Man City go top, Fulham and Cardiff go down

Manchester City claimed top spot in the Premier League and took asignificant step towards the title by coming from behind to edge Everton 3-2 onSaturday.Ross Barkley's stunner put hosts Everton ahead in the 11th minute, but SergioAguero quickly equalised and a brace from Edin Dzeko secured victory for ManuelPellegrini's side despite Romelu Lukaku reducing the arrears.City now lead previous leaders Liverpool on goal difference -- +59 to +50 -- and willtherefore be practically assured of winning the title if they win their two remaininggames. Chelsea and Liverpool each have opportunities to take over at the summit over thenext two days, but if City beat Aston Villa on Wednesday and win at home to WestHam United next weekend, they are unlikely to be caught.Everton's defeat, meanwhile, means that Arsenal are guaranteed to finish at least ashigh as fourth, guaranteeing them a place in next season's Champions Leagueplay-offs.Everton's fans were in the uncomfortable position of knowing that victory for theirside would hand the title initiative to their city rivals Liverpool, but Barkley's strikewas a goal that demanded to be celebrated.After Steven Naismaith rolled Leighton Baines's pass into his path, the 20-year-oldEngland midfielder looked up and arced a magnificent first-time shot into the top-right corner from 25 yards.Aguero equalised just 11 minutes later, however, rattling home at the near postfrom Yaya Toure's pass, and although he was then forced off with an apparent groininjury, City powered on.Dzeko put the visitors in front in the 43rd minute with an imperious header from aJames Milner cross and after Joe Hart had saved from Naismith early in the secondhalf, the Bosnian stabbed home Samir Nasri's cross to make it 3-1.Lukaku's 65th-minute diving header brought Everton back into the game, but Citysurvived a nail-biting last half an hour -- Hart notably saving from substitute GerardDeulofeu -- to close on the title.- 'Flat' United puzzle Giggs -Meanwhile, Fulham and Cardiff City were both relegated after defeats in theirpenultimate games of the season left them unable to reach safety.Fulham's 13-year run in the English top flight was ended by a 4-1 defeat at StokeCity, while Cardiff went straight back down to the Championship following a 3-0loss at Newcastle United.Both sides' fates were sealed by fourth-bottom Sunderland's unexpected 1-0 win atManchester United, which took Gus Poyet's side four points above Fulham and fivepoints clear of bottom club Cardiff.Peter Odemwingie, Marko Arnautovic, Oussama Assaidi and Jonathan Walters scoredthe goals that accounted for Fulham at the Britannia Stadium, with Kieran Richardson replying in vain for the visitors."I've never been relegated until today," said Fulham manager Felix Magath. "I feelvery sad. I have to apologise for not managing the situation. The club asked me tocome. I tried." Goals from Newcastle trio Shola Ameobi, Loic Remy and Steven Taylor sent Cardiffback to the second tier just a year after their promotion from the Championship.The realisation that we're down is one of the most bitter disappointments of bothmine and many of the players' careers," said Cardiff manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer. Sunderland will effectively be safe if third-bottom Norwich City lose at Chelsea onSunday after Sebastian Larsson's 30th-minute goal at Old Trafford condemnedUnited to their 12th league defeat of the season."I feel flat. The players were flat and I don't know why," said interim United managerRyan Giggs, whose side have lost seven home league games for the first time sincethey were relegated to the old Division Two in 1974."We've had a problem at home all season. It's not been good enough."United's defeat means that Tottenham Hotspur need only a point to secure sixthplace, and with it Europa League qualification, despite having lost 2-0 at West HamUnited earlier in the day. Elsewhere, Andreas Weimann scored twice as Aston Villa won 3-1 at home to FA Cupfinalists Hull City, while Southampton striker Rickie Lambert claimed a 93rd-minutewinner in a 1-0 victory at Swansea City. Source: AFP