Mancini savours winning start at City

Roberto Mancini enjoyed a winning start to life at Manchester City FC and Gianfranco Zola's West Ham United FC earned a much-needed victory. Yet there was less to celebrate for Carlo Ancelotti, the Premier League's other Italian manager, as Chelsea FC failed to score for the first time in 35 outings.

Tévez key
Carlos Tévez struck one goal and made another Manchester City saw off Stoke City FC 2-0 in Mancini's first fixture since replacing Mark Hughes last weekend. The home side forged ahead on 28 minutes when a surging run and cross by Tévez was, via Robinho's mis-hit, slotted in by Martin Petrov. The Argentina forward doubled the advantage just before half-time, diverting Gareth Barry's header past Thomas Sørensen as Mancini enjoyed a winning return to management, 19 months after departing FC Internazionale Milano.

Chelsea blunted
A regular sparring partner from those Inter days, Ancelotti fared less well as a goalless draw with Birmingham City FC left Chelsea with just one win in seven games. Alex came closest to breaking the deadlock when he rattled the crossbar with a free-kick as the visitors failed to register for the first time since the 0-0 draw at FC Barcelona in last season's UEFA Champions League semi-finals. Florent Malouda's late dismissal added to the woe, which may be compounded on Sunday when chief title rivals Manchester United FC and Arsenal FC can close the gap at the summit.

Five draws
Liverpool FC would love to be part of the equation, though the Reds are still 12 points behind Chelsea despite a 2-0 victory at home to ten-man Wolverhampton Wanderers FC. Safety is more the issue at West Ham, and a 2-0 win against bottom-placed Portsmouth FC – Italian Alessandro Diamanti breaking the deadlock from the penalty spot – lifted Zola's men out of the relegation zone. Bolton Wanderers FC swap places with the east London outfit after the Lancashire derby ended 1-1 at Burnley FC, one of five Premier League draws today.