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Manchester City takes three-point lead in first place with 1-0 victory over Wigan
Wigan, england — Edindzeko’s first-half header lifted Manchester City three points clear at the top of the Premier League as the leaders swapped flair for functionality in a gritty 1-0 win against bottom club Wigan Athletic on Monday.
It was not pretty and did not produce the sackfuls of goals City have often managed this season, but three points from a scrappy game at a cold and sparse DW Stadium in Wigan are exactly what teams eke out on their way to championships.
“This evening it was important to take three points, I think that we played well in the first half an hour and after [that] so-so,” City manager Roberto Mancini told a news conference.
“We had three or four incredible chances to score the second goal but we didn’t score . . . in this moment it is important to get three points, this month it is important to do the maximum points we can get.”
City, who had been suffering a blip since the start of the new year with one win and three defeats in all competitions, knew they could not afford a slip-up after Manchester United pulled level with them on points on Saturday.
After dominating possession with their trademark swift passing, City’s breakthrough came in the 22nd minute when David Silva floated in a free kick that the towering Dzeko nodded past Wigan keeper Ali Al Habsi.
City moved on to 51 points from 21 games, three ahead of champions Manchester United. Third-placed Tottenham, who visit City on Sunday, are a further two points behind.
Mancini was hoping striker Mario Balotelli and defender Micah Richards would be back in time for that game against Spurs.