morten Gamst Pedersen took his tally to four goals in as many matches with a double as Blackburn Rovers FC moved into mid-table by defeating Aston Villa FC 2-0 at Ewood Park.

Villa gave a debut to Robert Pirès in the second half, the 37-year-old's first appearance in English football since leaving Arsenal FC in 2006. Sunderland AFC and Everton FC complete the weekend action when they meet on Monday.

Results

Standings

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