Man U 1-1 Bolton- Man U edge ever closer to the title after overcoming an spirited Bolton side. It was Berbatov who scored the only goal from an Nani shot which Jaaskelainen parried to Berbatov and he scored in the 88th minute. Bolton had there chances with Petrov steering just wide and free kick and Davies having an week shot on goal. The big chance for Bolton when Taylor had an free header which he headed straight at the goalkeeper. Evans was shown an straight red card lunging into Holdenon the 76th minute. But Man U held on for an vital win.
West Brom 2-2 Arsenal- The day got even better for Man U as Arsenal dropped points at West Brom. The Day could have been even worse for Arsenal if it wasn't an spirited fight back from 2-0 down. Reid put the home side in front with an header from an Brunt corner. Then another horrible goalkeeping mistake by Almunia gifted Odemwingie a second goal. Brunt was pulling all the strings and nearly set up another goal when he set through Cech but he hit wide. Arsenal knew they had to respond so they brought on Bendtner and Chamakh but it was Arshavin who scored from an tight angle which started the fightback. Arsenal given new life went on the push for an second and got it when Van Persie persitants prevailed as he dragged the ball cross the line as West Brom were unable to clear. Arsenal did try and push an winner but Carson was equal to the threats and West Brom held on for an vital draw while Arsenal drop more points.
Chelsea 2 - 0 Man City- With Arsenal slip up it was an opportunity for the two teams just below them to close the gap on second. It was Chelsea who were able to take full advantage of the slip up as they battled passed an spirited defensive Man City. Man City lacking Tevez lacked any creativity up-front for Man City to hit Chelsea on the counter. Chelsea went into this game with play Kalou and Torres upfront leaving Anelka and Drogba on the bench. In an tight first half Chelsea had the better of the chances. Kalou forcing an couple of good saves from Hart. Ramires had his shot well saved goalkeeper and Cole shot just wide. Yaya Toure had an couple of early shots with Silva was causing trouble around the box but apart from that Man City didn't offer much. They were defensively strong and frustrated Chelsea for long periods of the first and half and the second half. At 70 minutes Chelsea brought on Drogba and Anelka for Malouda and hard working but ineffective Torres. These two players made the difference as Chelsea looked much more attacking and dangerous. In the 78th minute Anelka was fouled just outside the box. Drogba took the free kick and there other new signing Luiz headed in the first goal. Man City knew they had to respond and brought on Balotelli and Adam Johnson but it was Chelsea who had the last laugh as the ball by Essien left Ramires free to slot in the second in injury time. Meaning Chelsea go up to third in the League while Man City move down the 4th.
Tottenham 0 - 0 West Ham- This was one of the most one sided 0-0 draws of the season. Spurs went close when Dawson hit an curling shot which hit the bar, Defoe was denied 3 times by the inspired Green Bale had an free kick which hit the bar. While Modric, Lennon and the substitute Pavlyuchenko had shots just wide of target. West Ham did have a few chances of there own as Calton Cole got an brilliant save from Gomez and one which went just wide. Also Demba Ba going close for the visitors and Noble nearly snatched it at the end it was well saved by Gomez. But it was West Ham drive and desire from the defense which kept them in this match. It was a point dropped for Harry's team as they start to loss ground of the top 4 but it will be an vital point for Harry's old team as they fight off relegation. For the first time in many weeks they are outside the bottom 3 as they go into the final 8 games of the season.
Wigan 2 - 1 Birmingham- An vital win for the bottom side of the Premier League as they were slowly slipping away from the rest of the pack who fighting to stay in this League. It didn't start off well as Ridgewell put the visitors infront inside of 6 minutes. He headed an ball from Jiranek cross to put Birmingham 1-0 up. Birmingham went on to dominate the first half as Jerome and Ferguson were denied. Then Wigan made them pay as Watson played an accurate ball to Boyce who made an fast run down the wing and pulled the ball back for Cleverley to make it 1-1. There were chances at both ends but no-one could score as chances for Cleverley, Caldwell and Ben Watson whie Birmingham had chances from Jerome, Zigic and Larsson and Birmingham seemed to be denied an clear penalty when Alcaraz fouled Davies but nothing was given. The last 15 minutes of the game Wigan controlled N'Zogbia had an couple of shots and James McCarthy went close but it seemed to heading for an 1-1 draw till Figueroa scored in the second minute of added on time to blast them 3 points from outside the box. This win means that they are just 2 points off safety as this league gets tighter and tighter with Birmingham just one place above Wigan.
Aston Villa 0 - 1 Wolverhampton- Wolves got an big away away victory as Aston Villa have been dragged back into the fight to stay up. It was an poor display for Villa who had only 5 shots on target for the home team. Young had the best chance crashed an shot into the bar. Makoun came within inches of scoring but Hennessey was equal to it. Wolves withstanding that early pressure got there goal from an Jarvis shot. Wolves nearly scored again when Berra headed into the goal but ran slightly too early. Milijas also scored an disallowed goal but he was ran well too early and were rightly called offside. Jarvis had anther chance of doubling Wolves lead but O'Hara didn't feed him an good enough pass. Aston Villa did look more threatening in the second half through there wingers Young and Albrighton and Downing but Wolves were defending well. Even putting on Agbonlahor and Pires did nothing. Pires had an shot but that went into the stands and Agbonlahor had an weak header which he goalkeeper easily caught. Wolves hung on for an big victory they won this big derby. For Villa it is worrying times again as they are back in this fight to stay up only 1point above the drop zone but do have an better goal difference that most of the other teams.
Stoke 4 - 0 Newcastle- Stoke have taken one big step to survival as they trashed Newcastle. With the Ariel threat of Newcasle went with Campbell at the heart of defense but it was the wingers who stole show. After an tight start to the match the deadlock was broken when Pennant sent in an perfect cross for Walters to head in. Newcastle response was good as they played a bit more positively and openly and Ameobi forced an good save from the goalkeeper. Soon afterwards Nolan had an shot which was blocked by Higginbotham. They ended the half the better team and looked like they will get back into the match in the second half. But right at the start of the second half an mistake by Harper which lead to Etherington sending over an perfect cross for Pennant to becoming scorer. A few minutes later the match was effectively over as an contest when Higginbotham scored an screamer of an free kick from 20 yards out which put the game to bed. Newcastle did try to get back into the match as Ferguson had an shot saved and Barton had his free kick well saved but it was Stoke who got the last blow as Fuller scored in injury time to give Stoke the 3 points. It means they go ahead of Newcastle in the league table and couple of positive results away from safety. For Newcastle they have only won out out of the last 10 but still should get over the line with an couple of positive results of there own.
Blackburn 2 - 2 Blackpool- Blackpool are being dragged into this fight for survival as they dropped points from an winning position again. It was an typical attacking Blackpool. But it was Blackburn who started the better as Nzonzi and Santa Cruz had chances to put Blackburn ahead. Blackpool thought they had scored with Varney volleyed in an Adam free kick. Blackpool did take the lead as Nelsen brought down Taylor-Fletcher and Adam slotted in the goal. Adam scored another goal as this time he scored from an free kick as Robinson looked on. Blackpool didn't create any more chances in the first half but they were in control and held out to half time. The home crowd were not happy and booed the team off. But Blackburn did start off really well in the second half as Nzonzi hit an shot just wide of the post. But the goal did come when Diouf and Hoilett had shots saved Samba was there to slot in the goal. This lead to full of Blackburn pressure as there were shots from Jones, Diouf, Samba and Roberts. All well saved by the goalkeeper. Blackpool did have an couple of counter attacks that Puncheon hit wide (both attempts) but Blackburn must have thought there luck had run out when Hoilett hit a shot which hit the post. But in the third minute of injury time and Robinson free kick which was headed by Hoilett and went into the back of the net. The goalkeeper Kingson had run out of goal trying to punch the ball and he missed so it was an empty net which Hoilett headed into. An vital draw for Blackburn as they fight off going down Blackpool have been added to the long list of teams fighting the drop. Most on 33 points with Blackpool having worse goal difference.
Sunderland 0 - 2 Liverpool- Another impressive victory for Liverpool as they make an late run for Europe next season. The game was not without controversy. It was a game that Liverpool dominated from start to finish. Carroll had an early chance to give the visitors the lead but he headed just wide. Then an corner from Meireles was nearly scored by Kuyt but he headed just wide as well. He had anther chance soon after which he forced an good instant save by the goalkeeper. Gyan had an shot which went just wide and Welbeck also had an shot which was well saved by the goalkeeper. But the controversy happened when Mensah bought Spearing down just outside the box. It was given as a free kick by the referee but the linesman overruled him and said it was in the box and it was given as an penalty. Replay suggest it was tackled outside the box but he fell inside it. Liverpool were all over Sunderland in the second half as Suarez had an couple of shots going wide. One from an volley and the other from an free kick. Meireles had an shot which went just wide and Kuyt hit another shot which was well saved. But then Suarez showed off his skill again taking on defenders and scoring an goal from an tight angle to give them the 3 points. The bad day for Sunderland was complete as Suarez was brought down by Mensah and he was shown an second yellow and he was off. Liverpool have an outside chance of finishing in an European place while Sunderland still needs one more victory in staying up otherwise they might be dragged into an fight to stay up.
Everton 2 - 1 Fulham- Everton have taken another step towards survival as there win takes them to the 40 point barrier. They will feel there job is nearly done but with this league being so tight they will want one more positive result to be assured. It was an first half that Everton were in control of throughout. They had shots from Saha and Cahill well saved. Osman and Rodwell had shots which went just wide. It was Osman who did set up the first goal as crossed in for Coleman to get the goal. Zamora did have an couple of chances in the first half when he headed one just pass the goalkeeper and hit an shot straight at the goalkeeper apart from that Fulham did not look likely to get an goal in the first half. Saha doubled the lead when he scored an free kick as Everton were strolling to victory. But in the 62nd minute Dempsey pulled an goal back with an long range strike. After that it was all Fulham with Duff having an shot Dembele shooting wide. Jagielka nearly put the game to bed when he headed an corner which was saved by Salcido. Then Zamora focing an great save from Howard and despite the late pressure Everton were able to hold on. Everton will want one more victory to just be sure of safety but they will feel they nearly there. For Fulham they still need a couple of victories and despite not being in the group for fighting for staying in the premier league another couple of losses and Fulham will be looking over the shoulders.
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