Frazier Campbell scored on his first start in the premier league for a year and a half as Sunderland thoroughly thrashed a Norwich side who were riding on high on a 6 match unbeaten streak. Martin O'Neill continued his revolution at the Stadium of Light by adding another win to give them just one loss in 7 matches.
After Campbell's goal, Sessegnon netted just 7 minutes later, before Canaries player Ayala scored an own goal just after half time and the rest,as they say, is history. There's not really much else to say about this match to be fair.
Sunderland have moved into the top 10 in the first time in...well in a while. They're 8th, and while they may be 7 points of Arsenal in 7th (and a potential Europa League spot should the cup competitions go the right way), but should Arsenal continue to slip up, and Sunderland keep up their winning ways, it could be a sneaky jump into Europe come the end of the season.
Fulham 1-1 West Bromwich Albion
West Brom snatched a late equaliser through Tchoyi who had only come off the bench 5 minutes earlier. He latched onto a flick from James Morrison to register his first goal of the season.
Fulham had led til then through a goal from in-form Clint Dempsey. Interesting fact time: No other player for Fulham has registered more than 2 goals this season. I know, hey? Anyway, Dempsey scored his 10th goal in style, slotting in from close range in the second half. However, Tchoyi arrived on cue to spoil Fulham's party at Craven Cottage.
Fulham are now in 13th place, in striking distance of 8th, while West Brom are just behind in 15th, within range of 10th place.
Bolton Wanderers 0-0 Arsenal
An immense defensive display by Bolton ensured Arsenal could not get the points they needed to stay in the race for 3rd place and an automatic champions league group stage spot. However, the point keeps them out of reach of Sunderland, for now.
It wasn't that Arsenal couldn't attack, they just couldn't get the finishing touch on the ball at the other end. Bolton might even have won the match, had a late penalty appeal by Mark Davies not been turned down by the referee.
Arsenal are now 5 points behind Chelsea in 4th, and 2 points behind the only guarenteed Europa league spot, currently occupied by Newcastle. Bolton however are still 17th, but are now just putting some distance between themselves and the bottom 3.
Blackburn Rovers 0-2 Newcastle United
Scott Dann, sought after during the transfer window, was at fault today for scoring a 12th minute own goal, while Gabriel Obertan's goal wrapped up a victory for Newcastle United that kept up their advances on taking a champions league spot from Chelsea.
David Dunn was at fault as well for missing a penalty, and Leon Best's header against his own bar could have levelled the scores before Obertan's stoppage time goal. Blackburn have now lost 3 games out of 4 against Newcastle, all within the space of 4 months.
Newcastle kept up the pressure on Chelsea, who tied against Swansea, and also held off advances from Liverpool and Arsenal. However, for Blackburn, their mini-revival has pretty much come to an end, and though they are just 2 points from safety, I'm sure the protests against Steve Kean will start up again soon enough.
Aston Villa 2-2 QPR
Aston Villa bounced back from 2 goals down to level against QPR, after Djibril Cisse scored his first goal back in English football after just 15 minutes. Stephen Warnock also scored an own goal to give the impression that this was just not going to be Villa's day.
However, a goal just before half time through Darren Bent (His 100th league goal). Villa came back out with a new attacking look about them, and it took until the 79th minute for Charles N'Zogbia to level the scores, and spare a defeat for Villa boss McLeish. Interesting fact, Villa had 70% possession.
Villa sit in 12th, though they can hit up to 8th if they win. As for QPR, they are now 16th, 3 points from the drop. However, they have just signed a few players, and players such as Cisse will be the ones who can help to keep them up. They just need them to all gel quickly.
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