Southampton players celebrate after their 3-1 win over Manchester City in the Premier League match at St Mary's Stadium. Picture: Mike Hewitt Source: Getty Images
MANCHESTER City's hopes of retaining the Premier League title are in tatters after a shock 3-1 loss at Southampton.
Chelsea, meanwhile, eased the pressure on manager Rafael Benitez with a 4-1 win over Wigan.
Roberto Mancini's side needed a victory at St Mary's to keep the pressure on leaders Manchester United, but instead they slumped to their third league defeat of the season.
Jason Puncheon and Steven Davis put Saints 2-0 ahead by the 22nd minute and, although Edin Dzeko got one back before the break, a Gareth Barry own goal early in the second half sealed City's fate.
Mancini's second-placed team remain nine points behind United, who host Everton tonight.
Mancini tore into his Manchester City flops and admitted the champions' title hopes were in big trouble.
"It'll be very difficult to win the league. I use to be always be optimistic and want to be in this moment, but it's difficult," he said.
"I think we now have 10 per cent (chance of winning the title). I don't think United will drop 12 points."
Mancini's side have now gone three league games without a win and the Italian's frustration was clear as he launched a scathing attack on their tepid display.
"It was a really poor performance. Southampton were better than us. We conceded two goals which I didn't think a team like us could concede," he said.
"I've never seen our team concede goals like this. In the end we made two incredible mistakes. The performance was really poor. We played this game with only two or three players. Three versus 11 was really difficult.
"I was really disappointed with my players. When we perform like this I'm very angry.
"The players were away on international duty - that's not an excuse, but it is a reason. Some of our players came back on Friday and we played today. This made it difficult."
While City slumped, Chelsea got back on track.
Benitez admitted this week that he hasn't spoken to Blues owner Roman Abramovich for three weeks, sparking suggestions the Spaniard could be in danger of losing his job after a recent poor run.
But the third-placed Blues were too strong for struggling Wigan at Stamford Bridge and cruised to their first win in five matches in all competitions.
Ramires fired home in the 23rd minute and Eden Hazard doubled Chelsea's lead in the 56th minute.
Wigan replied through Shaun Maloney two minutes later, but in-form England midfielder Frank Lampard and Marko Marin notched late goals to seal the hosts' victory.
"There is a lot of talk and speculation. Nobody is talking to the owner. It is just speculation," Benitez said.
"It is my job to try and win every game. When you have experience of winning things, you know sometimes it can be difficult."
There was less good news for England star Jack Wilshere, who suffered a worrying thigh injury in 10-man Arsenal's 1-0 victory at Sunderland.
Arsene Wenger's team went ahead in the 35th minute when Theo Walcott set up Santi Cazorla and the Spanish midfielder fired home.
Wilshere hobbled off following a strong challenge from Alfred N'Diaye and Arsenal were reduced to 10 men when right-back Carl Jenkinson was dismissed for a second booking after fouling Stephane Sessegnon in the 62nd minute.
Wenger was furious with Sunderland's physical approach, but despite those setbacks Arsenal held on for their third win in four league matches and climbed above Everton into fifth place.
Gareth Bale maintained his sublime form with a brilliant brace to inspire Tottenham's 2-1 victory over Newcastle at White Hart Lane.
Bale added to the growing belief that he is currently the best player in the Premier League with a superb free-kick to open the scoring early in the first half.
The Wales winger then bagged the late winner after Yoan Gouffran had equalised with his first Premier League goal for Newcastle.
Bale has nine goals from his past 12 league appearances and his heroics extended fourth-placed Tottenham's unbeaten run to 10 league games.
Reading's hopes of avoiding relegation suffered a setback with a 2-1 defeat at Stoke.
Brian McDermott's team, two points above third-bottom Aston Villa, fell behind when German defender Robert Huth headed in from Glenn Whelan's 67th minute corner.
Cameron Jerome got the hosts' second in the 81st minute and Adrian Mariappa's 83rd minute reply wasn't enough to spark a Reading revival.
Michu scored twice to leave QPR rooted to the bottom of the table after a 4-1 defeat at Swansea and Norwich had a scoreless draw with Fulham at Carrow Road.
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