Premier League Week 31, Saturday Wrap: Bolton, Wigan Record Key Wins In Relegation Battle
Bolton Wanderers came from behind at the Molineux to secure a vital three points in their continuing fight against relegation. Owen Coyle's men came to Wolverhampton having won two league matches on the trot, but things didn't start very well - Wolves were all over them in the first half and the hosts had by far the better chances, eventually taking the lead through Michael Kightly with a long-range effort just after the break.
Bolton then got lucky with a dodgy penalty after Mark Davies was adjudged to be fouled by Roger Johnson, and Martin Petrov's spot kick led to a flurry of goals, with Marcus Alonso making it 2-1 before Kevin Davies sealed victory for the visitors with six minutes left. Wolves pulled one back in stoppage time to make it 3-2, but ultimately couldn't stop Bolton from pulling off a vital 3-2 victory.
Everton got off to a flying start at home and never looked back, winning 2-0 via a Gareth McAuley own goal and then a second-half strike from Victor Anichebe. The Toffees dominated the match despite not playing particularly well, stopping West Brom from creating anything at all for most of the match, and Anichebe's goal managed to take the wind out of the visitors' sails, dashing any hope they had of a comeback. A professional, solid win.
Wigan have won their second straight match for the first time in what sources tell me is at least thirteen million years. A victory against Liverpool has been followed up by a comfortable 2-0 home win against Stoke City. The Latics were well on top for much of the match but thanks to some amazing missed chances a breakthrough had to wait until the second half when Antolin Alcaraz nodded in Jean Beausejour's cross, and Victor Moses sealed the win when he rounded Asmir Begovic and slotted home in stoppage time.
Fulham Vs. Norwich City
Clint Dempsey's opener set the tone at Craven Cottage where Fulham beat Norwich City 2-1. There was an element of fortune about the American's strike, his 19th of the season - Byran Ruiz's effort was virtually pushed into him by an unfortunate John Ruddy - but there was nothing lucky about the second after Dempsey laid a classy pass to the feet of Damian Duff, with the winger curling a delicious effort home.
Norwich tried to fight back and got a deserved goal via Aaron Wilbraham in the 77th minute as the substitute's shot was deflected in off poor Aaron Hughes, and that goal was the catalyst for the visitors to throw bodies forward in an attempt to find an equaliser. They came very close, but ultimately fell short.
