The great escape is well and truly on for Leicester City after a fourth straight win lifted them out of the Premier League’s bottom three.
Nigel Pearson’s men looked destined for the drop having sat at the foot of the table for most of the season, but a crucial 1-0 victory over relegation rivals Burnley sees the Foxes rise one point clear of the drop.
It was a cruel result on the struggling Clarets, who remain rock bottom of the table, as they conceded the game’s only goal just moments after they missed a chance to go in front from the penalty spot.
Matt Taylor was the culprit, the former West Ham man slamming his shot against the post after he was needlessly fouled in the box by Paul Konchesky, and Leicester immediately went on the counter and unbelievably found the net, though through fortunate circumstances.
Marc Albrighton’s cross was turned goalwards by veteran Burnley defender Michael Duff, and it would have been an own goal if not for the hunger of Leicester striker Jamie Vardy, who raced in to stab the ball home on the line.
And the Foxes were indebted to the reactions of goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel for a vital three points, as he pulled off two stunning stops to save his side.
Hull are also a point above the drop, joining Leicester on 31 points, with a deserved 2-0 victory over Crystal Palace.
The Tigers had a handful of decent chances before finally finding the net through Dame N'Doye’s scrappy strike.
Palace later seemed to have rescued a draw only for on-loan striker Yaya Sanogo’s goal to be ruled out for a foul in the build-up, and N'Doye made the points certain for the visitors with a thumping low strike in stoppage-time.
Sunderland dropped down to fill Leicester’s place in the drop zone following 1-1 draw at Stoke, the Potters coming back to equalise through another Charlie Adam belter after Connor Wickham handed the Black Cats an early lead.
And Queens Park Rangers remain in the bottom-three following a frustrating goalless stalemate with London derby rivals West Ham, with Chris Ramsey’s Super Hoops missing a penalty and having a goal disallowed.
Charlie Austin was the man to miss from the spot, Hammers shot-stopper Adrian saving his third consecutive penalty from the striker’s tame effort.
West Ham defender Aaron Cresswell then had an outstanding effort tipped onto the bar by Rob Green, before Richard Dunne bundled the ball in the net but had it swiftly chalked off for a foul on Adrian.
Newcastle are creeping ever closer to the relegation battle after the Magpies slumped to their seventh consecutive defeat, this time beaten 3-2 by an in-form Swansea.
Ayoze Perez put the Toon in front on 20 minutes following some shocking Swansea defending, but the Welsh outfit found themselves level at the break through Nelson Oliveira’s header, with Gylfi Sigurdsson’s strike putting them in front minutes into the second half.
Jack Cork then tapped in from close-range to score a vital third, as Siem de Jong’s late goal threatened to spark a comeback.
Finally, Liverpool moved up to fifth but ultimately missed their chance to close in on a top four spot after playing out a tepid 0-0 draw at West Brom.
Brendan Rodgers will wonder how his dominant side failed to score, with Mario Balotelli having multiple efforts blocked while Philippe Coutinho and Jordan Henderson were both denied by Baggies keeper Boaz Myhill.
Youngster Jordon Ibe also hit the bar with a powerful close-range effort in the second half, but the Reds will be travelling home frustrated after being held by Tony Pulis’ stubborn side.
Nigel Pearson’s men looked destined for the drop having sat at the foot of the table for most of the season, but a crucial 1-0 victory over relegation rivals Burnley sees the Foxes rise one point clear of the drop.
It was a cruel result on the struggling Clarets, who remain rock bottom of the table, as they conceded the game’s only goal just moments after they missed a chance to go in front from the penalty spot.
Matt Taylor was the culprit, the former West Ham man slamming his shot against the post after he was needlessly fouled in the box by Paul Konchesky, and Leicester immediately went on the counter and unbelievably found the net, though through fortunate circumstances.
Marc Albrighton’s cross was turned goalwards by veteran Burnley defender Michael Duff, and it would have been an own goal if not for the hunger of Leicester striker Jamie Vardy, who raced in to stab the ball home on the line.
And the Foxes were indebted to the reactions of goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel for a vital three points, as he pulled off two stunning stops to save his side.
Hull are also a point above the drop, joining Leicester on 31 points, with a deserved 2-0 victory over Crystal Palace.
The Tigers had a handful of decent chances before finally finding the net through Dame N'Doye’s scrappy strike.
Palace later seemed to have rescued a draw only for on-loan striker Yaya Sanogo’s goal to be ruled out for a foul in the build-up, and N'Doye made the points certain for the visitors with a thumping low strike in stoppage-time.
Sunderland dropped down to fill Leicester’s place in the drop zone following 1-1 draw at Stoke, the Potters coming back to equalise through another Charlie Adam belter after Connor Wickham handed the Black Cats an early lead.
And Queens Park Rangers remain in the bottom-three following a frustrating goalless stalemate with London derby rivals West Ham, with Chris Ramsey’s Super Hoops missing a penalty and having a goal disallowed.
Charlie Austin was the man to miss from the spot, Hammers shot-stopper Adrian saving his third consecutive penalty from the striker’s tame effort.
West Ham defender Aaron Cresswell then had an outstanding effort tipped onto the bar by Rob Green, before Richard Dunne bundled the ball in the net but had it swiftly chalked off for a foul on Adrian.
Newcastle are creeping ever closer to the relegation battle after the Magpies slumped to their seventh consecutive defeat, this time beaten 3-2 by an in-form Swansea.
Ayoze Perez put the Toon in front on 20 minutes following some shocking Swansea defending, but the Welsh outfit found themselves level at the break through Nelson Oliveira’s header, with Gylfi Sigurdsson’s strike putting them in front minutes into the second half.
Jack Cork then tapped in from close-range to score a vital third, as Siem de Jong’s late goal threatened to spark a comeback.
Finally, Liverpool moved up to fifth but ultimately missed their chance to close in on a top four spot after playing out a tepid 0-0 draw at West Brom.
Brendan Rodgers will wonder how his dominant side failed to score, with Mario Balotelli having multiple efforts blocked while Philippe Coutinho and Jordan Henderson were both denied by Baggies keeper Boaz Myhill.
Youngster Jordon Ibe also hit the bar with a powerful close-range effort in the second half, but the Reds will be travelling home frustrated after being held by Tony Pulis’ stubborn side.
No comments:
Post a Comment