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CHRIS Wood had boss Nuno Espirito Santo punching the air as Nottingham Forest climbed out of the bottom three in their battle to beat the drop.Wood’s superb back-header earned his side a draw in Forest’s first game since being docked four points for breaching the Premier League’s Profit and Sustainability rules.Chris Wood’s strike saved Forest to secure a point against Crystal PalaceCredit: ReutersIt was a decision that left Nuno admitting he ‘punched something’ when he heard the news.But this will give the Portuguese coach hope that his players can avoid the drop.Jean Phillipe-Mateta’s 11th minute opener put Palace ahead – and danger man Eberechi Eze could have extended the lead.But an improved second half display from Forest made sure they climbed over Luton Town after their defeat at Tottenham.The City Ground fans had a message for their team in their wake of the points penalty;They unveiled a banner at the Trent End which read: ’We shall fight and we shall overcome’.For the first half though, it looked like that level of support would be in vain as Nuno’s side struggled to make an impact.It was clear that Forest recognised Eze as Palace’s danger man as defender Felipe sent him flying after nine minutes.Forest could not convert their possession into chancesNuno Espirito Santo’s side dominated for large periodsBEST FREE BET SIGN UP OFFERS FOR UK BOOKMAKERBut it would be the second half before the Brazilian was shown a yellow card.Eze picked himself up and played a part in the game’s opening goal as Palace forward Mateta scored for the fourth time in seven games.What is FFP? How Financial Fair Play is affecting Man Utd and Arsenal in January transfer windowJefferson Lerma played a through ball for Eze, and he slid it to Mateta who smashed it into the back of the net from 10 yards.Four minutes later Eze curled a free kick curled to far post, and Forest keeper Matz Sels had to tip it over the bar.Forest fans were growing impatient with Palace’s first half time wasting tactics – but Oliver Glasner’s side had a great chance to make it two before the break.                                                                               Adam Wharton’s pinpoint pass out Eze put clean through on goal, but Sels spotted the danger and made the save.Wharton fed Eze again six minutes after the break, but this time the Palace forward put his wide of the far post.But Forest were coming into the game and Callum Hudson-Odoi brought a save out of former City Ground loanee Dean Henderson.Forest got their reward just after the hour mark though when Wood found the net for the second successive game.Gibbs-White pumped a ball into the Palace box and Wood cleverly back-headed the ball over the stranded Henderson to level the scores.That set the City Ground alight again as Forest’s supporters urged their team to find a winner.But it was Palace who came close to regaining the lead with 20 minutes left as Eze’s shot was kept out by Sels.Sub Gio Reyna almost found the net with 16 minutes left as his shot was punched out by Henderson.But Palace almost claimed the points with two minutes left when the ball appeared to come off Neco Williams from a corner and hit the post. More

UNAI EMERY finally ended his Wolves hoodoo as he won for the first time against them in seven attempts.A goal in each half from Moussa Diaby and Ezri Konsa saw Villa beat their bogey team for the first time in the league at Villa Park since the days of David O’Leary way back in December 2003.Moussa Diaby put Villa ahead with a fine strikeCredit: RexAs Villa dominated a disappointing Wolves sideCredit: ReutersThe international break seemed to agree with Villa as Diaby celebrated his return to the French team during the week with his first league goal of the year.While Konsa, so impressive for England against Brazil and Belgium, marked his return with his first goal since he nabbed a double against Leicester City way back in December 2021.The win maintained Villa’s three point lead over Spurs, who had turned the heat up by winning earlier in the day.And it ticked off another matchday as Emery’s men close in on a Champions’ League place with a hard-fought win.Gary O’Neil’s side had to dust themselves down from their FA Cup exit at the hands of Coventry City.But their recent record in the Premier League has been hugely impressive.Wolves have collected 22 points since Christmas Eve, an achievement only the top three of Arsenal, Liverpool and Manchester City have bettered.Wanderers also love Villa Park where they had only lost once in their last eight league visits.Konsa’s goal was far more fortunateCredit: RexBut topped off a dream week that saw him make his England debutCredit: RexWhile Villa appaeared to dominate, the stats showed an even gameCredit: The SunCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO WELCOME OFFERSThe visitors started brightly with 18-year-old striker Leon Chiwome leading the line in his first Premier League start and pinned Villa back for long periods.Tommy Doyle fired just wide after Ollie Watkins headed a Pablo Sarabia corner into his path.Fans thought I was HONKING and I’d started looking for new club but one conversation changed my career says John McGinnThen Villa had the ball in the net after nine minutes when Moussa Diaby sent Ollie Watkins clear on goal.Jose Sa, making his 100th Premier League appearance, managed to block the England striker’s effort but Douglas Luiz pounced on the rebound to fire home.However assistant referee Steven Meredith raised his flag as Watkins had clearly been offside when Diaby played him in.Wolves passed up a glorious chance to seize the lead when Sarabia’s corner was headed straight to Rayan Ait-Nouri off a Villa head.The Wolves full back had the whole goal to aim at but to his dismay Emi Martinez threw himself across his goal to deflect the defender’s effort over.It was a stunning point blank save which turned out to be a huge turning point as it gave Villa a wake-up call.Youri Tielemans, fresh from his double against England, sliced through the Wolves defence with a precision pass to set Watkins clear.But Villa’s top scorer clipped his shot into the side netting as Sa raced off his line.Diaby was dominant and scored a crucial goalCredit: The SunSarabia was booked for pulling Morgan Rogers’ shirt and Tielemans joined him in ref Paul Tierney’s notebook for a foul on Ait-Nouri.Villa were moving through the gears and took the lead nine minutes before half-time.Douglas Luiz chipped the ball to Leon Bailey wide on the left and the wingers’ cross was deflected by Tommy Doyle to the dge of the Wolves box.It fell perfectly to Moussa Diaby who ferociously lashed the ball beyond Sa and Max Kilman on the goalline.It was the French international’s first Premier goal of the year, three months after he scored against Burnley on December 30.However Villa suffered a setback at half-time as Ollie Watkins failed to reappear after the break due to injury and his place was taken by Jhon Duran.Encouraged, Wolves piled forward after the break, but Villa with Douglas Carlos and Ezri Konsa so solid at the back, they couldn’t find a way through.And Villa put the game beyond them as they doubled their lead after 65 minutes.Villa were dominant throughoutCredit: The SunDuran robbed Tommy Doyle and fed fellow sub Nicolo Zaniolo who found Diaby.He fed Ezri Konsa on the overlap and the big defender chipped in a cross towards Duran which sailed over Sa and drifted in at the far post.Despite nine minutes of stoppage time – mostly caused by a battery malfunction to assistant ref Meredith’s power pack – Wolves couldn’t grab a late consolation.BEST FREE BET SIGN UP OFFERS FOR UK BOOKMAKER More

CHELSEA host Burnley in the Premier League on Saturday afternoon.The Blues have taken eight points from their last four games as they look to climb the table.Meanwhile, the Clarets are in desperate need of three points if they want to stand a chance of Premier League survival.
Kick off time: 3pm
TV/Stream: Not available to watch in the UK.
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THE CLOCKS go forward an hour tonight and everyone loses an hour in bed as a result.But don’t be surprised if Chelsea boss Mauricio Pochettino does not sleep at all.Mauricio Pochettino watched Chelsea squander a leadCredit: RexHis team twice blew the lead against ten men of a team rapidly heading towards relegation, who also had their manager sent off before half time. Yet again Cole Palmer was their star man, scoring the first half penalty and second half cracker which should have been enough for victory.But yet again Pochettino’s players failed to hold their nerve and in fact were lucky to come away with any points at all by the end.Jay Ridriguez was centimetres away from capping an amazing Clarets comeback when he smacked the bar with a header in the dying minutes that would have turned dissent into disaster for Pochettino.It should be the easiest job in the world picking from a squad worth £1 billion every week.But at every turn, the most expensive bunch of players in the world make life hard for themselves, for him and the long-suffering fans.Luckily, Palmer was passed fit to play after picking up a knock on England duty this past fortnight.His calm from the penalty spot and assured finish 12 minutes from time was a marked contrast to the rest of the performance.CASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO WELCOME OFFERSThe fans did their best to present a united front after the widespread unrest at the last game – a 4-2 FA Cup win over LeicesterBut having seen their team frustrate and flop there was another loud chorus of boos at the final whistle.Simon Jordan slams ‘pathetic’ Chelsea fans for criticising Todd Boehly Burnley rocked up at Stamford Bridge with only two Premier League away wins to their name this season. They are still five points from safety with only eight games to go. It will take a managerial genius to turn around those kinds of statistics to keep them in the Premier League.So it was no surprise that the home side started racking up the chances from the off with Fernandez drawing a fingertip save from Burnley keeper Arijanet Muric on ten minutes. Palmer had a goalbound shot blocked by Dara O’Shea and Nicolas Jackson was denied a cracking goal by Muric’s outstretched leg at close range – all within the first 20 minutes.In return, Burnley tested Djordje Petrovic with a wicked curling shot from the left flank in a scare.But it all kicked off in the last five minutes of the first half. Cole Palmer’s cheeky penalty opened the scoringCredit: GettyHis spot kick was ice coolCredit: PAJosh Cullen levelled for BurnleyCredit: ReutersThe game was back onCredit: AFPMykhailo Mudryk, fresh from scoring the goal in midweek that put Ukraine into the Euro 2024 finals, was shoved to the ground from behind by Lorenz Assignon as he homed in on goal.Ref Darren England pointed to the spot. And with Assignon already booked for a foul on Mudryk, he was sent off.Burnley boss Vincent Kompany was apoplectic with the decision and let fourth official James Bell know it.  He quickly followed his full back down the tunnel as Burnley’s second dismissal within four and a half mad minutes.After a lengthy VAR check, Cole Palmer stepped up and chipped a cheeky shot into the net to give Chelsea the lead heading into seven minutes of added time.Chelsea had already had an Axel Disasi goal disallowed for handball via VAR.Palmer got Chelsea back aheadCredit: AFPHe must’ve thought the game was doneCredit: GettyBut just two minutes into the second half and ten man Burnley levelled. Half time sub Josh Brownhill, with one of his first touches of the game, combined with his captain Josh Cullen.The midfielder then curled a cracking shot with the outside of his right boot from just outside the box and past Petrovic to get Burnley back into the game with his first Premier League goal.Cullen was then involved when he crossed in the 57th minute for Lyle Foster to force a one-handed save from Petrovic with a powerful header as Chelsea were rocked.It was only Benoit Badiashile’s handily placed thigh that blocked Foster’s follow up effort in the six yard box.Palmer has been Chelsea’s best signing this season and as well as his accuracy from the spot is not bad in open play.He restored his team’s lead with his second of the game with 12 minutes to go when picked out by a clever flick of the heel by Raheem Sterling.Palmer raced through and buried his shot from 15 yards and victory looked certain.But just three minutes later Burnley pounced again with centre back Dara O’Shea losing his marker at a corner and driving into the box to power home a header and claim a second equaliser for his team and keep them fighting for survival at least.Dara O’Shea snatched a late levellerCredit: PABurnley rescued a pointCredit: PA More

TOTTENHAM will be desperate to bounce back from their Fulham embarrassment against Luton this afternoon.Spurs were comfortably beaten 3-0 by their London rivals before the international break.While Luke Berry’s 89th-minute strike earned the Hatters a point against Nottingham Forest.BEST FREE BET SIGN UP OFFERS FOR UK BOOKMAKER More

BOURNEMOUTH host fellow Premier League struggles Everton on Saturday afternoon.The Toffees will be hoping they can extend the gap between them and the drop zone with a win at the Vitality.Bournemouth are eyeing back-to-back wins in the Premier League as they seek a top-half finish this season.
Kick off time: 3pm
TV/Stream: Not available to watch in the UK.
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RODRIGO MUNIZ showed why he is currently the unlikeliest hotshot in the Prem with the flying finish that saved Fulham.The Blades were storming towards only their second win of the year after a firecracker of a second half.Rodrigo Muniz is ecstatic after his incredible point-saverCredit: GettyMuniz twists for his amazing stoppage-time equaliserCredit: GettyYet two stunning goals – the second of them an acrobatic volley from the Brazilian striker – left them rooted to the basement and kept up Muniz’s astonishing record.The Fulham hit man has now scored eight in his last eight games – a record no-one else in the top flight can match over the last two months. Few have been more priceless than the one here.It was frantic, it was breathtaking, and it was frankly totally out of the blue after the drabbest opening 45 minutes you will ever witness. Not so the second of them, though!The Blades went ahead, Fulham fought back, the home side edged daylight and thought they’d gone 4-1 up only for VAR to deny them with an offside call.And then the Cottagers launched the most incredible of finales with a dramatic double that made it honours even.To be fair, when they roared out of the blocks at the start of the second half, even a draw would have seemed unfair on them at the time.Muniz was a coat of paint away from putting them ahead with a looping header that came back off the upright with keeper Ivo Grbic rooted.And then twice young Olly Arblaster – what an exciting prospect he is, by the way – showed he’s got the guts to go with his glitz.Ben Brereton Diaz lunges in to put the Blades 3-1 upCredit: GettyBEST FREE BET SIGN UP OFFERS FOR UK BOOKMAKERWhen another opening fell to Sasa Lukic on the penalty spot, unmarked and with all the goal to aim at, he had to score.Yet Arblaster proved otherwise, throwing himself to deflect it behind, and copping a painful clattering off team-mate Jack Robinson as he did so…and then, boy, did things change.The Premier League’s Top 10 sexiest managers according to AIIt was all Fulham’s own doing, too, as Tosin Aderabioyo gave the ball away to Ben Osborn 35 yards from his own goal just short of the hour mark.He fed Oli McBurnie on the left, who curled a magical low cross behind the backline. It was a begging-to-be-buried chance and Brereton Diaz, barely six yards out, did just that.The lead lasted three minutes, when Joao Palhinha peeled short of the near post to meet an Andreas Pereira corner and arrowed a brilliantly placed header into the opposite corner.A slap in the face for Sheffield…and a quickfire boot in the you-know-whats for Fulham as the home side swiftly seized the initiative again.This time Brereton Diaz was provider from the left, and although McBurnie’s finish was anything but a classic, it was gold-plated to the home fans.Within three minutes they were on cloud nine as Brereton Diaz bagged an equally scruffy goal for his second and the Blades had breathing space.It was hard to tell if the on-loan Chile striker bundled Gustavo Hamer’s cross in at the far post with his knee, his body or a bit of both… yet the ball – plus half a dozen players – ended up in the back of the net.Cue one come-and-have-a-go melee as well, as keeper Bernd Leno seemed to aim a dig at the goalscorer and everyone piled in to keep the peace. It was restored without anyone seeing red.Ben Brereton Diaz shows his delight after surely believing he had clinched victory for bottom side Sheffield UnitedCredit: ReutersBlades fans certainly were when McBurnie had a would-be fourth ruled out after a VAR check for offside – and what an impact that had on things.Because by the end Fulham had incredibly roared back to level it, leaving home supporters fuming and United players falling to the ground in disbelief.First Bobby De Cordova Reid gave them a lifeline five minutes from the end, with his first touch after coming off the bench seconds earlier.And then Muniz produced a stunning equaliser befitting his Brazilian roots with the most acrobatic of volleys that left Grbic without a prayer.Fulham were on cloud nine, the Blades on their knees… and the rest of us gasping for breath.Joao Palhinha celebrates his Fulham goal before things went crazyCredit: Reuters More

TIME is running out for Sheffield United to secure Premier League safety – and next on the to-do list is in-form London outfit Fulham.The Blades dropped two vital points in the final stages of their most recent encounter against Bournemouth.While Marco Silva’s men thrashed top-four chasing Tottenham 3-0 at Craven Cottage before the international break.BEST FREE BET SIGN UP OFFERS FOR UK BOOKMAKER More