Manchester City FC moved three points clear at the top of the Premier League after securing a 1-0 success at bottom team Wigan Athletic FC.

Though the visitors threatened to win by more than Edin Džeko's solitary goal in a dominant opening hour of football, they were grateful for a second-half save by Joe Hart to ensure their first away league win since 5 November.

Roberto Mancini's side had already gone close through two Džeko headers from set pieces when they took the lead from a free-kick midway through the first half. After Antolín Alcaraz had conceded a foul outside the Wigan area, David Silva whipped over an inviting centre from the left and Džeko glanced in his 11th goal in 17 top-flight outings.

City spurned the chance to double their advantage when Ali Al-Habsi made a fine double save from Džeko and Silva ten minutes after the restart and, moments later, when Džeko shot tamely at the Wigan goalkeeper after a mazy run by Sergio Agüero. For all City's domination they almost paid for their profligacy as Victor Moses pounced on James Milner's mis-hit back pass and James McCarthy raced through to force a stop from Hart's outstretched boot.