BOLTON (AFP) - Manchester City secured third place in the English Premier League, and with it direct entry into next season's Champions League, following a 2-0 win away to Bolton here on Sunday.
Victory at the Reebok Stadium on the final day of the Premier League season left FA Cup winners City three points clear of fourth-placed Arsenal, who now face the
unwanted task of playing in the Champions League qualifying round.
Goals from Joleon Lescott and substitute Edin Dzeko either side of half-time sealed City's victory and capped a fine first season in charge of the big-spenders for their Italian manager Roberto Mancini.
It was just the result City were looking for and capped a superb season with the FA Cup now installed in their trophy cabinet.
City almost scored in the fourth minute when David Silva cut the ball back into the path of Carlos Tevez, whose shot was blocked by Zat Knight.
Bolton though rallied and Johan Elmander's shot was superbly turned over the bar by goalkeeper Joe Hart.
Hart then reacted quickly to turn away a Kevin Davies header.
City though should have scored in the 33rd minute when unmarked England midfielder Gareth Barry headed against the bar.
However, City eventually broke the deadlock two minutes before half-time when Lescott's header from Adam Johnson's corner looped over Bolton goalkeeper Jussi Jaaskelainen.
Dzeko replaced Johnson in the 61st minute and barely 60 seconds later the Bosnian doubled City's lead, after Bolton's Gary Cahill failed to complete a seemingly straightforward clearance, by scoring only his second league goal since arriving from German club Wolfsburg in January.
Victory at the Reebok Stadium on the final day of the Premier League season left FA Cup winners City three points clear of fourth-placed Arsenal, who now face the
unwanted task of playing in the Champions League qualifying round.
Goals from Joleon Lescott and substitute Edin Dzeko either side of half-time sealed City's victory and capped a fine first season in charge of the big-spenders for their Italian manager Roberto Mancini.
It was just the result City were looking for and capped a superb season with the FA Cup now installed in their trophy cabinet.
City almost scored in the fourth minute when David Silva cut the ball back into the path of Carlos Tevez, whose shot was blocked by Zat Knight.
Bolton though rallied and Johan Elmander's shot was superbly turned over the bar by goalkeeper Joe Hart.
Hart then reacted quickly to turn away a Kevin Davies header.
City though should have scored in the 33rd minute when unmarked England midfielder Gareth Barry headed against the bar.
However, City eventually broke the deadlock two minutes before half-time when Lescott's header from Adam Johnson's corner looped over Bolton goalkeeper Jussi Jaaskelainen.
Dzeko replaced Johnson in the 61st minute and barely 60 seconds later the Bosnian doubled City's lead, after Bolton's Gary Cahill failed to complete a seemingly straightforward clearance, by scoring only his second league goal since arriving from German club Wolfsburg in January.
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