Football: City on top as 5-star United stay in touch

Manchester City maintained their two-point lead at the top of the Premier League with a 3-0 defeat of Stoke as rivals Manchester United destroyed Fulham 5-0 to stay in touch.City ensured they will lead the top-flight at Christmas for the first time since 1929 after wrapping up all three points courtesy of two goals from Sergio Aguero either side of a long-range strike from Adam Johnson.Manchester United enjoyed a similarly routine stroll at Craven Cottage, crushing Fulham 5-0 to stay in second place.Fifth-placed Arsenal meanwhile went level on points with fourth-placed Chelsea after a last-gasp 2-1 win over Aston Villa.At the DW Stadium, a defiant Liverpool side rallied around embattled striker Luis Suarez but the Merseysiders were held to a frustrating 0-0 draw by Wigan.At St James Park, Newcastles Senegalese striker Demba Ba maintained his phenomenal Premier League goalscoring record but it was not enough to prevent the Magpies crashing to a 3-2 defeat against West Brom.Elsewhere Wednesday, Wes Brown was the hero for Sunderland as Martin ONeills side overcame a brave second half fightback to pip Queens Park Rangers 3-2 at Loftus Road.QPR looked dead and buried midway through the second half after goals from Nicklas Bendtner and Stephane Sessegnon put the Black Cats 2-0 up.But two goals in four minutes from Heidar Helguson and Jamie Mackie looked to have given QPR a share of the points at 2-2 only for Brown to pop up with the winner on 89 minutes.At Goodison Park, Leon Osman scored the games only goal as Everton pipped newly promoted Swansea 1-0.