* City beaten 1-0 at Arsenal
* United defeat QPR 2-0
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By Mike Collett
LONDON, April 8 (Reuters) – Manchester United moved eight
points clear in the Premier League title race on Sunday by
beating Queens Park Rangers 2-0 while Manchester City, who had
Mario Balotelli sent off, crashed to a 1-0 defeat at Arsenal.
With only six matches to play United, who trailed City for
most of the season until going top a month ago, have 79 points
while their faltering Manchester neighbours have 71.
Arsenal, whose winning goal from Mikel Arteta came after 87
minutes, are third on 61 points, two ahead of arch-rivals
Tottenham Hotspur who drew 0-0 at Sunderland on Saturday.
Balotelli, already sent off once this season and banned for
a stamp on Tottenham’s Scott Parker, now risks missing most of
the rest of the run-in because of a lengthy ban.
City manager Roberto Mancini refused to concede the title
race was over for his second-placed team.
“It’s not over mathematically but it’s clear now that it’s
going to be difficult for us,” Mancini told Sky Sports.
“You never say never in football but we must start winning
again, beginning on Wednesday at home to West Bromwich Albion.”
Mancini appeared to be at the end of his tether when asked
about volatile Italian striker Balotelli.
“I defend Mario always because he’s a good guy but if he
doesn’t change in the future he risks wasting his talent,” said
the City manager.
“I’ve been with him for two years now and I can do nothing
more. I hope for his sake he can start to improve and that he
understands he cannot continue to behave like this in the
future.”
United won at Old Trafford thanks to a dubious 15th-minute
penalty from Wayne Rooney and a trademark 68th-minute long-range
shot by Paul Scholes.
QPR were reduced to 10 men as a result of the penalty
incident when Shaun Derry was sent off for what was the softest
of touches on United winger Ashley Young who appeared to dive.
(Editing by Tony Jimenez)
