Manchester City closed to within a point of Premier League leaders Liverpool after recording a comfortable victory over Southampton at the Etihad Stadium.
In a first half overshadowed by what appears to be a serious knee injury sustained by Jay Rodriguez, Yaya Toure put the home side in front from the penalty spot just three minutes in after Jose Fonte had felled Edin Dzeko, but Rickie Lambert brought the Saints level from 12 yards on 37 minutes.
But Samir Nasri slotted in a pass from an offside David Silva to put City back in front eight minutes later and Dzeko headed in Aleksandar Kolarov's cross immediately before half-time.
In a first half overshadowed by what appears to be a serious knee injury sustained by Jay Rodriguez, Yaya Toure put the home side in front from the penalty spot just three minutes in after Jose Fonte had felled Edin Dzeko, but Rickie Lambert brought the Saints level from 12 yards on 37 minutes.
But Samir Nasri slotted in a pass from an offside David Silva to put City back in front eight minutes later and Dzeko headed in Aleksandar Kolarov's cross immediately before half-time.
City had been clinical rather than dominant in the first half but controlled the match after the break, with substitute Stevan Jovetic adding a fourth nine minutes from time.
The win keeps pressure on Premier League title rivals Chelsea and Liverpool, with Pellegrini taking his side to Anfield next week for a clash that could decide the destination of the trophy.
City made a barnstorming start, though they had Fonte's inexplicable trip on Dzeko to thank as Toureopened the scoring from the spot, sending Paulo Gazzaniga - playing in place of the injured Artur Boruc - the wrong way.
Nasri wasted a chance to double the advantage two minutes later, and the visitors eventually settled into the game.
Their momentum was checked when Rodriguez was forced off looking in distress after appearing to twist his knee in an awkward landing as England boss Roy Hodgson looked on concerned from the stands.
Despite that setback, Zabaleta then brought down Cork to give Lambert the chance to equalise from 12 yards - and the striker coolly maintained his 100 per cent record from the spot for the Saints.
Southampton had most of the play after their equaliser but were caught with a sucker-punch in the 45th minute as Nasri turned home from Silva's pass, though replays showed the Spaniard had been comfortably offside in the build-up.
Gazzaniga was arguably at fault for City's third, flapping at an Aleksandar Kolarov cross to gift Dzekohis 21st goal of the season.
The hosts controlled much of the second half and had several chances to extend their lead further in the period's opening 20 minutes.
Toure saw shouts for the game's third penalty waved away, Dzeko skewed horribly wide after seeing his initial effort saved and Gazzaniga displayed a better side of his game to keep Nasri out.
The fourth finally came late on as Jesus Navas gave Jovetic a tap-in as City took another step closer to the title, before Toure struck the post late on.
A fourth defeat in Southampton's last five away trips, meanwhile, hinders their late run for the top six.
The win keeps pressure on Premier League title rivals Chelsea and Liverpool, with Pellegrini taking his side to Anfield next week for a clash that could decide the destination of the trophy.
City made a barnstorming start, though they had Fonte's inexplicable trip on Dzeko to thank as Toureopened the scoring from the spot, sending Paulo Gazzaniga - playing in place of the injured Artur Boruc - the wrong way.
Nasri wasted a chance to double the advantage two minutes later, and the visitors eventually settled into the game.
Their momentum was checked when Rodriguez was forced off looking in distress after appearing to twist his knee in an awkward landing as England boss Roy Hodgson looked on concerned from the stands.
Despite that setback, Zabaleta then brought down Cork to give Lambert the chance to equalise from 12 yards - and the striker coolly maintained his 100 per cent record from the spot for the Saints.
Southampton had most of the play after their equaliser but were caught with a sucker-punch in the 45th minute as Nasri turned home from Silva's pass, though replays showed the Spaniard had been comfortably offside in the build-up.
Gazzaniga was arguably at fault for City's third, flapping at an Aleksandar Kolarov cross to gift Dzekohis 21st goal of the season.
The hosts controlled much of the second half and had several chances to extend their lead further in the period's opening 20 minutes.
Toure saw shouts for the game's third penalty waved away, Dzeko skewed horribly wide after seeing his initial effort saved and Gazzaniga displayed a better side of his game to keep Nasri out.
The fourth finally came late on as Jesus Navas gave Jovetic a tap-in as City took another step closer to the title, before Toure struck the post late on.
A fourth defeat in Southampton's last five away trips, meanwhile, hinders their late run for the top six.
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