Premier League wrap: Hull and Crystal Palace gain vital wins
Hull City and Crystal Palace picked up vital wins in the increasingly frantic relegation battle, while Southampton and Stoke City played to an entertaining draw in the rest of the Premier League games.
Liverpool subjected Arsenal to an utter humiliation, blowing them away with four goals in the first twenty minutes to leave a serious dent in the Gunners’ title chances as the Reds ran amok at Anfield.
Full match report here.
A fairly dull encounter between the two sides left the scoreline 0-0 at half-time, despite West Ham enjoying slight superiority, with Matt Jarvis going close in the first half. But Kevin Nolan backheeled in a Stewart Downing cross as soon as the second half began, before adding a second just afterwards, robbing Fabian Delph and firing home. Marc Albrighton then struck the post for the hosts
Chelsea cruised to a comfortable win over Newcastle United where the visitors failed to register much of a threat atll game. A stunning hat-trick from Eden Hazard did the damage - first firing home Branislav Ivanovic's pass before fine play saw the Belgian prod home Samuel Eto'os assist. Hazard then converted a penalty after Eto'o was brought down to complete his hat-trick and the scoring.
Full match report here.
Victor Anichebe missed a fine chance in the opening minutes as his effort was well saved by Julian Speroni, before the hosts fired into life. Tom Ince bagged a debut goal with a dinked finish from Yannick Bolasie's pass, before adding an assist by teeing up his fellow debutant Joe Ledley from a corner.
West Brom introduced Thievy after half-time, and the loanee scored a third debut goal in the game to make it 2-1, turning home Anichebe's cross just seconds after being introduced. But the Baggies' fightback was delayed when Marouane Chamakh appeared to be felled by Ben Foster - cue a controversial penalty, and a cool finish from the Moroccan to make it 3-1.
The visitors simply could not find a way past a robust Norwich defence as Manchester City toiled away at the Canaries' goal but couldn't find a way through. Alvaro Negredo and Edin Dzeko fired blanks, with Martin Olsson producing one particularly good moment to deny Jesus Navas. Indeed, Norwich almost stole it right at the death as Anthony Pilkington went close from a mini-scramble, but settled for a well-deserved point.
Full match report here.
Southampton 2-2 Stoke City
Rickie Lambert opened the scoring early with a fine free-kick to keep Southampton's resurgence going, but Charlie Adam soon teed up Peter Odemwingie to equalise. Another former Rangers man was then involved as Steven Davis saw a cross drift in over Asmir Begovic's head just before half-time, but Stoke managed to equalise before the whistle through Peter Crouch.
A brilliant first half gave way to a duller second after intermission, as the game was fairly end-to-end but both teams were too blunt in attack to find a winner.
Sunderland 0-2 Hull City
Sunderland's recent good form ground to an abrupt halt as Hull City pulled themselves further clear of the relegation battle with a fine away win. Shane Long escaped from Wes Brown after a poor pass from Phil Bardsley, and the centre-back went in with a desperate challenge but got none of the ball and saw red in the opening minutes. Long made him pay with a goal not long afterwards, but somehow failed to get a second in the first half despite battering the hosts, with Long hitting the post.
Nikica Jelavic ended his lengthy goal drought in the second half, however, with a fine header to leave no way back for 10-man Sunderland, as Hull claimed another important victory.
