First Half: Penalty! Dzeko is fouled inside the box by Fonte. Goal! 1-0, City take the lead as Yaya Toure slots a low penalty into the far bottom corner. Dzeko heads against the top of the bar from close range at the far post. Penalty! Cork is fouled by Zabaleta inside the box. Goal! 1-1, Saints level as Lambert scores from the spot with a strike into the far side. Goal! 2-1, City regain the lead at the end of the first half as Silva lays the ball off to Nasri who scores with a low shot from close range under keeper. Goal! 3-1, Dzeko doubles City's lead deep into first half injury time with a close range header that goes in via the inside of the far post following Kolarov's cross.
Half Time: 3-1.
Second Half: Dzeko has a shot parried at the near side. Lambert drags a low shot wide across goal. Goal! 4-1, a low Navas cross beats everyone, leaving Jovetic to tap in from close range.
Full Time: 4-1.
Man City 3rd, 67>70pts
Saints 8th, 48pts
My Opinion:
My man of the match was Silva. City find a way past Saints. Although City won by three goals, I felt that the scoreline was a fair reflection of the way the match was competed. They clearly were not at their sizzling best and were on the back foot for the majority of the first half. However, decisions definitely went in their favour as Silva was at least a yard offside for their second goal which then lead to their third just before half time. During the second half they improved and Jovetic came off the bench to score. Three points in the bag and the hunt for the title continues.
Southampton outplayed City for most of the first half and it was a travesty that they went into half time 3-1 down. Fonte made a ridiculous tackle on Dzeko to give away a really stupid penalty but Lambert levelled from the spot deep into the first half which gave a much fairer reflection of the game. However, Saints were dealt a harsh blow when Rodriguez was stretchered off after falling awkwardly which proved to be a massive blow. They should have gone into half time level at 1-1 but they wrongly went behind to an offside goal . That seemed to change the whole complexion of the match and they couldn't get themselves back into the game. Very cruel on the Saints who will can feel harshly done by after that result.
Chelsea 3 v 0 Stoke City Salah (32), Lampard (61), Willian (72)
First Half: Torres drags a low shot from the edge of the box wide of the near post. Willian has a deflected shot from the edge of the box parried away at the far side. Lampard has a low shot from the edge of the box saved at the near side. Torres has an effort smothered by the keeper. Torres has a penalty claim turned down. Goal! 1-0, Chelsea take the lead through Salah who lashes home into the far side from a low Matic cross. Ivanovic has a goal ruled out for offside.
Half Time: 1-0.
Second Half: Penalty! Wilkinson fouls Salah inside the box. Lampard has his penalty parried at the near side before Goal! 2-0, Lampard follows his saved penalty up by slotting in the rebound from close range. Goal! 3-0, Willian scores with a lovely strike from the edge of the box into the far side.
Full Time: 3-0.
Chelsea 2nd, 69>72pts
Stoke 10th, 40pts
My Opinion:
My man of the match was Willian. Chelsea cruise to victory at Stamford Bridge. That was a much better performance from Chelsea who eased past Stoke at a canter. The day was made even better for the home fans when Lampard netted his 250th goal for Chelsea which is quite a spectacular return from midfield. Salah opened the scoring whilst Willian rounded the goals off after a putting in a man of the match performance. Chelsea march on and remain in close pursuit of leaders Liverpool.
Stoke were pretty poor but then again they were outplayed and couldn't get themselves on the ball for the majority of the game. They spent most of the match defending and failed to create an offensive chance of note. Their best moment came when their keeper saved Lampard's penalty but Lampard scored from the rebound which really summed up Stoke's day.
Cardiff City 0 v 3 Crystal Palace Puncheon (31,88), Ledley (71)
First Half: Dikacoi scuffs an effort wide of the near post. Campbell has a header parried round the near post. Campbell puts an effort wide of the near post. Goal! 0-1, Palace take the lead through Puncheon who scores with a low shot into near side.
Half Time: 0-1.
Second Half: Daehli has a penalty appeal turned down. Jones has a header headed away by the defence. Goal! 0-2, Chamakh has a header parried to Ledley who taps in from the rebound at the near side. Campbell heads wide of the far post from a corner. Goal! 0-3, Puncheon scores with a curling strike from the edge of the box into the far top corner.
Full Time: 0-3.
Cardiff18>19th, 26pts
Palace 16>14th, 31>34pts
My Opinion:
My man of the match was Puncheon. Palace run rampant in Cardiff. It was another very poor performance from Cardiff who didn't take their chances and ran out of be ideas and belied going forward. Campbell came closest to scoring for the home side but had his header pushed past the post. A really disappointing result for Cardiff who fall down one place into 19th after that result. Things are getting increasingly more desperate for Cardiff now and they need to start winning quickly.
Palace were by far the better team and deserved to win by such a huge margin. The gulf in class and style between the two teams was far apart whilst Puncheon played an instrumental part in sealing the three points. Pulis has worked wonders for the team and they deserve everything they get. With that win, Palace move up two places into 14th and look well on their way to safety.
Aston Villa 1 v 2 Fulham Richardson (61), Holt (70), Rodallega (86)
First Half: Bacuna has a low shot across goal parried away. Woodrow has a low shot parried away at the near side.
Half Time: 0-0.
Second Half: Bacuna has a strike from an acute angle parried against the near post. Goal! 0-1, Fulham take the lead through Richardson who scores a screamer from the edge of the box into the far top corner. Goal! 1-1, Villa equalise as Holt heads into the far bottom corner from a corner. Holtby has a low effort cleared off the line by Lowton. Tonev has a shot across goal from the edge of the box parried over the far top corner. Goal! 1-2, Fulham regain the lead as Rodallega scores with a glancing header into the far bottom corner.
Full Time: 1-2.
Villa 12>13th, 34pts
Fulham 20>18th, 24>27pts
My Opinion:
My man of the match was Holtby. Rodallega gives Fulham hope. Villa will be gutted to have lost that game but they were defensively questionable. Bacuna proved to be their greatest threat going forward but chances were few and far between for Villa. They got themselves back on level terms through Holt heading home but they just couldn't hang on for a point. That defeat means Villa fall one place down into 13th with one eye still on the relegation zone.
Massive result for Fulham who desperately needed those three points. They looked like they wanted it more today and went ahead via an absolute screamer from Richardson - great strike. However, after conceding an equalizer it could easily have gone wrong for Fulham but they fought back and scored the winner as Rodallega managed to head the ball in. Those three points mean that Fulham move off the bottom of the table and up two spots into 18th. There is hope for Fulham yet of surviving the drop.
Norwich City 0 v 1 West Bromich Albion Amalfitano (16)
First Half: Amalfitano fires a shot into the side-netting. Elmander scuffs a shot from the edge of the box over and wide. Goal! 0-1, West Brom take the lead through Amalfitano who scores with a low shot from the edge of the box into the far bottom corner. Vydra has a shot parried away at the near side. Elmander has a header parried past the near post.
Half Time: 0-1.
Second Half: Hooper strikes a shot against the bar from a wide angle. Snodgrass has a free kick tipped against the bar. Berahino has an effort from a close acute angle blocked at the near post.
Full Time: 0-1.
Norwich 15>17th, 32pts
West Brom 17>16th, 29>32pts
My Opinion:
My man of the match was Amalfitano. Baggies move closer to safety at Carrow Road. Norwich were pretty poor and spurred all the chances they had. Elmander had a header saved whilst Hooper came closest to scoring for the Canaries after striking a shot against the crossbar. However, with their horrid fixture list coming up in the last four games of the season, Norwich needed a result of some sorts today and they didn't get it. Worrying times at Carrow Road where Norwich drop two places down to 17th after that defeat, leaving them on the cusp of relegation.
West Brom were themselves in need of a positive result today and they got one thanks to Amalfitano. It will give them a huge boost going into the last part of the season as they climb above Norwich with those three points to go 16th. Pepe Mel, along with the Baggies faithful, will be feeling much happier about their prospects of staying up now and I'm backing them to do so.
Newcastle United 0 v 4 Manchester United Mata (39,50), Hernandez (65), Januzaj (90+3)
First Half: Hernandez has an effort that deflects wide of the near post. Cisse has a header turned over the bar. Goal! 0-1, Man United take the lead through Mata who who scores with a free kick into the near top corner. Hernandez strikes a low shot against the far post.
Half Time: 0-1.
Second Half: Goal! 0-2, Hernandez finds Mata with a low cross before the Spaniard cuts inside past the defender and scores with a low shot from close range. Goal! 0-3, Kagawa cuts the ball back to Hernandez who scores with a low shot from close range. Cisse has a shot across goal parried away. Cisse has an effort denied by a great point blank save. Goal! 0-4, Januzaj plays a nice one-two with Mata before scoring with a low shot into the near side.
Full Time: 0-4.
Newcastle 9th, 46pts
Man United 7th, 54>57pts
My Opinion:
My man of the match was Mata. Man United put four past sorry Newcastle. It's all looking rather gloomy on Tyneside these days as Newcastle once again don't turn up and get thumped. It was a really poor display whilst Cisse spurned chances up front. Their season has dramatically gone downhill since Christmas and the end cannot come quickly enough for them.
On the other hand, Man United revelled in victory today as Moyes finally got a solid performance from his players. Mata and Kagawa proved instrumental in midfield which resulted in Mata netting a brace whilst Hernandez and Januzaj rounded off a comfortable afternoon's work. Pretty pleased with that result but begrudging why the players can't excel like that every week.
Hull City 1 v 0 Swansea City Boyd (39)
First Half: Long has a close range volley denied by a great point blank save at the near post. Boyd has a low shot saved at the near side. Routledge has a long range chip shot saved. Jelavic fires a free kick over at the near side. Goal! 1-0, Hull take the lead through Boyd who heads in a Rosenior cross from close range at the far side.
Half Time: 1-0.
Second Half: Shelvey has a low shot from the edge of the box saved. Dyer fires a low shot from the edge of the box wide of the near post. Hernandez drags a low shot from the edge of the box wide of the near post.
Full Time: 1-0.
Hull 14>12th, 33>36pts
Swansea 13>15th, 33pts
My Opinion:
My man of the match was Davies. Hull move closer to safety. That was just what Hull needed as it moves them ever closer to safety from the drop. They played pretty well and took their chance as Boyd headed in the winner. Hull enjoyed more chances during the first half and managed to keep Swansea out in the second. That victory means that Hull move up two places into 12th.
Swansea were poor in front of goal and on another day could have won this match. It was pretty disappointing all round for the Swans who just had an off day. They pressed for an equalizer in the second half but it just didn't come as Shelvey, Dyer and Hernandez all failed to find the back of the net. Swansea will need a few more positive results as that defeat moves them down two places into 15th.
Best Goal: Willian, Puncheon, Richardson, Amalfitano, Mata. Winner: Richardson
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