MANCHESTER City's hopes of retaining its Premier League title were in tatters on Saturday as a shock 3-1 defeat at Southampton left manager Roberto Mancini to virtually concede the championship.


Mancini's side needed a victory at St Mary's to keep the pressure on ladder leader Manchester United, but instead it slumped to its third league defeat of the season.


Jason Puncheon and Steven Davis put the 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 has now gone three league games without a win and remains nine points behind United, which was due to host Everton on Sunday.


''I think we now have a 10 per cent chance of winning the title. I don't think United will drop 12 points,'' Mancini said.


''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.''


Chelsea manager Rafael Benitez admitted this week that he hasn't spoken to owner Roman Abramovich for three weeks, sparking suggestions the Spaniard could be in danger of losing his job.


But the third-placed Blues were too strong for Wigan at Stamford Bridge; a 4-1 win saw them cruise 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 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.''


England star Jack Wilshere suffered a 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 after a strong challenge from Alfred N'Diaye and Arsenal was 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. Despite those setbacks, Arsenal held on for its 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 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 now has nine goals in his last 12 league appearances and his heroics extended fourth-placed Tottenham's unbeaten run to 10 league games.


When asked about the chances of Bale being tempted to join a bigger club, Spurs boss Andre Villas-Boas said: ''Most teams have to hang on to their best players. Barcelona losing Messi would be a disaster, Real Madrid losing Ronaldo would be a disaster - so this is exactly the same.''


Reading's hopes of avoiding relegation suffered a setback with a 2-1 defeat at Stoke.


Swansea left QPR stuck to the bottom of the table with its 4-1 win at Swansea's Liberty Stadium.


Norwich shared a dour 0-0 draw with Fulham at Carrow Road.


AFP