City whistling in English Premier League

Manchester: Manchester City are within touching distance of the English Premier League title after overwhelming Aston Villa 4-0 on Wednesday to close within a point of the championship.

Villa resisted until the 64th minute at a sodden Etihad Stadium, but a quick-fire Edin Dzeko brace put the hosts ahead and late goals from Stevan Jovetic and Yaya Toure took City’s goal tally to 100 in the league.

City’s victory eliminates third-place Chelsea from the title race and means that they will be champions for the second time in three years if they avoid defeat at home to West Ham United on Sunday.

“I was absolutely sure if we continued to play the same way we would find the space to score a goal,” said City manager Manuel Pellegrini, who has already led the club to success in League Cup.

Pellegrini’s side lead Liverpool by only two points, but they can afford to draw on the final day because they have a goal-difference advantage of +13 over Brendan Rodgers’ men, who host Newcastle United.

While Liverpool and Chelsea have slipped up spectacularly in recent weeks, City have now won four games in succession, and they will have Chelsea’s Premier League record of 103 goals in their sights against West Ham.

In his programme notes, Pellegrini had demanded “focus and complete concentration” from his players, and despite the absence of injured top scorer Sergio Aguero, they did just that.