LONDON, England (AFP) — Roberto Mancini’s reign as Manchester City manager began on a winning note, but it was another frustrating day at the office for his fellow Italian Carlo Ancelotti as Premier League leaders Chelsea were held to a goalless draw by Birmingham yesterday.

City’s first match since Mancini’s controversial replacement of Mark Hughes ended in a 2-0 win over Stoke that lifted the Abu Dhabi-backed club back to within three points of the top-four place targeted by their new Italian manager.

It could hardly have gone any better for the former Inter Milan boss, who was warmly received by the fans before goals from Bulgarian winger Martin Petrov and Carlos Tevez had the points wrapped up by half-time.

Ancelotti, meanwhile, struggled to put a convincing positive spin on his side’s display after a draw that left Chelsea with just one win in seven matches in all competitions and extended Birmingham’s unbeaten run in the league to 10 games.

Birmingham goalkeeper Joe Hart certainly helped earn Alex McLeish’s side their point with a string of fine saves but Ancelotti will be concerned about his side’s lack of goals as he prepares for a month without strike duo Didier Drogba and Salomon Kalou, who will be available for Monday’s match against Fulham before heading for the African Nations Cup in Angola.

The result of the stalemate at St Andrew’s is that Manchester United can cut Chelsea’s lead at the top back to two points by beating Hull at the KC Stadium on Sunday.

With Aston Villa’s meeting with Arsenal also scheduled for Sunday, Tottenham had the opportunity to move up to third place in the table.

But Harry Redknapp’s side could muster no more than a goalless draw from their cross-London trip to Fulham.

The home side came closest to breaking the deadlock thanks to a Clint Dempsey free-kick that struck the crossbar midway through the first half.

But it was Spurs who finished looking the more likely to claim the points with only a fine performance from Australia goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer keeping the score level.

West Ham clawed themselves out of the relegation zone with a 2-0 win over fellow strugglers Portsmouth.

Gianfranco Zola’s side started the day just one point ahead of bottom side Pompey but goals from Alessandro Diamanti, who put the hosts ahead with a first half penalty, and Radoslav Kovac enabled the Hammers to boost their hopes of beating the drop.

David Nugent’s header earned Burnley a 1-1 draw in their Lancashire derby clash with Bolton, who had gone ahead through Matthew Taylor’s superb first-half free-kick. Bolton remain in the bottom three while Burnley are three points clear of the drop zone.

A late equaliser by Marouane Fellaini enabled injured-plagued Everton to snatch a point at Sunderland, who had claimed a deserved first-half lead through a Darren Bent header that was the England striker’s 11th goal of the season.

Benni McCarthy’s first league goal of the season was cancelled out by Hugo Rodallega’s header as Wigan came from behind to secure a 1-1 draw in their Lancashire derby with fellow strugglers Bolton.