Crystal Palace 3 v 1 Sunderland Gabbidon (9), Fletcher (64), Gayle (79,pen), O'Keith (90)
Crystal Palace secured a vital win over struggling Sunderland. Gabbidon got Palace off to a great start after getting the last touch from a header down from a corner to score and give the home side the lead. The first half continued with Palace in charge of proceedings as Puncheon dragged wide and Jedinak shooting wide from long range. Jedinak saw his effort go wide after half time before Sunderland equalised through Fletcher's headed goal. Things started to go wrong for Sunderland as O'Shea was sent off with 13 minutes to go for a foul on Gayle inside the penalty area. Gayle stepped up to take the penalty and scored to put Palace back in front. Williams had an effort saved before Dickochoi had his shot tipped over the bar. Palace compounded Sunderland's misery in the last minute as O'Keith curled in a long range effort to the top corner.
My Opinion:
My man of the match was Jedinak who was very impressive in midfield for Palace. A great win for Palace who should take confidence and pride from that victory. Sunderland will be disappointed with that poor performance but will be pleased to get Fletcher back playing.
Man City 2 v 0 Hull City Negredo (65), Yaya Toure (90)
Man City sink Hull in the second half. Hull nearly took the lead in the opening ten minutes after Aluko broke the offside trap but dragged his shot wide. Three minutes later and Hull thought they had taken the lead though Graham but his goal was disallowed for offside. Man City settled into the game and Lescott had a header tipped over the bar. Hull continued to press and Koren saw his effort go just wide of the post. Yaya Toure headed over just before half time. Soon after the break Negredo missed a great chance to score as he fluffed a header before Graham blazed over. However, Negredo made up for his earlier miss as he opened the scoring for City after heading in a Zabaleta cross. Yaya Toure doubled city's lead in the dying minutes with a wonderful free-kick outside the box.
My Opinion:
My man of the match was Alvaro Negredo for a dominant performance up front. City got off to a slow start but managed to grind out a result. Lescott played poorly and may not keep his place after that showing. Hull really had their chances here but they squandered them all. If they want to stay up they need to improve their scoring ability.
Newcastle 1 v 0 Fulham Ben Arfa (86)
Newcastle snatch a late winner. The first half was a fairly even game as both sides cancelled each other out. The only chance of note was a Coloccini header being cleared off the line. The game improved in the second half and Ruiz struck a decent free-kick but it was well saved. Cisse came close for Newcastle but his header crashed off the bar before Gouffran headed wide of the post. Tarrabt had a tame effort saved before Newcastle scored through Ben Arfa. Remy played a cross field ball which Ben Arfa controlled brilliantly before cutting inside and unleashing with his left foot into the top corner. Newcastle piled the pressure in the last few minutes but Gouffran, Cabaye and Cisse were all denied by Stockdale.
My Opinion:
My man of the match was Hatem Ben Arfa for scoring a brilliant goal. A deserved win for Newcastle who bombarded Stockdale in the second half. In the end the pressure was too much for Fulham who crumbled. Fulham really didn't turn up today and didn't create any real chances to score. Fulham really need to improve their away form.
Norwich 1 v 0 Southampton Redmond (67)
Redmond sinks Southampton. Norwich started the game brightly as Redmond dragged an early effort wide before Fer had his shot saved from close range. Southampton settled into the game and nearly took the lead before half time but Lallana's volley came back off the post. It was Southampton who threatened early in the second half as Osvaldo had a shot saved before Lambert saw his effort saved. However, Redmond put Norwich in front after cutting onto his right foot and unleashing into the near post corner past Boruc. Redmond had another shot saved late on as Norwich held on for victory.
My Opinion:
My man of the match was Nathan Redmond for his stunning goal. Norwich survived some dodgy penalty dismissals from the referee but it was an important win for them. Southampton had their chances but their just were not clinical enough in front of goal.
West Ham 0 v 1 Stoke Pennant (81)
A late Pennant goal is enough to snatch victory for Stoke. West Ham got off to a slow start whilst Stoke posed more of a threat in the opening half an hour. Jones blazed over before Wilson had a long range effort saved whilst Walters had his shot blocked. West Ham created one chance before half time but Maiga could only head wide. Stoke started the second half strongly but couldn't create a clear opening as Walters blasted high and wide before Nzonzi fired wide. West Ham were struggling to create chances too as Reid could only blast over for the Hammers. In the last ten minutes Pennant managed to break the deadlock as his free-kick curled round the wall and inside the post. West Ham could not find a reply as O'Brien could only shoot over the bar.
My Opinion:
My man of the match was Jermaine Pennant who scored the winning goal and impressed down the wing. West Ham really need to improve as they just couldn't create any real chances today. A good day for Stoke who played really well and thoroughly deserved the win.
Cardiff 0 v 0 Everton
Cardiff and Everton play out goalless draw. Cardiff came close to opening the scoring as Whittingham nearly scored directly from a corner. Everton probed before half time but could not find the net as Mirallas headed wide before Jelavic's deflected header was well saved. In an uneventful second half the only real chance of note came when Jelavic chipped over the bar as both teams failed to muster anything else.
My Opinion:
My man of the match was Leighton Baines who shone in a pretty boring game. Neither team created any real openings and this deserved to be a goalless draw.
Best Goal of the Day: Contenders included O'Keith, Redmond and Ben Arfa. The winner is Ben Arfa.
Upset of the Day: Norwich winning 1-0 at home to Southampton.
Performance of the Day: Crystal Palace killed Sunderland off impressively in the second half.
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