MANCHESTER United stumbled on its path to the Premier League title, losing 1-0 at Wigan on Wednesday night and allowing Manchester City to close within five points with a 4-0 win over West Bromwich Albion.Shaun Maloney scored on a curling shot in the 50th minute, sending the defending champions to their first league loss since Jan. 4.‘’We were poor. We only had one shot on target and we were second to every ball,’’ United manager Alex Ferguson said. ‘’You wish the lead was better, but considering where we were a few months ago, you have to take it.’’City got goals from Sergio Aguero in the sixth and 54th minutes. Carlos Tevez, in his first start since Sept. 21, made it 3-0 in the 61st and David Silva added a goal in the 64th.Manchester United, seeking a record 20th English league title, has 79 points with five games remaining to 74 for Manchester City (23-5-5), which hasn’t won the league since 1968. The rivals play at Manchester City on April 30.City led by five points from mid-October to mid-December but dropped eight points back last weekend.‘’The title race is finished because United is a fantastic team and they have a fantastic spirit. I think five points is too much,’’ City manager Roberto Mancini said.Wigan moved out of the relegation zone into 17th place with 31 points, two ahead of Bolton.Queens Park Rangers rose to 16th with 31 points, winning 3-0 at home against Swansea on goals by Joey Barton in the 45th, Jamie Mackie in the 55th and Akos Buzsaky in the 67th.Arsenal won 3-0 at last-place Wolverhampton. Robert Van Persie converted a ninth-minute penalty kick for his league-leading 27th goal. And the Gunners also got goals by Theo Walcott in the 11th and Yossi Benayoun in the 69th as they moved four points ahead of fourth-place Tottenham.Blackburn is 19th with 28 points, six ahead of Wolves.