Sergio Aguero not giving up on Premier League title

Manchester City top scorer Sergio Aguero has vowed to fight on in the Barclays Premier League title race.

City moved back within five points of the top as Aguero struck twice in a 4-0 home defeat of West Brom and rivals Manchester United slumped to a shock loss at Wigan last night.

With just five games remaining, manager Roberto Mancini claimed it was too little too late but Aguero insists no-one at the Etihad Stadium will give up of catching United.

The Argentinian, whose double took his goal tally for the season to 26, said on City TV: "Of course it was important to win, we knew we had to win as at any moment United could drop points, as happened.

"They dropped three points, which gives us more confidence to fight for the Premier League.

"We have to be focused now for all the remaining games, these five games, try to win, to win points and then (when) United come here hopefully we (will) have won every game.

"The most important thing is to keep winning, which can only be good."

City still have it in their own hands to take the battle to the last game of the season as they face United on April 30.

And just one more slip-up from United in any of their other four games would put City back in control of their own destiny.

The odds may still be against them, but City's performance last night showed why, for much of the season, they were regarded as firm favourites.

Aguero opened the scoring when he lashed home from distance after just six minutes and slipped in a second early in the second half, moments after the crowd signalled they knew United were losing.

Carlos Tevez marked his first start since September with his first goal in 11 months on the hour and David Silva capped a return to form with a sublime fourth.

Aguero said the team were aware of the United situation.

The 23-year-old said: "I knew when we were on the pitch because I heard the fans cheering - it was then I realised it must have been a goal for Wigan.

"The truth is it was a good game, I am happy for the win and the goals. We have to continue like this, we were really good."

Aguero has enjoyed a fine first season at City since his £38million club record move from Atletico Madrid and has repeatedly rubbished speculation about his future.

He said: "I am happy with my goals and I hope to continue scoring more.

"But the important thing is my goals mean we win - that's what's important."

West Brom were comprehensively outplayed and manager Roy Hodgson had no complaints about a result which left them in a still comfortable-looking 13th place.

He thinks City are now back in title contention, even if they remain outsiders.

Hodgson said: "Five points in five games is a lot better odds than eight points in five games, and (Sir) Alex (Ferguson) will be disappointed not to have got something from the Wigan game.

"I don't think he will have been looking at the fixtures and saying Man City would get beaten by West Brom - that's not a realistic appraisal of the situation.

"The race is a little bit more interesting after these results and there is still an awful long way to go.

"But five points is still five points and City have got to take those five points in."

Hodgson made five changes after saying his side were "virtually safe" after a comfortable defeat of Blackburn last weekend.

Two of them were forced by injury as Chris Brunt and Liam Ridgewell were ruled out but top scorer Peter Odemwingie only made the bench.

Hodgson said: "To be frank I wasn't sure we could come up here with any team and win.

"It is going to be very important to give a good performance on Saturday and at this late stage of the season - getting ourselves into a pretty safe position after 32 games has taken an awful lot out of us - I was very concerned we wouldn't be able to do it with the same team for three games.

"I'm disappointed to have lost by such a big margin because during my time at West Brom we haven't had many heavy defeats.

"That is a major blow to my pride, and the team's pride, but we didn't have the wherewithal to really hurt Manchester City."

PA