Rediff.com« Back to articlePrint this article

EPL PHOTOS: Carroll scores hat-trick as West Ham hold Arsenal; Chelsea lose

Last updated on: April 09, 2016 21:56 IST

Andy Carroll

IMAGE:  West Ham’s Andy Carroll scores his team's second goal during the Premier League match against Arsenal. Photograph: Clive Rose/Getty Images.

Andy Carroll scored a eight-minute hat-trick as West Ham United's last London derby at Upton Park ended in a barnstorming 3-3 draw with Arsenal on Saturday -- a result that dented both club's respective ambitions.

Third-placed Arsenal, seeking to close an 11-point gap on Premier League leaders Leicester City, had an early let-off when Manuel Lanzini's goal was wrongly disallowed for offside but they took the lead shortly afterwards when Mesut Ozil fired home.

Alexis Sanchez finished off a superb passing move to make it 2-0 but Carroll's double shortly before halftime drew the Champions League chasing hosts level, first heading in Aaron Cresswell's cross and then volleying past David Ospina.

The unstoppable Carroll headed West Ham in front with another towering header seven minutes after halftime but Arsenal were not finished and another intricate passing move saw Laurent Koscielny shoot high into the net after 70 minutes.

Sixth-placed West Ham will move to the Olympic Stadium next season after more than 100 years at Upton Park.

Swansea safe after Sigurdsson stunner sinks Chelsea

Gylfi Sigurdsson

IMAGE: Chelsea’s Cesar Azpilicueta and Swansea’s Gylfi Sigurdsson compete for the ball during the Premier League match. Photograph: Alex Morton/Getty Images.

Gylfi Sigurdsson's 11th Premier League goal of the season led Swansea City to a 1-0 victory over champions Chelsea that effectively ended any lingering relegation fears for the Welsh club.

The Iceland midfielder struck in the 25th minute when a cross from lively winger Jefferson Montero fell to him on the edge of the penalty box and Sigurdsson rifled a volley into the bottom corner of the net.

The unmarked Montero should have added a second goal with 15 minutes to go when he nodded over a centre by Sigurdsson from six metres.

Mid-table Chelsea, who were without John Terry, Diego Costa, Eden Hazard, Willian and Gary Cahill, lost for the first time under interim manager Guus Hiddink who had gone 15 league matches without defeat since taking over from the sacked Jose Mourinho.

Burnley earn crucial win

Andre Gray

IMAGE: Burnley’s Andre Gray celebrates the opening goal by Scott Arfield during the match against Leeds United. Photograph: Jan Kruger/Getty Images.

Burnley maintained their push to bounce straight back into the Premier League with a crucial and occasionally unconvincing 1-0 victory over Leeds United at Turf Moor.

The Championship leaders were indebted to a goal in the opening minute from Scott Arfield, who struck with the first shot of the match low and hard into the far corner of the net after a lay-off from Andre Grey.

Yet it was far from plain sailing afterwards for Burnley, as the visitors hit back strongly and, in the second half, came perilously close to scoring twice with headers from Chris Wood.

Yet Sean Dyche's side, relegated from the top flight last season, were relieved to hold on and stretch their unbeaten league run to 18 games.

It also pushes Burnley's lead in the race for automatic promotion to the Premier League to four points over Middlesbrough, who were playing later on Saturday against Preston North End.

Villa all but relegated after record eighth straight loss

Aston Villa were given the most slender stay of execution despite a record eighth consecutive league defeat almost certainly guaranteeing their relegation for the first time in the Premier League era.

Villa, who had won at Bournemouth on the opening day of the season only to fail to land another victory in their next 19 league games, continued their pitiful form.

They succumbed to a goal just before the break from Steve Cook, who flicked home from close range from a corner, and Josh King cashed in after 74 minutes on familiar blundering defensive work from the home side.

Not even a late consolation from Jordan Ayew could save Villa from the home fans' boos at the end yet they were spared certain relegation -- on a mathematical basis at least -- because 17th-placed Norwich City lost at Crystal Palace.

Norwich have 15 points more than Villa, and with a goal difference advantage of 19 over the Midlanders, with five games left.

Palace end 14-match winless streak to ease fears

Crystal Palace moved closer to survival and left Norwich City sweating over their immediate future as Jason Puncheon's goal ended a 14-match sequence without a Premier League win.

Puncheon's curled shot after 68 minutes was enough to earn the points and send a sigh of relief around Selhurst Park as Palace climbed 10 points above third-from-bottom Sunderland who face leaders Leicester City on Sunday.

Norwich had won their previous two league matches to boost their survival bid and came close to an equaliser when Ryan Bennett forced a superb save from Wayne Hennessey.

Bennett missed another chance late on but a nervy Palace held firm to claim a first league win in 2016 and leave Norwich four points above Sunderland who have two games in hand.

Southampton stroll to victory over beleaguered Newcastle

A 3-1 home defeat of Newcastle United kept alive Southampton's hopes of playing European football next season and plunged the visitors closer to relegation.

The win left Saints in seventh place, two points behind West Ham United, while Newcastle are second from bottom, six points adrift of safety.

A dazzling solo goal by Shane Long and a crisp finish by Graziano Pelle, after the Irelandstriker had set him up, gave Southampton a 2-0 halftime lead as the Magpies failed to muster a single shot on target in the first period.

Victor Wanyama drilled in a rebound to score the home side's third goal before an Andros Townsend thunderbolt from 20 metres provided Newcastle with a late consolation.

Source: REUTERS
© Copyright 2024 Reuters Limited. All rights reserved. Republication or redistribution of Reuters content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Reuters. Reuters shall not be liable for any errors or delays in the content, or for any actions taken in reliance thereon.