LONDON -- Manchester City dropped two vital points in the Premier League title race on Saturday, drawing 1-1 at Stoke to hand the initiative to reigning champion Manchester United. City recovered from conceding a sensational volley by Peter Crouch to salvage a point thanks to Yaya Toures deflected long-range effort later in the second half, returning to the top of the standings on goal difference. However, United can reclaim the lead and push three points clear with eight matches to go with a victory over Fulham in its game in hand on Monday. "We wont know until the end of the season if its a point gained," City assistant manager David Platt said. Arsenal pulled three points clear of Tottenham in the battle for third place by beating Aston Villa 3-0, hours after seeing its north London rival draw 0-0 at Chelsea. The result kept Spurs five points ahead of Chelsea, which is in danger of missing out on Champions League football for the first time since 2003. Bolton marked its first match since Fabrice Muambas on-field cardiac arrest last weekend with a 2-1 victory over Blackburn on an emotional day at Reebok Stadium to climb out of the relegation zone. Queens Park Rangers replaced Bolton in the bottom three after a 3-1 loss at Sunderland, with French striker Djibril Cisse sent off for the visitors for the second time since his January move from Lazio. Wolverhampton Wanderers stayed bottom after losing 2-1 at Norwich -- their fourth straight loss -- but next-to-last Wigan boosted its survival hopes with a surprise 2-1 win at seventh-place Liverpool, whose dire form has seen it win just once in seven games. Everton won 2-0 at midtable rival Swansea in the other match. While Man Citys home form has been perfect, winning all 15 of its matches at Etihad Stadium, the teams away results are jeopardizing its chances of capturing a first title since 1968. Roberto Mancinis side has won just two of its last eight away matches, allowing United to claw its way back into the title picture. Without the injured Sergio Aguero, and with Carlos Tevez again on the bench, City struggled to dominate Stoke, which took the lead in the 59th minute with what will surely be a contender for the Premier Leagues goal of the season. Crouch pounced on a headed clearance, teed himself up and volleyed a fabulous, angled shot into the far corner from 25 yards (meters). "Its probably the best goal Ive ever scored," the striker said. "I always enjoy a volley but they dont normally fly in like that." Toures equalizer came when his 30-yard shot ricocheted off the Stoke defender Ryan Shawcross and deceived goalkeeper Asmir Begovic, who could only parry the ball into the net. "If we can take points like this, they will be vital," Toure said. At the start of February, Arsenals top-four hopes looked in serious jeopardy when the team was 10 points behind north London rival Tottenham. However, a sensational upturn in form leaves Arsene Wengers side favourites to claim third place, which brings an automatic entry into next seasons Champions League group stage. Kieran Gibbs and Theo Walcott scored first-half goals at Emirates Stadium and Mikel Arteta added a stunning third from a free kick for Arsenal. "In the past month it has turned our way so we have to make sure we keep the momentum," Wenger said. Tottenham remains without a win at Chelsea since 1990 but still left Stamford Bridge happy after keeping the Blues at arms length in the race for Champions League qualification. Juan Mata struck the post with a free kick for Chelsea but Tottenham shaded the match, with Gareth Bale heading an effort against the bar. "Its going to be difficult for us now," interim Chelsea manager Roberto Di Matteo said, when asked about his teams top-four hopes. Liverpools faint chances of joining the race for the Champions League spots is surely over after a limp loss to Wigan, for whom Gary Caldwell scored the winner in the 63rd. Uruguay striker Luis Suarez had cancelled out Wigans opener from the penalty spot by Shaun Maloney. Bolton claimed a second straight league win for the first time this season at the end of an emotionally draining week for the club after Muambas collapse during an FA Cup match against Tottenham at White Hart Lane last Saturday. Fans held up cards as part of a mosaic that spelt out "Muamba 6" before kickoff while there was a period of applause for the midfielder, who has recovered miraculously according to doctors after his heart stopped beating on its own for 78 minutes. The game was settled by two first-half goals by Bolton defender David Wheater. "The players are out on their feet physically and mentally," Bolton manager Owen Coyle said. Bolton is a point clear of QPR and Wigan, with Wolves three points further adrift. nike free 5.0 tilbud . "I didnt really understand the magnitude of what it meant until that moment: skating out there in front of 19-20,000 people, flags flying everywhere," Nieuwendyk said. "It was a special feeling. nike air max thea billig . -- Ike Hilliard is returning to the Washington Redskins as receivers coach. http://www.dknikefreeonline.net/nike-air-max-1/nike-air-max-1-dame.html . - Lee Roy Selmon, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers Hall of Fame defensive end who teamed with his brothers to create a dominant defensive front and helped lead Oklahoma to consecutive national championships, died Sunday -- two days after being hospitalized for a stroke. nike air max 1 herren sale . Head coach Scott Milanovich was optimistic that his starting quarterback could go but added the team wont make an announcement until Thursday. Ray is recuperating from a strained MCL that he suffered in the first quarter of a loss in Montreal on Sept. nike air force 1 danmark . The all-star pitcher keeps the $550,000 salary for this year that was in the one-year deal he agreed to last month. His new contract, which adds $29,945,000, gives him a $1 million signing bonus and calls for salaries of $3. NEW YORK -- Now the waiting begins for Alex Rodriguez and Major League Baseball. A-Rods grievance hearing to overturn his 211-game suspension ended Thursday when both sides rested their cases, a day after the New York Yankees third baseman angrily walked out and decided not to testify in his own defence. The sides set a schedule to file briefs by Dec. 11 and reply briefs by Dec. 21, which will close the record and submit the matter to arbitrator Fredric Horowitz. His decision on whether to uphold or alter the discipline for the three-time AL MVP likely will be made in January, a person familiar with the proceedings told The Associated Press. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because no statements were authorized. Rodriguezs lawyers already are vowing to challenge the ruling in federal court, where judges usually are reticent to overturn an arbitration decision unless there is a finding the arbitrator was biased, exceeded his authority or failed to comply with the rules agreed to by the parties. The exact timing of a decision is uncertain. Baseballs Joint Drug Agreement states the arbitrator shall make "all reasonable efforts" to close the record in time to permit a decision within 25 days of the start of the hearing. But in this case, the hearing began Sept. 30, making that timetable impossible to meet. After the arbitrator renders his decision, the written opinion is to be issued within 30 days. It is unclear if Horowitz will issue his written opinion simultaneously with his decision. The timing of the case could complicate planning for the Yankees, who dont know if they will have to pay Rodriguez his $25 million salary and are unsure whether they will need a different starting third baseman. Rodriguez was suspended by MLB on Aug. 5 for alleged violations of baseballs drug policy and labour agreement stemming from the leagues investigation of the Biogenesis of America anti-aging clinic in Florida. The players association filed a grievance, and because Roddriguez was a first-time offender of the drug agreement, the discipline automatically was stayed pending a resolution of the grievance.dddddddddddd. Horowitz heard the case in a trio of four-day sessions, with management presenting its case from Sept. 30-Oct. 3 and Oct. 15-18. Rodriguezs side then took its turn during the first four days of this week. While Horowitz had set aside six additional days for testimony through Wednesday, that time was not needed. Rodriguez left in the middle of the 11th session Wednesday, furious the arbitrator refused to order baseball Commissioner Bud Selig to testify. Rodriguez and his lawyers then went on radio and television, accusing Selig of bias and the entire arbitration process of being flawed. His lawyers returned without him Thursday to complete their case, and MLB started and finished its rebuttal. At the end of the hearing, the sides learned union head Michael Weiner had died from the brain tumour he was diagnosed with 15 months ago. Outside MLBs offices, representatives of the New York Hispanic Clergy Organization, including state Sen. Ruben Diaz, held a prayer vigil to express opposition to Rodriguezs discipline. Rodriguez lawyer James McCarroll issued a statement Thursday pointing out that this case is the first grievance under the drug agreement involving discipline that didnt stem from a positive test and involved "the commissioners discretion and decision-making." While he said the commissioner in the past "was harshly criticized in the arbitrators decision for not voluntarily appearing at a grievance," that statement appears to refer to arbitrator George Nicolaus 1987 decision cutting Peter Ueberroths drug suspension of pitcher LaMarr Hoyt from one season to 60 days. While Horowitz has issued an order for the proceeding to be confidential, Rodriguezs lawyers are considering making some of the evidence public. Rodriguez spokesman Ron Berkowitz said Friday nothing would be released until next week. cheap jerseys cheap nfl jerseys ' ' '