Arsenal's slim English Premier League title hopes have taken another blow, even though they overcame Andy Carroll's hat-trick to draw 3-3 at West Ham United.
Andy Carroll in action in the Premier League for West Ham Photo: Photosport
Laurent Koscielny's equaliser at Upton Park left third-placed Arsenal 10 points behind leaders Leicester City, who are at Sunderland tomorrow.
Goals from Sergio Aguero and Samir Nasri helped Manchester City cement their place in the top four but only after they had been given a fright at the Etihad Stadium.
West Brom went ahead with their first attack after six minutes when Stephane Sessegnon fired a shot past a flat-footed Joe Hart in goal.
Sessegnon then blotted his copybook when he fouled Aleksandar Kolarov and Aguero slotted home a 19th-minute penalty for the 2-1 win.
Nasri, making his first league start since September, put City in front after 66 minutes, tapping in from close range after Aguero's effort was blocked.
City, in fourth, are four points clear of fifth-placed Manchester United who visit Tottenham Hotspur tomorrow.
Bottom side Aston Villa, meanwhile, moved to the brink of relegation with a 2-1 loss to Bournemouth as their eighth straight loss left them 15 points from safety with five games left.
Mesut Oezil and Alexis Sanchez gave the Gunners a 2-0 lead before Carroll put West Ham in front with his hat-trick late in the first and early in the second half.
"We have made it much more difficult for ourselves now to have a chance to win the Premier League," manager Arsene Wenger told reporters.
"We have to keep going no matter what and hope."
West Ham are unbeaten in 14 league home games and remain sixth.
Bournemouth inched closer to a second straight season in the top flight by going 14 points above the drop zone with the win over Villa.
Steve Cook and Josh King gave Bournemouth a 2-0 lead before Jordan Ayew scored a late consolation, Villa's first goal in five games.
"Not going down today is a small consolation," Villa's interim manager Eric Black told the BBC.
"We've conceded poorish goals, but we have to remain professional until the end."
Fans stayed out of Villa Park at the start in protest of owner Randy Lerner, and also booed during the game and waived white handkerchiefs in a sign of surrender at the final whistle.
"It was a hard game," Bournemouth manager Eddie Howe told the BBC.
"It was a difficult game to play in because of the toxic atmosphere."
Crystal Palace and Swansea strengthened their survival chances with 1-0 home wins.
Jason Puncheon's goal lifted Palace past Norwich to end a 14-game winless run and go 10 points above the bottom three.
Norwich are just above the drop on 31 points, four more than Sunderland.
Gylfi Sigurdsson's goal gave Swansea a first-ever Premier League win over Chelsea that moved then 13 points above Sunderland, while Newcastle moved closer to relegation after losing 3-1 at Southampton.
The Magpies remain second-bottom, six points from safety, after Shane Long, Graziano Pelle and Victor Wanyama scored for Southampton, who pulled within two points of West Ham.
Everton and Watford both scored in first-half stoppage time in drawing 1-1.
