PREMIER LEAGUE
NORWICH’S hopes of avoiding relegation received a valuable boost as they overcame Bournemouth 1-0 in the battle of the bottom two at Carrow Road.
The last-placed Canaries started the day six points adrift of the Cherries, but halved that deficit after picking up their first league win since November.
The decisive incident came in the 33rd minute when Bournemouth defender Steve Cook flung himself at Ondrej Duda’s goal-bound shot and pushed it away with his hand.
Cook was subsequently handed the first red card of his career and Teemu Pukki slotted home the penalty for his 10th league goal of the season.
Norwich were also reduced to 10 men in the 76th minute, Ben Godfrey dismissed for a challenge on Callum Wilson that saw the Premier League have its first pitcheside VAR review, but Daniel Farke’s men held on for the win.
At the other end of the table, Manchester City’s fast-fading title defence suffered another blow as they were held to a 2-2 draw at home by Crystal Palace
Cenk Tosun put Palace ahead on his first start for the Eagles but Sergio Aguero, fresh from his hat-trick heroics against Aston Villa last week, looked to have turned the game on its head with strikes in the 82nd and 87th minutes.
However, that was not the end of the scoring at the Etihad as Fernandinho’s last-minute own goal salvaged a draw for Palace, a result that leaves Pep Guardiola’s men 13 points behind Liverpool having now played two games more. The Reds entertain Manchester United today, while Leicester go to Burnley.
There was also plenty of drama at St Mary’s where Wolves staged a brilliant second-half fightback against Southampton to upset the form book with a 3-2 win.
Saints appeared to be cruising after taking a 2-0 lead through firsthalf goals from Jan Bednarek and Shane Long.
Pedro Neto reduced the arrears before Raul Jimenez levelled from the spot in the 65th minute following a VAR review. Jimenez then slotted home the winner 14 minutes from time.
In the early kick-off, Watford and Tottenham played out a goalless draw after Paulo Gazzaniga saved a second-half penalty from Hornets captain Troy Deeney.
The matches between ArsenalSheffield United, Brighton-Aston Villa and West Ham-Everton all finished in 1-1 draws.
Gabriel Martinelli put the Gunners ahead on the stroke of half-time at the Emirates but John Fleck snatched a point for fellow high-flyers United with an 83rd-minute leveller. At the Amex Stadium, Jack Grealish’s second-half leveller cancelled out Leandro Trossard’s opener.
Both goals at the London Stadium came at the end of the first half, Issa Diop putting David Moyes’ Hammers ahead against his former club before Dominic Calvert-Lewin equalised soon after with his ninth of the campaign.
In the late game, Isaac Hayden scored a stoppage-time winner as Newcastle beat Chelsea 1-0.