Two Down While Title Race Continues

A packed game week saw two sides see their stay in the league come to an end while there were twists in the title race both good and bad.

West Ham began the weekend with a 2-0 win over Tottenham to dent their rivals hopes of a top five finish with Kane's own goal putting them in front after 27 minutes after Kaboul had been sent off in the build-up. Downing sealed the win for the hosts just before the interval to secure their safety.

Aston Villa ensured they would remain in the league with a 3-1 win over Hull with Westwood giving them a perfect start with the opening goal in the first minute with a Bowery own goal on the half-hour bringing Hull level. A double from Weimann secured the points and survival from relegation with strikes in the 41st and 45th minute.

Sunderland edged towards safety with a famous win 1-0 away to Manchester United ending Giggs' perfect start as interim manager at United with Larsson securing the three points with a 30th minute winner to move them away from danger.

Sunderland's win saw the survival hopes of Fulham and Cardiff end as both suffered heavy losses as Newcastle and Stoke. Newcastle secured a top ten finish with a 3-0 win over a doomed Cardiff side with Ameobi putting the hosts ahead after 18 minutes with Remy and Taylor adding late goals to seal the win.

Fulham also go down after losing 4-1 away to Stoke with Odemwingie putting the Potters in front after 39 minutes with Arnautovic adding a second in the 54th minute. Assaidi made it 3-0 and surely doomed the Cottagers in the 73rd minute with Richardson pulling one back in the 80th minute. Walters secured the three points for the hosts and confirmed Fulham's relegation with the fourth goal eight minutes from the end. 

Southampton confirmed eighth place with a last-gasp 1-0 win away to Swansea with Lambert scoring the winning goal in the 90th minute while Swansea sit 12th but could fall as low as 16th depending on other results.

The evening kick-off saw Everton's hopes of a top four finish hanging by a thread as they lost 3-2 to Manchester City who moved to the top of the league and sit firmly in the title race. Everton led in the 11th minute with a stellar strike from Barkley but were pegged back by Aguero's 22nd minute leveller, the game swung as Dzeko struck twice either side of half-time in the 43rd and 48th minutes to put City 3-1 up. Everton gave themselves a chance when Lukaku reduced the deficit in the 65th minute but City held on for the win.

Super Sunday began with a superb 0-0 draw for Norwich away to Chelsea that gave the Canaries hopes of surviving while surely ending Chelsea's title challenge while in the second game, Arsenal confirmed fourth place with a 1-0 win over West Brom with the crucial goal coming in the 14th minute from Giroud.




Monday Night Football saw a stunning six goal thriller between Crystal Palace and Liverpool with the visitors knowing anything but a win could dent their title challenge. Liverpool went in front in the 18th minute through a superb headed effort from Allen and were in full control by the hour with two goals in five minutes, an own goal from Delaney from Sturridge's shot and a superb move that ended with a Suarez finish for 3-0. 

Liverpool looked set to go clear at the top but with eleven minutes remaining, Palace struck through Delaney for 3-1 with Gayle making it 3-2 a couple of minutes later. Liverpool's nerves were raised and with just cause as Gayle stunned the visitors with his second goal in the 88th minute. In the space of 11 minutes, Liverpool had gone from having the title chase in their hands to being second and hoping for a favour from Aston Villa in midweek.

Tuesday night saw the rearranged game between Manchester United and Hull with both sides making mass changes from the weekend. United led after only three minutes through debut forward James Wilson who got a second on the hour to put his side in control, Fryatt pulled one back for Hull two minutes later but Van Persie sealed a 3-1 win in the 86th minute to keep up hopes of a Europa League place.

Wednesday night saw two games beginning with Sunderland finally securing their survival with a 2-0 win over West Brom and in the process all but dooming Norwich who need a miracle to survive. Colback out the hosts in front in the 13th minute with Borini extending his fine scoring run on the half-hour to make it 2-0 and complete a stunning run that has seen Sunderland go from seven points adrift with six games to go to safe with a game left.

The other game saw Manchester City host Aston Villa knowing after Liverpool's collapse at Palace, a win would put them in pole position for the title. 

A tight first half saw the sides go into the break level at 0-0 and Villa looked to counter a City side that were growing in desperation to score but it was City who pounced with Dzeko striking twice in the space of eight minutes to put City 2-0 up.

The win was confirmed by Jovetic in the 89th minute before a superb dash from Toure in the final minute saw him seal 4-0 win that puts City two points clear at the top going into the final weekend of the season.