Man City join Arsenal at the summit

LONDON (AP):

Manchester City won 3-1 at last-place West Ham yesterday to strengthen their hold on a place among the Premier League's top four teams.

Yaya Toure put City ahead in the 30th minute before an own goal by goalkeeper Robert Green and an 80th-minute score by Adam Johnson. West Ham scored with a minute left.

Aston Villa beat West Bromwich Albion 2-1 and Blackpool won 1-0 at Stoke. But two weeks after a record-equalling 41 goals over a Premier League weekend, there were just eight in Saturday's first five games.

Everton drew 0-0 with Wigan and Fulham drew 0-0 with Sunderland. Liverpool is at Newcastle later in the day.

Tottenham host Chelsea today when Wolverhampton Wanderers host Birmingham and Blackburn are at Bolton.

City and first-place Arsenal have 32 points, although the leaders are at Manchester United in tomorrow's only game. United are a point back in third but have played two fewer games than City, who are guaranteed to finish the round in the Champions League qualifying places.

Toure, an Ivory Coast international, beat United States defender Jonathan Spector, who started a second straight Premier League match in West Ham's midfield. He smashed a 15-yard shot high into the net.

Sealed victory

Toure's 73rd-minute shot bounced off a post and into the net following a deflection. Then Johnson, Mario Balotelli's replacement, sealed the victory by taking Silva's pass and scoring into an empty net.

James Tomkins scored for the Hammers, who are even at 12 points with next-to-last Wolverhampton but trail on goal difference.

American fullback Eric Lichaj started a Premier League match for the first time as Villa moved four points clear of the relegation zone.

In Scotland, Rangers missed a chance to gain on second-place Celtic when it drew 1-1 at Inverness in the Scottish Premier League.

The defending champions trailed on a 31st-minute goal by Jonathan Hayes and salvaged a point on a 20-yard shot in the 57th minute by Kenny Miller.

Rangers have 38 points from 15 games, three more than Celtic. Hearts are six points further back in third place after Rudi Skacel scored twice in 5-0 win over Aberdeen, who were playing their first match under new manager Craig Brown. Aberdeen are now last, trailing Hamilton on goal difference.

St Johnstone won 2-1 at St Mirren.

Yesterday's results

English Premier League: Aston Villa 2 West Bromwich Albion 1; Everton 0 Wigan 0;

Fulham 0 Sunderland 0; Newcastle 3 Liverpool 1; Stoke 0 Blackpool 1; West Ham 1 Manchester City 3.

League Championship: Barnsley 1 Sheffield United 0; Bristol City 2 Derby 0; Burnley 2 Leeds 3; Crystal Palace 0 Hull 0; Leicester 5 Doncaster 1; Middlesbrough 1 Cardiff 0; Norwich 0 Portsmouth 2; Preston 1 Ipswich 0; Reading 0 Coventry 0.League One: Bournemouth 0 Hartlepool 1; Carlisle 0 Dagenham & Redbridge 2; Colchester 0 Yeovil 0; Huddersfield 2 Brighton 1; Notts County 2 MK Dons 0; Plymouth 2 Exeter 0; Sheffield Wednesday 6 Bristol Rovers 2; Southampton 0 Brentford 2; Tranmere 1 Leyton Orient 2.

League Two: Barnet 2 Accrington Stanley 0; Bradford 1 Hereford 0; Burton Albion 3 Southend 1; Chesterfield 1 Torquay 0; Macclesfield 2 Gillingham 4;

Morecambe 1 Port Vale 0; Rotherham 1 Aldershot 0; Shrewsbury 1 Cheltenham 1; Stevenage 0 Northampton 1; Stockport 3 Crewe 3; Wycombe 1 Bury 0.

Scotland Premier League: Hearts 5 Aberdeen 0; Inverness 1 Rangers 1; St Mirren 1 St Johnstone 2.

First Division: Dunfermline 1 Queen of the South 0; Morton 0 Dundee 1; Partick Thistle 1 Ross County 1.

Second Division: East Fife 6 Stenhousemuir 0; Peterhead 0 Brechin 5.Third Division: Montrose 0 Elgin 1; Stranraer 1 Berwick 1.