ROBERTO Mancini admits Manchester City's bid to catch English Premier League leader Manchester United might prove a heartstopping affair after the champion's dramatic 1-0 win against Reading.
Gareth Barry finished off bottom club Reading with a controversial headed winner in the 93rd minute at Eastlands yesterday to move City within three points of United ahead of its rival's trip to Swansea.
It was the fourth time this season City had won a league game with a goal in the 87th minute or later, following similar successes against West Bromwich Albion, Fulham and Tottenham. Mancini joked that the stress of his team's performances might yet take its toll.
"I'm very happy but we've had a lot of games like today. My heart is not strong enough to take it," Mancini said. "That win could probably be the difference come the end of the season. I hope so. Our attitude is good. We kept our concentration until the very end."
City enjoyed all the possession against Brian McDermott's Reading without creating too many clear-cut chances.
McDermott was left to bemoan his luck once more after seeing Barry climb over defender Nicky Shorey to head in the winner.
Mancini and City claimed there was nothing wrong with Barry's effort, although Reading strongly disagreed.
McDermott and the Royals also thought they should have had a 75th-minute penalty when Matija Nastastic might have handled in a move in which Jay Tabb was also apparently fouled by City debutant Karim Rekik.
"It was an absolute joke. We've had that a few times this season," said McDermott. Meanwhile, Arsenal climbed to third place, nine points behind City, as Mikel Arteta's second-half penalty sealed a 1-0 win over Wigan at the DW Stadium while Everton surged into fourth place with a 2-1 win over West Ham at Upton Park.
The win for Everton meant Tottenham slipped to fifth place after being held to a 0-0 draw by Stoke at White Hart Lane.
Liverpool winger Stewart Downing finally ended his 44-game Premier League goal drought as the Reds beat Fulham 4-0 at Anfield to record their biggest win of the season.
He netted in the 51st minute after first-half strikes from Martin Skrtel and Steven Gerrard while Luis Suarez scored the fourth in stoppage time.
Newcastle ended a miserable run of six defeats from their past seven league games as Shola Ameobi clinched a 1-0 victory against QPR at St James' Park.
West Bromwich Albion also remain in the hunt for a top-four finish after a 2-1 win against Norwich at The Hawthorns left it sixth and level on points with Arsenal, Everton and Tottenham.
Sunderland boosted its survival hopes as Steven Fletcher's 42nd-minute goal sealed a 1-0 win at fellow strugglers Southampton.
AFP
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