SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2016 SPORTS Long sends soaring Southampton up to sixth They visit Tottenham Hotspur and Arsenal in their next two games. Unbeaten Swansea 0 in their previous four matches, Swansea fielded an unchanged side, with South Korea midfielder Ki Sung-Yueng returning to the bench after missing the 1-1 draw at Southampton 1 home to Crystal Palace with concussion. Southampton recalled four players, among them fit-again pair Matt Targett and Steven Davis, and procured an early sight SWANSEA: Shane Long struck as in-form of goal when Graziano Pelle shot straight at Southampton climbed to within one point Lukasz Fabianski from the edge of the box. of the Premier League’s European places Swansea replied with a tame Andre with a 1-0 victory at relegation-threatened Ayew effort, but the first half did not come Swansea City yesterday. to life until the verge of half-time, when the The Irishman nodded home a cross from teams exchanged good chances in the James Ward-Prowse in the 69th minute at space of a minute. First, Gylfi Sigurdsson the Liberty Stadium as Southampton volleyed over for Swansea from Alberto stretched their unbeaten run to six league Paloschi’s flick-on, before the unmarked games, during which time they have not Long headed straight at Fabianski at the conceded a single goal. other end. Pelle thought he had given It lifted Ronald Koeman’s side up to sixth Southampton the lead just before the hour place in the table, one point below fifth- when he turned the ball in after Fabianski place Manchester United and seven points had dropped it under pressure from Jose off the Champions League berths. Fonte, but referee Jon Moss ruled that the Swansea, beaten for the first time since Pole had been fouled. Francesco Guidolin’s appointment as head However, 11 minutes later the visitors coach, remain 16th but are now only three did go ahead as Long headed home an points above the bottom three. inviting cross from Ward-Prowse. — AFP LIVERPOOL: Everton’s Belgian striker Romelu Lukaku (C) heads the ball towards goal but fails to score during the English Premier League foot- ball match between Everton and West Bromwich Albion at Goodison Park in Liverpool, north west England yesterday. — AFP Hammers battle back to frustrate Norwich West Brom dig deep the area deflected off James Collins into the path of Hoolahan, who side-footed to win at Everton Norwich 2 home from close range despite West Ham’s appeals for offside. Bilic’s team needed to hit back quickly and they struck in the 74th minute when two minutes towards the end of the opening Gareth Barry ended the half with a header that Moses’s shot was pushed out by Ruddy into West Ham 2 period, the hosts twice hit the same West Brom just missed the target. By five minutes into the the path of Payet, who slotted into the Everton 0 post.After 37 minutes, Albion failed to clear a second half, Oliver had seen enough of the visi- empty net. home attack on the edge of their area and Ross tors’ time-wasting, booking veteran Darren West Ham were suddenly inspired and Barkley curled an accurate shot beyond goal- Fletcher, and soon added the name of James NORWICH: Dimitri Payet underlined why two minutes later Noble equalised with a keeper Ben Foster, only to see the woodwork McClean for a foul that stopped a Coleman-led West Ham splashed out on a new contract superb strike from Payet’s pass. West Brom 1 deny him a goal. break. McClean might have been sent off three for the France midfielder this week as his Emmanuel Emenike had a chance to cap Moments later, Foster was again well beaten, minutes later for a cynical trip on Lennon, influential display helped rescue a 2-2 draw the fightback in stoppage-time, but the this time from Tom Cleverley’s cross-shot from prompting Pulis to substitute him. against Norwich yesterday. West Ham substitute missed his kick from the left, which drifted over his head and Meanwhile, Barry maintained the pressure Slaven Bilic’s side were heading for close-range. — AFP LIVERPOOL: Venezuelan striker Salomon appeared destined for the back of the net until on the visitors with a shot that rose over from defeat at Carrow Road after goals from Rondon scored a potentially priceless goal as it hit the upright. the edge of the area. Robbie Brady and Wes Hoolahan appeared West Bromwich Albion eased their Premier Everton’s frustrations were compounded by McClean’s replacement, Chris Brunt, almost to have put lowly Norwich in complete League relegation concerns with a hard-earned West Brom seeking to waste time, almost from scored from his first involvement, on a rare control. Matches on TV 1-0 victory at Everton yesterday. West Brom the moment they took the lead, with referee West Brom sortie, as he collected Rondon’s pass But Payet, who signed a bumper deal as (Local Timings) struck early, and completely against not only Michael Oliver talking to Foster about precisely and placed a shot just beyond the far post. West Ham moved to keep him following a the run of play but also the form-book, with a that before half an hour had passed. But Pulis’s But there were fewer chances for the hosts reported offer from the wealthy Chinese ENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUE set-piece goal from their very first attack in the team could feel satisfied at their defensive dis- in the second half and more frustration, with league, maintained the superb form that 14th minute. play in that opening 45 minutes even if, aside West Brom goalkeeper Foster another player Arsenal v Leicester City 15:00 has made him such a hit since his pre-sea- Stephane Sessegnon’s left-wing corner from a Rondon shot into the side-netting, they cautioned for time-wasting. Martinez’s decision beIN SPORTS 2 HD son move from Marseille. found Jonas Olsson at the near-post, his header failed to create any other chances. to take off Lennon added to that frustration Aston Villa v Liverpool 17:05 He sparked West Ham’s revival with a looped towards the far corner and Rondon and was met with disapproval from the home beIN SPORTS 2 HD 74th-minute goal and then set up Mark helped the ball over the line with his chest from SIXTH HOME DEFEAT supporters, although the winger had been less Man City v Tottenham 19:15 Noble’s blistering equaliser two minutes point-blank range. Seamus Coleman flicked a header just wide menacing in the second period. beIN SPORTS 2 HD later to ensure his club remain firmly in the His goal left Tony Pulis’s side eight points from Romelu Lukaku’s driven shot, Barkley saw His replacement Gerard Deulofeu almost hunt for a Europa League place. SPANISH LEAGUE above the bottom three. Everton, and in partic- an effort deflected behind and a Lennon effort made a quick impact as his right-wing cross Norwich’s late meltdown was a signifi- ular right winger Aaron Lennon, had made a deviated awkwardly off James Chester and had was helped back by Bryan Oviedo for Barry, Real Sociedad v Granada 14:00 cant blow to their hopes of avoiding rele- strong start and would continue in that vein to be pushed over the crossbar by Foster. whose eight-yard attempt was blocked. beIN SPORTS 3 HD gation and they remain in the drop zone. throughout a first half in which Roberto Defender Ramiro Funes Mori almost levelled, Everton, 10th, have now lost six times at home Sevilla FC v Las Palmas 18:00 After five successive league defeats, Martinez must have wondered how his team from one of the home team’s eight first-half this season and trail the European places by six beIN SPORTS 3 HD Norwich’s predicament had taken another did not produce an equaliser. In the space of corners, with a shot into the side-netting, while points. — AFP Getafe v Atletico de Madrid 20:15 turn for the worse before kick-off as relega- beIN SPORTS 3 HD tion rivals Sunderland defeated SD Eibar v Levante 20:15 Manchester United to climb above the beIN SPORTS 13 HD EN Canaries. Barcelona v Celta de Vigo 22:30 Alex Neil’s team had conceded 19 goals Palace slump continues as beIN SPORTS 3 HD in their last six matches in all competitions, with last weekend’s woeful 2-0 loss at bot- ITALIAN CALCIO LEAGUE tom club Aston Villa an especially alarming AC Milan v Genoa CFC 14:30 Deeney gives Watford win setback. beIN SPORTS 4 HD Norwich defender Russell Martin tried to Udinese Calcio v Bologna 17:00 set the tempo with a first minute burst for- fought one,” the match-winner told the BBC. Ighalo couldn’t keep down his flick from beIN SPORTS ward that ended with a powerful shot over Adebayor had equalised on the stroke of half- Deeney’s ball over the top as Watford continued UC Sampdoria v Atalanta 17:00 the crossbar. Palace 1 time while Palace had Pape Souare sent off deep to dominate, but against the run of play beIN SPORTS 4 HD West Ham arrived in Norfolk in buoyant into injury time. Watford moved up to eighth Adebayor equalised with a looping header after Citta di Palermo v Torino 17:00 mood after their midweek FA Cup fourth with the win while Palace stayed 12th. climbing above Craig Cathcart.