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Manchester City winger Adam Johnson cranks up the heat on title rivals

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Let's see if United crack! Johnson cranks up heat in title fight after Man City bounce back

Adam Johnson believes Manchester City
have put the pressure on their title-chasing rivals after they beat
Fulham 3-0 in their Barclays Premier League game at the Etihad Stadium.

Sergio Aguero opened the scoring
from the penalty spot after Chris Baird brought down Johnson before a
Baird own goal and Edin Dzeko strike sealed the win for City.

The result means City go three points
clear at the top of the table with second-placed Manchester United
playing Chelsea on Sunday.

Caught out: Johnson (left) is brought down by Fulham's Chris Baird (right) for the penalty

Caught out: Johnson (left) is brought down by Fulham's Chris Baird (right) for the penalty

City have also now won 12 out of 12 games at home this season as they recovered from a 1-0 defeat in midweek at Everton.

'It was obviously important to bounce back and get a good result after the Everton game where we didn't play as well as we should,' Johnson said.

'It's nice to get in early and get the three points and put the pressure on the other teams.

Winter wonderland: City boss Roberto Mancini saw his side bounce back

Winter wonderland: City boss Roberto Mancini saw his side bounce back

'We're looking forward to seeing the results on Sunday, and as I say, putting them under pressure.'

Goalscorer Dzeko believes City's early lead, after Aguero's 10th-minute penalty, helped them to take control of the match in tricky conditions.

'From the beginning it was a very hard pitch and when it's like this it's always better to score at the beginning of the game, then it's easier for us to play,' Dzeko said.

Cool head: Sergio Aguero scores from the penalty spot

Cool head: Sergio Aguero scores from the penalty spot

The striker believes goal difference could also be crucial come the end of the season with matters very tight at the top of the table.

'Every goal is important so goal difference is very important. We now have three points more than United but they have a tough game.

'It was a good game to win today.'

Baird day: Adam Johnson's shot (left) deflected off Fulham's Chris Baird for Manchester City's second goal

Baird day: Adam Johnson's shot (left) deflected off Fulham's Chris Baird for Manchester City's second goal

City manager Roberto Mancini was pleased with the performance and believes his side are back on track after their loss against Everton.

'The players were fantastic and played very well. It was not easy as Fulham are a good team,' said Mancini.

'This is a very important result after one defeat. We need to fight against the top teams and we need to win.

'There are some difficult moments in the season and January for us was so-so. Hopefully now we can continue to win the next game.'

Mancini also played down an injury to midfielder Samir Nasri.

'Samir Nasri had a small problem and in the next few days we can see how he is,' Mancini said.

Lee Westwood sees his lead slip to four shots at Thailand Golf Championship

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Westwood sees his lead slip to four shots as Schwartzel cranks up the pressure in Thailand

Lee Westwood saw his huge advantage in the inaugural Thailand Golf Championship reduced to four shots following the third round on Saturday, with South African Charl Schwartzel leading the chasing pack with a second successive 66.

Westwood had boasted an 11-stroke lead at the start of the day but he could not continue his stunning form as he carded a disappointing one-over-par 73 at the Amata Spring Country Club to slip back to 19 under for the tournament.

That allowed Schwartzel to significantly close on the Englishman after he recorded another round of 66.

Keep calm and carry on: Lee Westwood takes a four shot lead into the final round of the Thailand Golf Championship

Keep calm and carry on: Lee Westwood takes a four shot lead into the final round of the Thailand Golf Championship

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Westwood had made the first 60 of his career on day one and then followed it up with a similarly impressive 64 yesterday, but the Worksop golfer found it much tougher going today.

After not dropping a single shot in the opening two rounds, he suffered a bogey on the par-five second. He also bogeyed the sixth but birdies at the fourth, 11th and 15th saw Westwood heading for another sub-par round.

However, the 38-year-old then dropped further shots at both the 16th and 17th before closing with a par.

While Westwood, whose round was the worst of the 17 leading players, struggled to replicate his earlier success, Schwartzel took up the charge in stunning fashion.

This year’s Masters winner downed four successive birdies from the second hole and then added three more on the back nine.

It might have been an even better day for the South African but he bogeyed the par-four 18th – his only dropped shot of the round.

Focused: Charl Schwartzel is closing in on Westwood

Focused: Charl Schwartzel is closing in on Westwood

Three shots behind Schwartzel in third place on the leaderboard was American Michael Thompson after his 69, with Dutchman Guido Van der Valk two shots further back on 10 under.

England’s Simon Dyson is fifth on nine under while former Asian Tour number one Jyoti Randhawa of India is sixth on eight under following his round of 65.

Westwood said: “(I had) a few bad breaks…if you had offered me a four-shot lead on Thursday morning I would have taken it.

“After a 60 and 64, you’re probably going to be disappointed with the third round but like I said, a four-shot lead into the last round is a good position to be in. It drains you (to be leading) but it’s a better position to be leading obviously other than to chase.

“Today, Charl had the momentum and I was fighting against it. It’s not the easiest golf course here. I’ll just go out and focus on my own game and shoot another low score.”

In contention: Englishman Simon Dyson is currently fifth on the leaderboard

In contention: Englishman Simon Dyson is currently fifth on the leaderboard

Although he is still trailing by four, Schwartzel believes he now has a chance of victory – something that looked unlikely 24 hours ago.

The South African said: “At least there’s light at the end of the tunnel now. Four shots is not much out there.

“I’ve been playing really well and I can shoot a low score on this golf course. I felt I should have shot a 63 (today).

“I’ve won about two or three tournaments where I was four shots behind. I’ve done it before. You sort of know that you have to play well and there are no doubts in your mind.”

He added: “You can sense when the tides are turning. I’m making four birdies in a row and he is not getting anything at all. You can sense that all of a sudden it has changed. The lead is getting shorter and shorter and it has to affect you. You won’t be human if it doesn’t.”