Match Report :Man City 3 QPR 1

Manchester City strolled to a 3-1 win at home to Queens Park Rangers on Saturday.

Goals from Yaya Toure, Edin Dzeko and Carlos Tevez at Eastlands continued City's unbeaten start to their title defence.

With Jose Mourinho, manager of City's Champions League opponents Real Madrid, watching from the stands, the hosts did concede an equaliser to Bobby Zamora in the second half, rekindling memories of the last time the clubs faced each other.

Four months on from that last extraordinary meeting between the sides, in which City's 3-2 victory on the concluding day of last season brought them their first English title in 44 years, Mancini's men took the lead after 15 minutes.

Following a prolonged spell of City pressure, David Silva's right-wing corner was met at the far post by Tevez whose first-time volley rebounded against Zamora with the unmarked Yaya Toure handily-place to slot the ball in from 10 yards out.

It was an impressive opening from a City side which did not include any of their five transfer deadline day signings - Javi Garcia, Matija Nastasic, Maicon, Scott Sinclair and Richard Wright -- in their starting line-up.

Indeed, City were so dominant QPR's only relief came when another of the home team's recent signings, midfielder Jack Rodwell hit a ridiculous back-pass which almost bounced into his own goal from half-way.

Robert Green subsequently saved well from Silva and the Spanish international forward should have done better when he took Aleksandar Kolarov's superb cross-field pass in his stride but waited to shoot and saw his effort charged down by Fabio da Silva.

The second half opened with Dzeko releasing Tevez who advanced and had a strong shot stopped by the chest of goalkeeper Green at QPR's near post and the relentless waves of Blue pressure continued as Silva cleverly played in over-lapping full-back Pablo Zabaleta whose well-directed shot struck the underside of the crossbar.

City's defensive frailties have been exposed already this season, in conceding four goals in their opening two matches. So while it was against the run of play, Rangers' equaliser after 58 minutes was not quite as unpredictable a goal as it should have been.

Andrew Johnson dispossessed Silva in midfield and sprinted into the City area where his fierce shot was kept out by the acrobatic dive of Joe Hart, Zamora reacting quickly to stoop and head the rebound into the home goal.

Still, given the manner of City's victory in last season's corresponding fixture, the fact it took Mancini's team just three minutes to regain the lead was no surprise.

Kolarov found the space, and Tevez, in the QPR area, with the forward skilfully taking the ball to the byline where his cross was headed in emphatically by Dzeko.

There was still plenty of City possession before the final whistle, and some anxious moments for home supporters too. QPR defender Ryan Nelsen twice came close from set-pieces, his bicycle kick flying beyond the far post and then the New Zealand international slid in and almost converted Esteban Granero's free-kick.

But Argentina striker Tevez completed the scoring in the 93rd minute when he deflected Dzeko's wayward strike past the wrong-footed Green.

Arsenal 1-1 Fulham

Arsenal missed the chance to close in on the top four with a draw at home against a spirited Fulham side. The first half was a fairly dull and uneventful affair, which perhaps said more about Fulham's determination and resilience than it did about anything to do with Arsenal, who had more than enough attacking weapons on display throughout the opening 45 minutes. Andrey Arshavin almost managed to set up Robin van Persie for an early Arsenal chance, the Russian forcing Brede Hangeland to swing out a leg to thump the ball clear just before Van Persie could pounce in the box from close range. Seconds later, Arshavin had the ball in the back of the net after a neat assist from Van Persie. Unfortunately for Arsenal, however, the midfielder was rightly flagged offside. Aaron Ramsey was the next man in a red shirt to attempt to grab the opener, the Welshman firing a shot on target that forced Mark Schwarzer into a fingertip save. Fulham's main early attacking outlet came in the form of Bobby Zamora, who showed his strength after the 20 minute mark, firing a shot on the turn just over the bar. Minutes later, though, Theo Walcott used his pace to break down the left, the Englishman setting up Ramsey in the box before watching on helplessly as the midfielder fired over the bar from close range. Hangeland proved that he's as much of an attacking threat as he is a defensive asset after the half hour mark, thumping a header just wide of the target, but Arsenal ended the half frustrated after failing to break Fulham's resistance. The second half provided more of the same, with Arsenal's attempts to make a breakthrough largely ending in frustration, and the Gunners were made to pay for their predictable attacking play when Fulham took a shock lead. The source of the goal was Thomas Vermaelen, the defender poking the ball past Wojciech Szczesny in an attempt to clear the danger away from John Arne Riise, who had made a magnificent run into the Arsenal box. Arsenal used the goal as the motivation they needed to press forward in numbers and with a real sense of urgency. Van Persie almost turned provider for their equaliser, the striker swinging a corner onto the head of Johan Djourou, whose header forced a great save from Schwarzer, but ultimately it was the same man who had scored at the wrong end who made the breakthrough; Vermaelen made a fine run into the box before firing a header past Schwarzer from a pinpoint Walcott cross. Despite a flurry of late Arsenal chances as the minutes ticked away, Fulham managed to keep their shape and clung onto a point that will go down much better in West London than it will in North London.

Fulham Stroll Through

Strikers Andrew Johnson and Bobby Zamora were both on target for Fulham as the Cottagers completed an emphatic Europa League victory over Crusaders.Johnson opened the scoring with a neat finish to a sweeping team move as the hosts dominated the first half.Damien Duff fired home a second before Zamora converted Johnson's cross with a first-time shot to stretch the lead.Steve Sidwell completed the scoring ahead of a third-round qualifying tie against either Domzale or RNK Split.Fulham will take play away in either Slovenia or Croatia on 28 July before returning to Craven Cottage on 4 August.After the contest Cottagers boss Martin Jol expressed his high hopes for the partnership of Johnson and Zamora."Even if you have got a tough defence you know you can score goals," said Jol."Last year Bobby was of course injured and Andy was the same, he only had 16 starts. I feel there is a lot more goals in Andy Johnson. Every game when I see him he is quick and he can score goals."I think he has scored three goals already and that is what you want, not the two goals last year. If you saw Bobby in the first half, if he is in the flow he is a very good target."Matthew Briggs who had scored Fulham's first against the Belfast side in the first leg, was shunted from left-back to right-back to make way for debutant John Arne Riise.But the 20-year-old looked just at home on then opposite flank and created Fulham's first chance for Johnson, who forced a save out of Sean O'Neill.

Johnson was not be denied for long however, and fired in after Zamora's dummy.

A pass from centre-back Philippe Senderos sent Duff clear early in the second half and the Republic of Ireland winger slipped his shot just inside the far post to double the lead on the night.

Fulham's superior fitness levels told in the last quarter of the match as Zamora took advantage of some tiring legs in the Crues' ranks before Sidwell headed home.

Should Fulham emerge victorious from the third round, a play-off would be the final obstacle between them and the group stages of the competition.