Manchester City held at bottom club QPR

Manchester City FC are four points behind Premier League leaders Manchester United FC having been held to a 0-0 draw at bottom side Queens Park Rangers FC tonight.

City were looking to pile the pressure on United ahead of their game against Southampton FC on Wednesday, but the title holders could not find a way through at Loftus Road. Pablo Zabaleta, a scorer in the FA Cup fourth round at the weekend, went closest but his first-half header struck the bar. Though QPR remain at the foot of the table, they are now just four points from safety.

Newcastle United FC, meanwhile, eased their own relegation worries courtesy of a 2-1 success at fellow strugglers Aston Villa FC. Alan Pardew's men, previously winless away from home this season, took a two-goal first-half lead through Papiss Cissé and Yohan Cabaye. While Christian Benteke pulled one back from the penalty spot after the interval, Villa, without a league victory since mid-December, fell into the bottom three.

Wigan Athletic FC go above Paul Lambert's side having come from two down to draw 2-2 at Stoke City FC, while Sunderland AFC versus Swansea City AFC ended goalless.