Newcastle United's French midfielder Yohan Cabaye scores a brilliant long-range goal during the Magpies' 2-1 win over Aston Villa in the Premier League today. Source: AFP
THE post-Mario Balotelli era at Manchester City began in lacklustre fashion as it was held to a 0-0 draw at Queens Park Rangers today that prevented it from making up ground on Manchester United.
Victory for City would have cut United's lead to just two points, but instead Alex Ferguson's side will tackle Southampton tomorrow with an opportunity to re-open a seven-point lead at the English Premier League summit.
The troublesome Italian striker is expected to complete a switch to AC Milan tomorrow, and City could have done with some extra firepower at Loftus Road.
An injury to Vincent Kompany obliged the champion to start with Spanish midfielder Javi Garcia at centre-back, but it began with both Carlos Tevez and Sergio Aguero in attack as they sought to exploit bottom club QPR's defensive frailties.
Joleon Lescott blazed an early chance over the crossbar from close range, while Pablo Zabaleta headed against the bar from a David Silva cross and Aguero had a goal ruled out for offside.
Adel Taarabt provided a reminder of QPR's threat with a low shot that Joe Hart had to keep out but the hosts were indebted to Julio Cesar for a superb save to deny Gareth Barry and keep the scores level at half-time.
City added a third striker to the mix in the second half in the shape of Edin Dzeko, but still the goal eluded them, with Aguero shooting over from 12 yards before Julio Cesar produced another fine reflex save to repel Silva.
QPR remains bottom of the table, but it is now just four points from safety.
City manager Roberto Mancini said Balotelli would be missed.
"We are very sorry (to lose him),'' said the Italian.
"I hope Mario can continue to improve and can show he is ready because I think if he works hard, he can continue his growing and he can become one of the best players in Europe.''
Newcastle United claimed its first away win of the season with a 2-1 victory at Aston Villa that further deepened the gloom hanging over Paul Lambert's side.
French debutant Moussa Sissoko teed up Papiss Cisse for Newcastle's 19th-minute opener and another Frenchman, Yohan Cabaye, made it 2-0 just after the half hour with a glorious, dipping half-volley.
Villa stirred in the second half, hitting back with an early penalty from Christian Benteke, but Newcastle held on despite late pressure from the home side.
"We played the football Newcastle fans want to see in that first half. They haven't seen that much this year,'' said Newcastle coach Alan Pardew.
Villa has now slipped into the Premier League relegation zone to boot, while Newcastle climbs one place to 15th.
The club's manager Paul Lambert tried to focus on the positives in his side's performance.
"I've never seen a standing ovation after getting beat before but that shows the effort we put in in the second half,'' he said.
"We never played well in the first half all but I couldn't fault them after the break.''
Wigan Athletic capitalised on Villa's slip-up by storming back from 2-0 down at Stoke City to earn a 2-2 draw that lifted it out of the bottom three.
Goals from Ryan Shawcross and Peter Crouch looked to have put the hosts in command, but James McArthur's fine goal immediately halved the deficit and Franco Di Santo equalised in the 61st minute with an emphatic volley.
League Cup finalist Swansea City was held to a goalless draw at Sunderland but the point was still sufficient for Michael Laudrup's men to clamber above West Bromwich Albion into eighth place.
AFP
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