West Brom and Stoke sink closer to relegation
Paul Lambert has told Premier League strugglers Stoke City they need to win three of their remaining five games to have any chance of survival.
Less than a week after seeing his side put in a creditable performance in a losing effort against Arsenal, the Scot watched his team spurn several opportunities to take at least a point off another North London club in Tottenham Hotspur at the bet365 Stadium. The 2-1 loss leaves second-bottom Stoke four points from safety.
“Two weeks in a row we come away with nothing,” Lambert told the BBC. “The effort and commitment I cannot ask more of, we are just not getting the breaks.”
After falling behind to a Christian Eriksen goal on 52 minutes, Stoke were level five minutes later when Hugo Lloris slammed his clearance into the stomach of Mame Biram Diouf, who blasted into the empty net.
Spurs would soon restore their lead, though the identity of their scorer was no clearer from multiple replays.
Eriksen whipped in a vicious free kick from the left-hand touchline and Harry Kane, who was making his first start since suffering ankle ligament damage last month, flung himself at the ball and claimed the all-important touch, although the goal was later awarded to his Danish teammate.
Stoke, who had seen Kane score eight times against them in their previous four games against Spurs, hit the crossbar through a Xherdan Shaqiri free kick and Diouf wasted a gilt-edged opportunity to pick out a better-placed teammate when a lighting quick Stoke counter saw four players bear down on Lloris’ goal only for the Senegalese to hit a tame cross that was easily cleared by Jan Vertonghen.
“I think we have to win at least three games now,” Lambert said. “As long as belief and fight there, we are in with a fighting chance.” While Stoke’s situation is deteriorating, West Bromwich Albion’s is positively perilous as a 1-1 draw against Swansea City left them on the brink of relegation.
Albion were led for the first time by caretaker manager Darren Moore following Alan Pardew’s sacking this week, but he could not mastermind a vital victory at The Hawthorns.
Although West Brom ended their eight-match losing run, it seems certain they will be playing in the Championship next season.
There was encouragement when Jay Rodriguez poked home in the 54th minute, but Tammy Abraham, on loan from Chelsea, punctured any Albion optimism when he headed Swansea’s 75th minute equaliser from closerange.
West Brom remain rooted to the bottom of the table and sit 10 points from safety with only 15 points available from their final five matches.
“I’m always one for if you don’t win the game, you don’t lose the game but I’m really pleased they showed character to stay in it, dig in and work well with each other,” an upbeate Moore told the BBC. Abraham’s goal – the 20-yearold Englishman’s fifth in the league this season – was vital for Swansea as it kept them four points above the bottom three.
Crystal Palace’s bid to beat the drop was hit by a late Josh King equaliser in a 2-2 draw at Bournemouth.
Luka Milivojevic struck for Palace in the 47th minute, the Serbian midfielder curling in a superb free kick.
Bournemouth responded with a 66th-minute leveller as Lys Mousset produced a fine finish just seconds after coming off the bench.
Wilfried Zaha restored Palace’s advantage with a brilliant turn and 20-yard strike in the 75th minute.
But King netted in the 89th minute to leave Palace three points above the relegation zone.
Huddersfield Town are four points clear of the bottom three after a 1-1 draw at 10man Brighton & Hove Albion.
Chris Hughton’s side took the lead in the 29th minute when Jonas Lossl tipped Solly March’s shot onto a post, only for the ball to rebound off the Huddersfield goalkeeper into the net for a cruel own goal.
Steve Mounie levelled four minutes later, intercepting Shane Duffy’s back-pass and slotting home.
Brighton had midfielder Davy Propper sent off for a studs-up lunge on Jonathan Hogg in the 74th minute.
Newcastle United dented Leicester City’s bid to qualify for the Europa League with a 2-1 win at the King Power Stadium.
Burnley sit seventh, six points ahead of Leicester in the battle for Europa League berths, as Sean Dyche’s side came from behind to win 2-1 at Watford.
Two weeks in a row we come away with nothing. The effort and commitment I cannot ask more of, we are just not getting the breaks PAUL LAMBERT Stoke City manager