Manchester City opened up a five-point lead at the top of the Premier League with victory over Blackburn on Saturday as Chelsea beat Bolton to ease the pressure on manager Andre Villas-Boas. With second-placed Manchester United not playing until Sunday's trip to Norwich, City took full advantage of the opportunity to crank up the pressure on their cross-town rivals by taking all three points at Eastlands.
Goals from Mario Balotelli, Sergio Aguero and substitute Edin Dzeko duly sealed a 3-0 win for Roberto Mancini's side, who extended their remarkable 100 percent record at home this season to 13 matches. The win was also City's fifth straight victory in February, giving Mancini cause for confidence in the title run-in.
"I think we've had a good February - but we now need to have a good March, April and May if we want to win the title," Mancini said. Meanwhile Chelsea boss Villas-Boas breathed a sigh of relief after watching his team down struggling Bolton 3-0 at Stamford Bridge.
Second-half goals from David Luiz, Didier Drogba and Frank Lampard gave Villas-Boas something to smile about after a difficult week which saw the Blues pushed to the brink of elimination from the Champions League. The victory - Chelsea's first in five league matches - saw Villas-Boas's side move back into the Champions League qualification places, three points ahead of fifth-placed Arsenal, who face Tottenham on Sunday.
"It was important to win after all the recent disappointments. We have been trying so hard and today we managed to do a great, great game," Villas-Boas said. "We managed to find the efficiency in front of goal that we haven't had in the last few games and we are back on track in the league." Queens Park Rangers' dismal run of form continued as west London neighbours Fulham completed a season double with a 1-0 win at Loftus Road.
West Bromwich Albion brought Sunderland's recent run of good form to a shuddering halt after romping to a 4-0 win at the Hawthorns. Elsewhere, bottom club Wigan battled to a 0-0 draw against Aston Villa at the DW Stadium.