English Premier League: Osman pegs back City's Champions League push

Leon Osman continued Everton's jinx over Manchester City as his second-half winner sealed a 2-1 comeback victory that dented the visitors' push for a Champions League place. Everton completed the double over their mega-rich opponents, and made it seven wins from their last eight games against them, after Osman capped the turnaround at Goodison Park here on Saturday.
-- Knight's own goal gifts win to Sunderland
It looked as though Roberto Mancini's side were heading for another win to edge even closer in their pursuit of a top-four finish thanks to Yaya Toure. But they spurned a glut of chances to kill off Everton for good and were punished after the break.
Sylvain Distin headed home Mikel Arteta's 65th-minute free-kick before Osman timed his run to perfection to convert Phil Neville's cross with a fine looping header. It was a missed chance for City and left Tottenham and Liverpool with a chance of sneaking into the top-four positions. City looked like a side bidding to finish the job in a hurry at the start.
David Silva expertly took Vincent Kompany's long pass out of the air before twisting his marker inside and out and driving inches wide in the 11th minute. The Spaniard continued to threaten and three minutes later he created a chance that should have resulted in the opening goal. Silva's cushioned pass landed straight into the path of the on-rushing Patrick Vieira but the veteran Frenchman's shot from five yards out sailed over the crossbar.
Everton, who have seen their European hopes all but extinguished, were performing like a side that had nothing but pride to play for. But the home crowd certainly had something to shout about in the shape of former Everton player Joleon Lescott. Bolton defender Zat Knight's late own goal gifted Sunderland only their second win in 12 league games as the Black Cats snatched a 2-1 victory at the Reebok Stadium on Saturday.
Knight deflected in a shot from Ghana midfielder Sulley Muntari in the 90th minute as Steve Bruce's side finally ended their lingering relegation fears. Stand-in captain Bolo Zenden put Sunderland ahead on the stroke of half-time before Bolton substitute Ivan Klasnic appeared to have rescued a point with an equaliser three minutes from time. Sunderland are now nine points clear of the bottom three and just two points behind eighth-placed Bolton.
Birmingham stay in trouble Newcastle defender Steven Taylor got the winner as his side's 2-1 victory over 10-man Birmingham at St James' Park kept the visitors dangerously close to the Premier League relegation zone on Saturday. Alan Pardew's side took the lead after Birmingham defender Liam Ridgewell was sent off for deliberate handball and Shola Ameobi converted the resulting first-half penalty. Taylor then powered home a second from Joey Barton's corner before Lee Bowyer's effort deflected in off Fabricio Coloccini to give Birmingham hope.
Hitzlsperger gives Hammers survival hope Thomas Hitzlsperger kept West Ham United's hopes of avoiding relegation alive with a 78th minute equaliser after Jason Roberts had given Blackburn Rovers an early lead in a 1-1 draw at Upton Park on Saturday.
But the Hammers remain at the foot of the Premier League and had they failed to recover from Roberts's goal, their fate would have been all but sealed. However, with two games remaining, they still have a slim chance of breaking clear - although their chances would have been strengthened further if Robbie Keane had not missed a simple opportunity to score in the 87th minute. Rovers, meanwhile, were left to count the cost of squandering two points that meant their own safety was still to be secured.
Wigan stay alive with draw at Villa Wigan climbed out of the bottom three on Saturday after a battling 1-1 draw away at Aston Villa. However, they can return to the bottom three later on Saturday should Blackpool get a point at Spurs while Wolves can also go above them if they beat West Brom on Sunday. Wigan grabbed an early lead through Frenchman Charles N'Zogbia as he was found by Hugo Rodallega just inside the box and he rifled the ball home past Brad Friedel for his eighth goal of the season, seven of them in the league. However, their lead lasted just seven minutes as in front of England boss Fabio Capello, Ashley Young scored a superb goal.