Mancini: It’s over when it’s over

MANCHESTER City boss Roberto Mancini promised his side would fight to the finish after keeping alive their slim title hopes with a 2-0 victory over Chelsea.

Superb goals from Yaya Toure and Carlos Tevez ensured the reigning champions took advantage of a rare Frank Lampard penalty miss to reduce Manchester United’s lead at the top of the Barclays Premier League to 12 points.

With just 11 games remaining it still seems unlikely, but the win at least extended their advantage over third–placed Chelsea to seven points.

Mancini said: “In football, it is finished when it is finished: the last minute of the last game.

“I think our job is to continue to work.”

City were superior and deserved their victory but it might have been a different story had Joe Hart been sent off for bringing down Demba Ba or not saved Lampard’s subsequent penalty.

Lampard was one kick away from his 200th Chelsea goal when he lined up a 51st–minute spot–kick after Ba beat Kolo Toure to a long ball and was clipped by Hart when attempting to round the goalkeeper