London, August 19:

Manchester City edged defending champion Manchester United 1-0 on Sunday, giving Sven-Goran Eriksson his third straight shutout in three matches as a Premier League manager.

Brazilian midfielder Geovanni, one of Eriksson’s eight preseason signings, scored the winning goal in the 31st minute. The result means that Eriksson, a former England coach, has nine points from three matches while United is in trouble with only two points after Alex Ferguson’s worst start in 15 years.

On Saturday, Tottenham lifted the pressure on manager Martin Jol by scoring three goals in the first 14 minutes on the way to a 4-0 victory over Derby. Losses to Sunderland and Everton had left Spurs last in the standings with speculation that Jol might be the first Premier League manager to lose his job.

But Steed Malbranque scored twice in the first six minutes and Jermaine Jenas scored a third after a 40-yard run in the 14th to lift the clouds of gloom from White Hart Lane. Ten minutes from the end, Darren Bent scored his first competitive goal for Spurs since his move from Charlton.

In Saturday’s other games, Brian McBride put Fulham ahead in a 2-1 loss at home to Middlesbrough but was carried off with a dislocated knee. The American striker was injured in the act of scoring.

After McBride’s goal at Craven Cottage, Middlesbrough turned the game around with strikes by new signing Ahmed Mido, who only joined the club on Thursday, and Lee Cattermole. Fulham was furious that it had a late equaliser ruled out even though TV replays suggested David Healy’s shot had crossed the line.

Everton lost 1-0 at Reading to lose the top spot to Wigan, which outplayed newcomer Sunderland 3-0 helped by two penalties. Portsmouth rallied to beat Bolton 3-1, West Ham won 1-0 at Birmingham, and Newcastle and Aston Villa drew 0-0 in which Michael Owen made his first appearance of the season as a 63rd-minute substitute.