WIGAN, England (AP) ― Manchester City’s two-month wait for an away win in the Premier League ended on Monday, with Edin Dzeko’s goal settling a hard-fought 1-0 victory for the leaders at Wigan.
The Bosnia striker brought an 11-match goal drought to an end in the first half, heading David Silva’s free kick into the net.
“He deserved to score a goal,” City manager Roberto Mancini said. “He scored this very important goal for us and I hope he continues it in the next game.”
Dzeko had not scored since Nov. 5 at Queens Park Rangers, which was City’s last away win in the league before four successive setbacks.
“We needed that win,” City goalkeeper Joe Hart said. “It wasn’t pretty, and it wasn’t a pretty pitch out there. Fair play to Wigan, I think they are in a false position in the league at the moment for me so it’s a great result for us.
“We’ve not been great on the road recently so we’re really happy.”
The match ended with City manager Roberto Mancini in animated conversation with the fourth official after referee Martin Atkinson only showed Wigan’s Maynor Figueroa a yellow card for handing the ball as he denied Aguero a clear run on goal in the 88th minute.
“Was manchini (sic) asking for red card????,” Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney wrote on Twitter, a week after being accused by Mancini of helping to get City captain Vincent Kompany sent off in their derby.
City, though, ended the weekend fixture program still three points clear of Manchester United and a further two ahead of Sunday’s opponent, Tottenham, as it seeks a first English title since 1968.
The Wigan match marked Silva’s return from injury and there was more reliance on the Spain midfielder than usual with Yaya Toure among the five senior figures missing and Samir Nasri struggling for top form.
Silva was behind much of the most inventive play, having a couple of shots blocked, almost sending Aguero through and supplying the free kick for Dzeko’s goal.
