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Manchester City extends its impressive start

PORTSMOUTH: Manchester City extended its impressive start to the season as Emmanuel Adebayor’s goal clinched a 1-0 victory at Portsmouth on Sunday.

Mark Hughes’s expensively assembled side delivered another repayment on its manager’s £100 million spending spree as it moved into fourth place in the Premier League with its third successive league win.

Once again City’s hero was Togo striker Adebayor, who cost £ 25 million from Arsenal in the close-season, and has now scored three goals including two winners, in three league games. Adebayor, poorly marked by Portsmouth’s defence, met Gareth Barry’s inswinging corner in the 31st minute with a powerful header that flashed into the net.

While City, which is yet to concede a goal, eyes a serious challenge for the Champions League places, Portsmouth looks to be facing a grim battle to avoid relegation.

Paul Hart’s team has lost all four of its league matches and even an infusion of fresh blood this week couldn’t halt that run.

England goalkeeper David James, who has been suffering from a knee injury, was missing from Portsmouth’s team, sparking renewed speculation that he could be set for a move to Sunderland or Tottenham before the transfer window closes on Tuesday.

Villa posts win

Aston Villa bounced back from its midweek Europa League exit by cruising to a 2-0 victory over Fulham on Sunday.

It took the lead through John Pantsil’s early own goal and Gabriel Agbonlahor smashed in a superb second after the break to build on last week’s surprise 3-1 win at Liverpool.

The results:

Portsmouth 0 lost to Man City 1 (Adebayor 31); Aston Villa 2 (John Pantsil 3og, Gabriel Agbonlahor 59) bt Fulham 0; Everton 2 (Louis Saha 62, Leighton Baines 90+3pen) bt Wigan Athletic 1 (Paul Scharner 57). — Agencies

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