It’s going to the wire – Mancini

Fulham 1, Manchester City 2

Manchester City boss Roberto Mancini expects the race for the final Champions League place to go to the wire after his side kept its challenge with victory over Fulham yesterday.

City moved into fifth place in the Barclays Premier League, above Liverpool, and will go fourth ahead of Tottenham on Wednesday if they defeat Everton.

Roque Santa Cruz and Carlos Tevez scored before half–time at Eastlands before Danny Murphy pulled one back from the penalty spot and set up a tense finale.

“It was an important win,” Mancini said after the 2–1 victory.

“It was important for us, but it’ll be a fight until the end of the season with the other three teams. Liverpool are a fantastic team, and I think we must fight with them, Aston Villa and Tottenham.”

At 2–1, Stefano Okaka missed a one–on–one opportunity, then referee Lee Probert turned down another penalty appeal when Chris Baird’s cross struck Vincent Kompany.

Fulham boss Hodgson took off Bobby Zamora and Zoltan Gera early in the second half in preparation for the FA Cup quarter–final replay against Tottenham on Wednesday. He is also hoping that Brede Hangeland will have recovered from a chest problem.