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Home , Garry Monk, Jason Puncheon, Nigel Pearson, Tim Sherwood

SUNDAY, APRIL 12, 2015 SPORTS

EPL results/standings

Burnley 0 Arsenal 1 (Ramsey 12); Southampton 2 (Ward-Prowse 56-pen, Pelle 81) Hull 0; Sunderland 1 (Wickham 90) Crystal Palace 4 (Murray 48, Bolasie 51, 53, 62); Swansea 1 (Shelvey 69-pen) Everton 1 (Lennon 41); Tottenham 0 Aston Villa 1 (Benteke 35); West Brom 2 (Fletcher 8, Gardner 26) Leicester 3 (Nugent 20, Huth 80, Vardy 90+1); West Ham 1 (Cresswell 7) Stoke 1 (Arnautovic 90+5).

Playing today Manchester United v Manchester City, QPR v Chelsea

Playing tomorrow Liverpool v Newcastle

English table after yesterday’s matches (played, won, drawn, lost, goals for, goals against, points):

Chelsea 30 21 7 2 63 26 70 Crystal Palace 32 11 9 12 42 43 42 Arsenal 32 20 6 6 63 32 66 Everton 32 9 11 12 40 43 38 Man Utd 31 18 8 5 55 28 62 Newcastle 31 9 8 14 33 49 35 Man City 31 18 7 6 63 30 61 West Brom 32 8 9 15 30 46 33 Southampton 32 17 5 10 44 22 56 Aston Villa 33 8 8 17 24 45 32 Liverpool 31 16 6 9 45 36 54 Sunderland 32 5 14 13 25 48 29 Tottenham 32 16 6 10 50 46 54 Hull 32 6 10 16 29 45 28 Swansea 32 13 8 11 38 40 47 QPR 32 7 5 20 38 58 26 West Ham 32 11 10 11 42 40 43 Burnley 32 5 11 16 26 50 26 Stoke 32 12 7 13 36 40 43 Leicester 31 6 7 18 32 51 25 Pelle answers Saints prayers

back to haunt him. And when a misplaced back-pass Southampton 2 from Ahmed Elmohamady allowed the striker to race clear on Harper’s goal, the manager’s fears appeared well-founded. Fortunately for the visitors, Long’s Hull 0 attempt to round Harper saw him take the ball out of play, handing his former team-mates a major let off. LONDON: Tottenham Hotspur’s Vlad Chiriches (left) competes for the ball with Aston Villa’s during the English Premier SOUTHAMPTON: Southampton Hull responded positively with Aluko League soccer match. —AP climbed to fifth in the Premier League testing Southampton keeper Kelvin yesterday as Graziano Pelle ended a 14- Davis three times in the opening half game goal-drought in a 2-0 win over hour, while fellow striker Dame N’Doye also had two good shooting opportuni- Spurs pile up Villa misery Hull City at St Mary’s Stadium. James Ward-Prowse set up the third ties. successive home win converting a sec- Southampton looked disjointed, although the midfield promptings of let up all game, bullying a Spurs team who lost Tottenham were all at sea and Ron Vlaar had ond-half penalty after Shane Long, the ground on Southampton — 2-0 victors against the chance to punish them moments after the former Hull striker, had been fouled by the excellent Morgan Schneiderlin ensured they always posed a threat. Tottenham 1 Hull City-in the contest for Europa League break. The Dutchman met Jack Gealish’s corner, Alex Bruce. places. but could not keep his header beneath Michel While Pelle then made the game safe And they had a second chance to take the lead in the 21st minute when Villa conjured a shooting opportunity that Vorm’s crossbar. for the Saints nine minutes from time. was wasted when Leandro Bacuna blazed wide Clean sheets have been few and far between Southampton manager Harper raced off his line quickly to Aston Villa 0 smother Pelle’s shot. after finding room in the 19th minute. for Villa this season and they had to endure a had accepted his side had no chance of Tottenham looked laboured, but finally got few scares before the final whistle. The Italy forward had endured a terri- forcing their way into the top four after into their stride when Danny Rose’s low shot was They were given a warning when Vlaar divert- defeat at Everton the previous weekend ble run coming into this game and his blocked by Aston Villa goalkeeper . ed Rose’s shot just wide of his own goal. And but the south coast club’s bid to secure failure to make more of the chance LONDON: Christian Benteke gave Tim Sherwood Benteke has been Villa’s saviour since with Tottenham possessing Harry Kane, the a place in the Europa League remains summed up his recent troubles. a winning return to Tottenham Hotspur as Aston Sherwood succeeded the sacked Premier League’s joint-top scorer, there was on course. Southampton lacked a cutting edge Villa moved further away from the Premier on Valentine’s Day and the Belgian striker contin- always a chance for the lacklustre hosts. Hull are staring in the opposite direc- as Hull continued to threaten going for- League relegation zone with a 1-0 win yesterday. ued his hot streak by heading the visitors in Kane, captain again in the continued absence tion and this defeat left ’s ward, Aluko teeing up Jake Livermore Benteke’s 35th-minute header enabled Villa front. Bacuna swung a cross into the box from of injured goalkeeper Hugo Lloris, was unfortu- side one place and two points above for a shot that was saved by Davis at the to open up a six-point gap between themselves wide on the right and Benteke beat Federico nate to see his left-foot shot fail to dip under the the relegation zone. Beaten finalists in start of the second half. and the bottom three, easing their relegation Fazio in the air to guide a header in off the left- crossbar on the hour mark. last season’s FA Cup final, Hull have suf- Long’s pace, though, eventually fears. It was the least they deserved against a hand post. It was Benteke’s eighth goal in six But the home fans were becoming increas- fered a serious hangover this season. proved too much for Hull-and for Alex Tottenham side who struggled to get out of first games and it was no more than Villa warranted. ingly restless as Pochettino’s side ran out of time This was their sixth successive league Bruce, the manager’s son, in particular- gear all afternoon, as visiting manager and with the outstanding Vlaar marshalling their Sherwood was given a moment to savour KANE GOES CLOSE defence, Villa looked comfortable. match without a win and their final six when the forward advanced into the against his former employers. And it could have been even better for the Villa spurned a chance to wrap up the points games include tough-looking home box on the right hand side and drew a clumsy challenge from the Hull defend- Sherwood, sacked by Spurs after a five- visitors, with the opposite post denying late on when Fabian Delph somehow failed to matches with Liverpool, Arsenal, month stint last season, received a warm wel- Sherwood’s men on the stroke of half-time. beat Vorm when put clean through. Manchester United, as well as relegation er. Ward-Prowse kept his composure come from the home fans, but given his rancour Benteke flicked on Kieran Richardson’s long But the miss counted for nothing as the visi- rivals Burnley, while Hull also face trips over the nature of his dismissal, this will have ball and darted between a tors held on despite midfielder Carlos Sanchez to face Tottenham and in-form Crystal from the inevitable resulting penalty after Sadio Mane had attempted to been a sweet moment. pair of defenders before seeing his low strike being sent off deep into added time for two Palace. His Villa side began the brightest and did not bounce back off the woodwork. bookable offences. —AFP Hull manager Steve Bruce reacted to assume responsibility for taking the the Tigers’ 3-1 loss to Swansea last time kick before the intervention of Saints out by making five changes to his line- skipper Jose Fonte ensured the up, with 40-year-old goalkeeper Steve England Under-21 midfielder was given Harper and striker Sone Aluko among the chance to finish impressively in the Shelvey curbs Everton revival the new faces drafted in. 56th minute. Hull visibly wilted after falling behind and never looked like HARPER HEROICS forcing their way back into the game. Bruce had spoken before the game of And it was no surprise when Pelle Swansea 1 his fear the decision to sell Long to wrapped up the win in the 81st minute, Southampton for £12 million ($17.6 mil- this time finishing well after being set lion, 16.6 million euros) might come up by Schneiderlin.—AFP Everton 1

Sunderland back in SWANSEA: Everton were denied a fourth suc- cessive Premier League victory as Jonjo relegation trouble Shelvey’s 69th-minute penalty earned Swansea City a 1-1 draw at a sunny yes- Jason Puncheon had scored a fine terday. free-kick in Palace’s surprise win over Aaron Lennon gave Everton the lead four Sunderland 1 champions Manchester City on Monday minutes before half-time, but Swansea, who lost and he had the Eagles’ first sight of goal striker Bafetimbi Gomis to injury, equalised with a strike well saved by Costel when Shelvey scored from the spot after Seamus Coleman had been penalised for handball. Crystal Palace 4 Pantilimon. Sunderland midfielder Jack Rodwell The result preserved Swansea’s nine-point was fortunate to escape a red card after advantage over Everton and allowed the Welsh clattering into James McArthur with an club to equal their best-ever Premier League points tally of 47, which they achieved in the SUNDERLAND: Crystal Palace winger ugly tackle that brought him a booking 2011-12 campaign. But ’s side are SWANSEA: Everton’s Gareth Barry (left) and Ross Barkley challenge Swansea City’s Jack Cork Yannick Bolasie pushed Sunderland back and set the tone for a bruising half. Pantilimon needed treatment after running out of time to close the gap on the during the English Premier League soccer match at the Liberty Stadium. —AP into the relegation dogfight with a hat- Europa League places, while Everton’s hopes of a trick in his side’s 4-1 romp at the Stadium being caught by Palace defender in a penalty area collision, while top-half finish are beginning to fade. of Light yesterday. Gomis had scored three goals in his previous Bolasie hadn’t scored for Palace since Eagles full-back Pape Souare was forced to come off injured following his clash two games and he was the first player to threat- Leicester fight back September, but the Congo international en, drawing a full-stretch save from Tim Howard ended that drought in spectacular fash- with Billy Jones. After a scrappy first half, it was Palace who took the lead three with a shot on the turn from 25 yards. ion to hand new Sunderland manager But the France international appeared to to beat West Brom Dick Advocaat a second defeat from his minutes into the second period when Murray met Bolasie’s deflected cross with injure his hamstring in the act of shooting and three matches in charge. had to be replaced by Marvin Emnes. Cup final victory over Everton at Wembley. Advocaat had hoped last weekend’s a powerful header for his sixth goal in his Players took the field wearing a replica of the last six games. That was the signal for Everton were also forced into an early triumph over local rivals Newcastle change, with Steven Pienaar replacing Leon West Brom 2 Baggies’ 1968 Cup final kit plain white shirts, shorts would provide the spark to lift Sunderland’s defence to crumble in spec- and red socks-rather than their usual home blue tacular fashion as Palace scored twice Osman. The visitors began to assert themselves Sunderland away from the bottom three. and after Lukasz Fabianski had saved a daisy- and white stripes. But instead they remain just three more to make it three goals in five min- However, there was a sombre edge to the nos- utes. cutter from Coleman, Lennon put Roberto Leicester 3 points above the relegation zone after a Martinez’s men ahead by firing home from talgia with the match marking the launch of the humiliating defeat that had Sunderland Bolasie was their tormentor in chief as Jeff Astle Foundation, a charity set up by his family he raced onto Murray’s flick to guide a James McCarthy’s left-wing cross. supporters streaming towards the exits Fabianski had to save at his near post from following the England World Cup forward’s death long before full-time. cool finish past Pantilimon in the 51st from dementia aged 59 in January 2002. Arouna Kone moments later, but Swansea suc- WEST BROMWICH: Bottom-of-the-table Leicester minute. An inquest coroner ruled Astle had suffered opened the floodgates ceeded in forcing their opponents back in the came from behind three times to secure a dramatic Palace were sweeping through “death by industrial disease” as a result of his when he put Palace ahead early in the second half and with just over 20 minutes 3-2 win away to West Bromwich Albion yesterday Sunderland’s creaky defence at will and repeated heading of old-fashioned heavy leather second half, but it was Bolasie who stole remaining, they levelled. which gave them hope of avoiding relegation from the show with a hat-trick in the space of Bolasie effectively ended the contest two footballs, prompting fears that other players of his minutes later with a deft chip into the far Under pressure from Emnes as he attempted the Premier League. 11 minutes. to shepherd the ball out for a goal-kick, Coleman ’s stoppage-time winner capped a generation might be similarly affected. corner. It was with a header that former Manchester Connor Wickham’s last minute goal fell to his knees inside his own box in the hope stunning fightback by ’s side, who are There was worse to come for United midfielder Fletcher gave the Baggies an was no consolation for Sunderland, and of winning a free kick, but referee now three points from safety with seven games Advocaat’s shell-shocked side as Murray eighth-minute lead when he glanced in a corner. Palace’s fifth win in their last six matches allowed play to continue. The Irishman reacted remaining. easily held off John O’Shea and picked Esteban Cambiasso hooked the ball out but extended their superb run since Alan by swiping the ball away from the Swansea sub- Darren Fletcher gave the Baggies an early lead out Bolasie, who jinked around goal-line technology showed the Argentina mid- Pardew replaced as manag- stitute with his left hand, leaving Oliver no and, soon after David Nugent’s equaliser, they were Pantilimon before slotting past two fielder’s intervention had come too late to prevent er at the turn of the year. option but to award a penalty, and Shelvey sent 2-1 in front through Craig Gardner before Robert Sunderland defenders on the line to the Baggies going ahead. Steven Fletcher had a good opportu- Howard the wrong way from the spot. The two Huth equalised ten minutes from the end of nor- make it four in the 62nd minute. mal time. Vardy completed the come-from-behind Leicester equalised in the 20th minute when, teams could muster only long-range efforts nity to give Sunderland an early lead Wickham scored with a scuffed effort in win in the 91st minute and Leicester held on for following Leonardo Ulloa’s downward header, thereafter, with Ross Barkley and Everton substi- when the Scotland striker met Jordi the closing moments, but there were few just their sixth league win this season. Nugent poked in from close range. tute Kevin Mirallas shooting straight at Fabianski Gomez’s curling corner, but he couldn’t fans left to see it and Sunderland must West Brom had designated this match ‘Jeff Astle However, the Foxes were only level for a matter control his header and it drifted over the prepare for a nail-biting fight for sur- and Howard tipping a Gylfi Sigurdsson free kick Day’ in memory of their late former striker, who of minutes before Gardner’s shot deflected in off crossbar. vival.—AFP over the crossbar. —AFP scored the club’s winning goal in their 1-0 1968 FA Leicester defender Wes Morgan.—AFP