Stoke defeated Blackburn 3-1 at the Britannia Stadium in the Premier League’s early kick-off.
The home side took the lead on 27 minutes as midfielder Rory Delap headed home from a Jermaine Pennant free-kick.
Stoke doubled their lead in the 58th minute. Matthew Etherington’s cross was pulled back by Jonathan Walters for Glenn Whelan, whose shot took a deflection off a Blackburn defender before beating Paul Robinson in the Rovers goal.
Stoke were three up in the 72nd minute. Whelan lofted a long ball forward which evaded the Stoke defence and fell for striker Peter Crouch who scored from six yards out from a tight angle.
Blackburn got a consolation goal in the 86th minute. Spanish attacking midfielder Ruben Rochina picked the ball up just outside the penalty area and fired a superb effort passed Stoke keeper Thomas Sorenson. The victory took Stoke into the top half of the Premier League table.
Elsewhere Chelsea hammered Wolves 3-0 at Stamford Bridge. The home side took the lead in 7th minute as captain John Terry headed home from a corner. The Blues doubled their lead in the 29th minute as Juan Mata showed superb composure to find striker Daniel Sturridge who scored from close-range.
Chelsea were three up on the stroke of half-time. Full-back Ashley Cole produced a superb cross to find Mata who made no mistake from six yards out. The home side just went through the motions in the second half and will be happy to have collected a win and three points.
Everton claimed a valuable 2-0 victory at Bolton. Bolton were rather harshly reduced to ten men in the 19th minute. Defender David Wheater received a straight red card for a reckless challenge on Diniyar Bilyaletdinov.
Everton didn’t make the numerical advantage count until the second half. The visitors took the lead in the 49th minute as Bilyaletdinov produced a pinpoint cross for Marouane Fellaini to fire passed Jussi Jaaskelainen in the Wanderers goal.
Everton always seemed in control of the game and secured maximum points in the 78th minute. Leighton Baines cross was met by Tim Cahill at full stretch and the Aussie found substitute Apostolos Vellios for a tap-in.
The victory moved Everton up into the top half of the Premier League table. The defeat leaves the home side in big trouble in the English top flight.
Manchester United were held 1-1 at home to Newcastle despite the visitors going down to ten men. The home side took the lead in rather fortunate circumstances as Steven Taylor’s poor clearance hit United striker Javier Hernandez and beat Tim Krul in the Magpies goal.
Newcastle equaliser was controversial. Rio Ferdinand was adjudged to have brought down Hatem Ben Arfa in the United penalty area. The decision seemed harsh on the England international as it looked like he had won the ball.
Striker Demba Ba stepped up and made no mistake from the penalty spot. Newcastle winger Jonas Gutierrez was given his marching orders in the 76th minute after he received a second yellow card for a reckless challenge on Ashley Young.
United pressed for a winner and had the ten men of Newcastle pressed back in their own half. United thought they had a winner in injury-time but Javier Hernandez’s toe-poked finish was disallowed. The home side will see this as two points dropped but it’s an excellent point for the visitors, especially with the fact that the Magpies went down to ten men.
Norwich defeated QPR 2-1 at Carrow Road to move above their London opponents in the Premier League table. The home side were ahead on 15 minutes as Russell Martin capitalised on a Anton Ferdinand to score from close range.
The visitors were back on level terms in the 59th minute. Hoops striker Jamie Mackie struck a long-range effort which hit the post but full-back Luke Young was there to score from the rebound. Norwich weren’t to be denied a victory though and the Canaries regained the lead in the 71st minute.
Wes Hoolahan’s cross was bundled home by striker and captain Grant Holt. The Canaries will be happy with the victory that has taken them up into ninth place in the Premier League table. The visitors meanwhile dropped into the bottom half of the table.
Sunderland boss Steve Bruce will now be under immense pressure after his side lost 2-1 at home to bottom of the table Wigan. The home side took the lead in the 8th minute, Sebastian Larsson scoring from close range after Ali Al-Habsi had saved a Kieran Richardson effort but the Oman keeper couldn’t deny Larsson from the rebound.
Sunderland had numerous chances to extend their lead but they failed and were made to pay just before half-time. Wigan were awarded a penalty on the stroke of half-time as Sebastian Larsson was adjudged to have brought down Victor Moses in the penalty area. The award seemed harsh to say the least.
However Spanish midfielder Jordi Gomez made no mistake with the spot kick. Just as Sunderland pressed forward for a winner the home side was hit on the break. The visitors hit Wigan on the counter-attack in time added on.
A mix up between Kieran Westwood and Wes Brown presented James McArthur with the ball and the midfielder found striker Franco Di Santo for a tap in. The home fans were furious at the defeat. The visitors were delighted with the win as it took the Latic’s off the bottom of the Premier League table.
Tottenham’s impressive form continued at West Brom with a 3-1 victory. The home side looked to have made the perfect start in the 10th minute as Youssouf Mulumbu got up well to head home Steven Reid’s cross.
The visitors won a penalty in the 25th minute. Spurs winger Aaron Lennon was brought down by Nicky Shorey. Striker Emmanuel Adebayor then put the resulting penalty past Ben Foster in the Baggies goal. Tottenham took the lead with just nine minutes remaining.
England striker Jermain Defoe ran at the Baggies defence and smashed a powerful effort underneath Ben Foster. Spurs confirmed maximum points in injury time as they hit West Brom on the break. Gareth Bale broke and found Adebayor, who slid the ball passed Ben Foster.
The victory continues a superb run of results for the visitors and kept Harry Redknapp’s side third in the Premier League table. West Brom have slipped to 13th in the table.
Arsenal and Fulham drew 1-1 at the Emirates Stadium. Despite dominating possession the Gunners went behind in the 65th minute. A lofted ball through the Arsenal defence caused confusion and defender Thomas Vermaelen poked the ball past his own keeper.
Vermaelen made up for his mistake by heading home a Theo Walcott cross for the Gunners equaliser in 82nd minute. The Gunners pushed but couldn’t find a winner. This was a well deserved point for the visitors.
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