Pellegrini defiant after being dealt a Hammer blow

Manuel Pellegrini has insisted it is too early to write off Manchester City's chances of retaining the Premier League title after its 2-1 defeat at West Ham United.

Saturday's loss at Upton Park was City's second league defeat of the season and meant it missed out on the chance to reduce what was Chelsea's five-point advantage at the top of the table ahead of the leader's match at Manchester United on Sunday.

City's reverse in London capped a bad week for Pellegrini's side, which days earlier had squandered a two-goal lead in a draw away to CSKA Moscow that left its hopes of qualifying for the knockout stages of the Champions League in the balance.