Premier League

ANGE POSTECOGLOU has insisted he does not care about finishing in the top four – and now his Tottenham side are playing like it.It is advantage Aston Villa in that race once again after Spurs failed to punish a bruised and under pressure West Ham side – even though they took the lead after just five minutes.West Ham held Tottenham to a 1-1 draw at the London StadiumCredit: GettyBrennan Johnson tapped home an opening goal early onCredit: ReutersKurt Zouma then scored an unorthodox equaliser off his backCredit: APBrennan Johnson got the visitors off to the perfect start, but it was another night where too many star men fell flat.James Maddison spent more time arguing while captain Son Heung-min was well shackled by the Hammers – who earned a point thanks to Kurt Zouma’s first half leveller.David Moyes elected to keep Kalvin Phillips out of the firing line after his latest horror show in Saturday’s defeat to Newcastle – offering the midfielder a chance to replicate his Manchester City form by spending 90 minutes on the bench.After their sickening collapse on Tyneside at the weekend, West Ham set out to make a fast start and would have been ahead after four minutes had top scorer Bowen not fluffed his lines.The England winger, usually so reliable in front of goal, somehow shinned a Mohammed Kudus cross wide from just yards out.Just over a minute later, Johnson was showing him what to do from that spot.Moyes has been scratching his head over West Ham’s poor defending in recent weeks and Tottenham’s opener will have only added to his frustration.Destiny Udogie and Rodrigo Bentancur were allowed to push forward from the halfway line as those in claret and blue backtracked furiously.BEST FREE BET SIGN UP OFFERS FOR UK BOOKMAKERHere’s how the game played out on paperBentancur fed Timo Werner, who skipped past Vladimir Coufal and cut back for Johnson to tap in – just had Bowen should have.Moyes will have feared Stratford turning sour with an early Spurs goal, but the London Stadium stuck with their side, even as the visitors took a tighter grip of the game.Young stars set to shine at Euro 2024Pedro Porro flashed one effort wide of the far post before Son fired at Lukasz Fabianski.But neither were too troublesome and the home support were rewarded for their faith shortly after.Bowen may have missed a well-worked sitter, but West Ham fans do not care how goals come about in these games – and they don’t come much more unorthodox than in off your back.It was Bowen’s corner which set up the leveller, a dipping in-swinger which the unmarked Zouma managed to duck out of the way of when trying to head home, though fortunately diverted it in off his spine.The goal gave West Ham confidence and sparked a frantic London derby.Bowen’s pace was causing problems for the returning Micky van de Ven at one end while Tottenham’s more intricate football was stretching the Hammers back line.After James Ward-Prowse’s free-kick was stopped by Vicario, Bowen won and delivered two more dangerous corners while Lucas Paqueta showed the tough side on top of his tricks by trying to rough up Maddison, who quickly fought back with a rough challenge of his own.The needle between those two, with Maddison’s Three Lions teammate Bowen also joining in, only added to the entertainment.West Ham kept up the high-octane football after the break, with three big chances in the space of three minutes.Michail Antonio was denied by Vicario, who then saved a Konstantinos Mavropanos header on the line. The Spurs keeper would have been helpless had Paqueta managed to get his effort, after a wonderful turn on the edge of the box, on target.After West Ham’s missed chances, Spurs looked to punch back but Coufal threw himself in front of a Maddison effort and Yves Bissouma fired wide.Ange Postecoglou could not mastermind a way ahead against West HamCredit: ReutersThat was despite David Moyes not making a single subCredit: ReutersAntonio has made such a difference to West Ham’s forward line since returning from injury – but he is never a player you would put your house on to finish off a simple chance.After Paqueta had once again left Maddison in a heap on the edge of the West Ham box, Ward-Prowse walloped one forward for his No9 to chase. Antonio did the difficult part so well, collecting the ball and bulldozing through Van de Ven, only to fire straight at Vicario with no other defenders near him.Should West Ham miss out on Europe this season their latest January failure to add a clinical striker – having been so desperate to bring in a forward – will look plain foolish.That lack of depth meant West Ham were largely playing for a draw by the end, though the end-to-end nature continued as Udogie fired at Fabianski and Bowen had a very late half-chance to win it – crashing into the post in the process.West Ham remain seventh and in with a shot of a fourth straight year in Europe, despite some of the issues Moyes has battled all season.See how the game unfolded with SunSport’s live blog below.
Kick-off time: 8:15pm BST
Live stream: discovery+
TV channel: TNT Sports 1
BEST FREE BET SIGN UP OFFERS FOR UK BOOKMAKER More

TIME is running out for Vincent Kompany’s Burnley despite their recent upturn in fortunes.Keeper Aro Muric produced an outstanding second half save to extend the Clarets unbeaten run to four matches.Burnley are running out of time to save themselves from relegationCredit: PAThe Clarets lost their lead after Rayan Ait-Nouri’s strike to end the game in a 1-1 drawCredit: PAYet the likelihood is it will be too little too late for the Lancashire side with just seven matches remaining – barring a late miracle.  These are the sort of games they simply have to win if they are to produce one of the Prem’s greatest escapes.Jacob Bruun Larsen set them up to do that with a well-taken first half goal – but once again they could not hold on to their lead.Rayan Ait Nouri’s header on the stroke of half-time secured a point for the visitors – and left Burnley kicking themselves yet again.Turf Moor was once thought of as a fortress but Burnley have won just two of their last 17 top flight games here – keeping only one clean sheet.Yet five points from their last three Prem matches had given the Clarets a flicker of hope after looking doomed to the Championship in recent weeks.The weekend draw at Chelsea – when they twice battled back with 10 men to earn a point – shows they have not thrown in the towel yet.What’s more, their run-in could be worse – with Saturday’s trip to Everton surely pivotal if they are to have any chance at all of surviving.BEST FREE BET SIGN UP OFFERS FOR UK BOOKMAKEREven so, it will still take a monumental effort and only a run of wins will save them now as they lie six points from safety. Mid-table Wolves were in no mood to do them any favours – creating some decent early chances.Every Premier League stadium ranked by the number of pubs nearby with one boasting over 130 local boozersRayan Ait Nouri made space for himself in the box but Vitinho got back to make a last ditch clearance.Matt Doherty should have done better as he curled an effort wide but then nodded one back for Joao Gomes who planted his header off target.Burnley were being pegged back after a bright opening but then took the lead with a lightning break.Quick thinking from keeper Muric sent Dara O’Shea away down the wing and his cross was volleyed in emphatically by an unmarked Jacob Bruun Larsen.It was just what Burnley needed as Wolves were in danger of losing back to back games for the first time since December.  Yet Gary O’Neil’s men got themselves level just before the break.Ait Nouri had been causing the Clarets problems all night and his darting run won a free-kick in a dangerous position.Pablo Sarabia swung it over and Ait Nouri himself ghosted in to plant a header beyond Muric into the corner.A VAR check showed the Algerian had timed his run perfectly and the visitors had the leveller with their first effort on target of the night.Both teams had opportunities within minutes of the re-start.Ait Nouri got on the end of a ball over the top and held off Maxime Esteve but Muric stood up brilliantly to save.Vincent Kompany made a big call to axe record £19 million signing in favour of the Kosovan – but right now it looks like the right one.Then Vitinho pulled one back for Bruun Larsen but the Dane’s low shot was stopped by the feet of Jose Sa.The Wolves keeper had to be there again to keep out a long range effort from Wilson Odobert as both sides went in search of a winner.At the other end, Mario Lemina’s header was just off target after he got on the end of a super cross from Ait Nouri.Sub Jay Rodriguez thought he had bundled in a late winner for the Clarets – but his celebrations were cut short by the linesman’s flag.BEST FREE BET SIGN UP OFFERS FOR UK BOOKMAKER More

BOURNEMOUTH substitute Justin Kluivert heaped more misery on Crystal Palace in front of the club’s Golden Knight.American owner Bill Foley was in town to congratulate Andoni Iraola’s Cherries for saving their Premier League skins in record-breaking time.Bournemouth defeated Crystal Palace at the Vitality StadiumCredit: PAJustin Kluivert scored the winner against Crystal PalaceCredit: GettyCrystal Palace are now eight points away from the relegation zoneCredit: RexBournemouth are now 11th in the Premier League tableCredit: ReutersAnd Foley, owner of the reigning National Hockey League champs Vegas Golden Knights, enjoyed a pucker night as well.Dutchman Kluivert netted the winner 11 minutes from time after being set-up by another sub Antoine Semenyo.But Palace’s miserable time on the road continues as they remain nervously looking over their shoulders at the relegation zone.The Londoners have not won away in the league for 10 matches now and are just eight points above third bottom Luton.Iraola made five changes to the Cherries team gifted victory by Everton’s Seamus Coleman on Saturday with that comical stoppage-time own-goal.That result all but rubber-stamped Bournemouth’s place at the top table next season after taking 10 games to claim their first league win under the Spanish head coach.But the Londoners are still looking over their shoulders thanks to a dismal record on the road this campaign having failed to win any of their 10 away games.Palace boss Oliver Glasner surprised the hosts by playing former Cherries midfield strong man Jefferson Lerma in defence.And Lewis Cook’s corner put the visiting defence under severe pressure forcing Jean-Philippe Mateta to head Dango Ouattara’s 20th minute header off the line.Mateta, looking to score for the third match in a row, was soon back in action at the other end turning smartly before forcing a save out of Cherries goalkeeper Neto.Phillip Billing then made a strong run at the Palace backline before shooting wide after taking a return pass from Ouattara.But Palace squandered a superb opportunity to go ahead on 31 minutes when Adam Smith lost possession to Eberechi Eze.BEST FREE BET SIGN UP OFFERS FOR UK BOOKMAKEREze in a two-against-one situation failed to pass to the unmarked Mateta and allowed Illia Zabarnyi to rob him of the ball.Billing did his best to liven up proceedings in the swirling rain with a 30-yard free-kick which Palace stopper Dean Henderson did well to keep out.And the England star had to be at his very acrobatic best on 37 minutes when he somehow tipped Solanke’s bullet header from Smith’s cross over the bar.The home side then missed another good chance when defender Lloyd Kelly headed Billing’s corner wide of the back post.Eze thought he had put Palace ahead in first-half stoppage-time but his effort was ruled out by VAR who spotted Mateta was six inches offside in the build-up.Bournemouth sub Milos Kerkez came close to scoring with his first kick just after the hour but his long-range effort was turned away by Henderson to Solanke who fired wide.But the home team’s Knight in shining armour was all smiles when Semenyo shrugged aside Palace sub David Ozoh’s challenge and laid the ball on for Kluivert to notch the winner. More

NOTTINGHAM FOREST fans unveiled a banner before the game which read: ‘Shut everything out and play your game’.And Forest’s players did exactly that – with a display that suggests they have what it takes to put their four-point PSR penalty to one side and stay up regardless.Morgan Gibbs-White celebrated making it 3-0 to Forest, with the Cottagers only able to notch one in reply after the breakCredit: GettyGibbs-White slotted home to complete an amazing first periodCredit: ReutersGoals from Callum Hudson-Odoi, Chris Wood and Morgan Gibbs-White put them 3-0 up by half-time.And the final margin could have been much greater as rampant Forest secured a first in seven games – hitting the woodwork twice.Nuno Espirito Santo’s side dominated to such an extent that his countryman Marco Silva made a TRIPLE first half substitution to try and stem the wave of Forest attacks.The Fulham boss sent on Willian, Tom Cairney and Adama Traore after only 33 minutes as Silva’s game plan went out of the window.It was the second quickest time a Premier League manager had made three first half changes – that was Stoke City’s then-boss Tony hauled off a trio at Sunderland in 2009.Silva’s move saw Fulham rally after the break – but the damage had been done by then.It means that since being dumped into the bottom three last month, Nuno’s side have collected four points from six.The Forest boss said he was confident his players would not be relegated after the points were taken off them.But Nuno will be the first to make it clear that there is still work to do – as they are still just three points above the danger zone.Rejuvenated Forest took the lead after nine minutes when a superb pinpoint pass from Gibbs-White on the halfway line found Hudson-Odoi out left.Every Premier League stadium ranked by the number of pubs nearby with one boasting over 130 local boozersHe cut inside and picked his spot before firing a shot into the far corner for his fifth goal of season.The same combination should have made it two just six minutes later.Gibbs-White set Hudson-Odoi free, but his first touch let him down and Fulham keeper Bernd Leno recovered.But it was only a temporary respite for Silva’s side.Wood added the second with his third goal in successive games.His back-header against Crystal Palace on Saturday was a quirky piece of quick-thinking – and this was off the same blueprint.Wood collected a Murillo ball, before turning and scoring from 25 yards with a shot that completely wrong-footed a stranded Leno.Forest were attacking at will and Gibbs-White set up Anthony Elanga whose shot struck the far post.Silva had seen enough and sent on three subs.Last season, Fulham scored three times in six minutes to secure a City Ground victory.But there was no real hint of a comeback when Gibbs-White’s one-two with Danilo ended with the England Under-21 forward sliding home number three in first half stoppage time.Callum Hudson-Odoi planted this opener for ForestCredit: ReutersFulham could not have played any worse – and presumably, Silva made his feelings known during the break.But they pulled one back four minutes into the second half when Tosin Adarabioyo headed home from an Andreas Pereira corner.Forest wide man Neco Williams went down in the area under a challenge from Antonee Robinson, but ref Michael Oliver rejected the penalty claims.Matt Turner – Forest’s sub keeper – was then booked in the technical area for what looked like dissent.The American reacted with surprise and urged the raucous home crowd to make even more noise in the closing stages.Forest might have had a fourth goal after 65 minutes when Williams hammered a shot against the bar.But Fulham knew a second goal would set up a nervy finish for Nuno’s men and keeper Matz Sels turned an Adarabioyo around the post.Forest finished strongly though and Danilo fired an angled shot narrowly over the bar – before sub Divock Origi drove wide of the far post in stoppage time.Even then, Fulham made one last-gasp attempt at a grandstand finish as Traore hit the post.Tosin Adarabioyo nodded home soon after the break but in vainCredit: Getty More

THEY might never win again but Everton may just draw their way to survival. The Toffees have now gone 108 days and 13 games since they experienced that sweet taste of victory. Dominic Calvert-Lewin scored a late penalty to secure Everton a draw against NewcastleCredit: GettyEverton have gone 108 days and 13 games since their last winCredit: ReutersPaul Dummet gave away a late penaltyCredit: GettyIt was given after a VAR reviewCredit: GettyHowever bad life has been recently, they’ve never gone so long without a win in the Premier League. And it looked like being just the latest soul-destroying game of their miserable season until sub Dominic Calvert-Lewin bagged a potentially precious point with a late penalty.Newcastle sub Paul Dummett was the Geordie villain. He couldn’t have been more unsubtle if he tried as he manhandled Ashley Young to the floor moments after coming on. And the much-vilified Calvert-Lewin did the rest, burying past Martin Dubravka with his fourth goal of the season and first since October. Having lost three on the bounce heading to Tyneside, another defeat would have been crushing. Yet there’s now just a hint of optimism back in the ranks ahead of Saturday’s humdinger with Burnley. Sean Dyche’s joyless side refused to go under but their lack of quality from front to back continues to alarm. Beto is nobody’s idea of a top-flight striker and you’re in serious danger if you’re pinning your hopes on a front three of him, Dwight McNeil and Ashley Young to keep you up. BEST FREE BET SIGN UP OFFERS FOR UK BOOKMAKERYet if they can somehow get Calvert-Lewin scoring and full of beans again, there may just be hope. Newcastle had more than enough chances to finish this game off and can only blame themselves. Every Premier League club’s most famous and also most surprising fanAlexander Isak fired them ahead with a brilliant first-half strike, and is there a deadlier striker in the Premier League? Well, we can rule out Beto for starters. What about Erling Haaland, I hear you say. The Manchester City machine may have three more goals than the Swede, but then again he’s played an extra seven hours across the campaign. When it comes to goals per 90 minutes, Isak is ahead of the rest. He’s now bagged five goals in five games and 15 from 21 this season. The big debate on Tyneside is, if they have to sell a star this summer to comply with FFP, it would be worse to lose Isak or Bruno Guimaraes. It might be like asking which arm you’d like cut off, but in terms of who is the most irreplaceable, it’s got to be Isak. One of the world’s most in-demand forwards across the world, the Geordies could easily demand £100million for someone they paid Real Socicedad a club-record £60m for in 2022. Arsenal front the queue, but that value is rising by the game right now. The underwhelming draw put the brakes on their European charge, leaving them four points behind Manchester United having played an extra game. Following Saturday’s sensational 4-3 win over West Ham, St James’ Park was electric from the off. The Geordies love nothing more than abusing former Sunderland keeper Jordan Pickford and gave him hell all night. But the England stopper was up to ask 100 seconds in to deny Harvey Barnes from point-blank range. Everton had only scored twice in their previous seven away games in all comps, and their wasteful finishing showed no sign of ending here. Abdoulaye Doucoure and James Tarkwowski both wasted decent early openings. And that growing confidence was shattered in the 15th minute when red-hot Isak became the first Toon player to score in five successive Prem home games since Yoan Gouffran in 2013. Barnes grabbed the assist with a brilliant lofted through ball down the left. It didn’t look overly threatening as defenders tracked back but Isak made it all look so easy as he skipped past Jarrad Branthwaite and through Tarkowski before burying past Pickford in the bottom corner. One chance, one goal, while at the other end Beto showed just why the Merseysiders are stuck in the mire – highlighted by his first sighter shanked comically wide. Everton’s lack of quality, up top especially, is alarming. Doucoure had another decent chance but his effort was weak and straight at Dubravka. McNeil and Young, either side of severely limited workhorse Beto, were anonymous. And Eddie Howe will have been frustrated not to have had the game wrapped up by the break. One more goal would have surely done it to see off Sean Dyceh’s side, but Pickford kept them in it with a brilliant stop with his legs to deny Jacob Murphy’s stinging volley before Isak fired just over from the top of the box. Tarkowski almost gifted Newcastle with that all-important goal at the start of the second half, skewing a clearance off his own crossbar. Dan Burn then thought he’d bagged it after converting Isak’s low cross, only for VAR to adjudge the Swede a millimetre offside from a short free kick. Dyche rang the chances with 30 minutes remaining, hooking Beto for Dominic Calvert-Lewin. James Garner was also thrown on, and the midfielder went closer than anyone else within minutes when rolling a daisycutter off the inside of the post. As ice-cool as Isak has been in front of goal, he really should have doubled Newcastle’s lead moments later but saw an unconvincing effort blocked on the line. And they were made to pay for their profligacy when Mags sub Dummett hauled down Young in the box.Calvert-Lewin did the rest to avoid Everton being left feeling blue again, powering home through Dubravka to claim what could be a priceless point. Newcastle led through Alexander IsakCredit: GettySee how the match unfolded below… More