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EPL PIX: Spurs record first loss at new home stadium

Last updated on: April 27, 2019 22:37 IST

Images from the EPL matches played on Saturday

West Ham's Michail Antonio (right) celebrates scoring their first goal against Tottenham Hotspur at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, London, on Saturday

IMAGE: West Ham's Michail Antonio (right) celebrates scoring their first goal against Tottenham Hotspur at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, London, on Saturday. Photograph: Paul Childs/Action Images via Reuters

Tottenham Hotspur suffered their first defeat at their new stadium after Michail Antonio gave West Ham United a 1-0 win in the Premier League on Saturday.

Tottenham made a number of changes to their side as they prepared for their Champions League semi-final first leg against Ajax Amsterdam on Tuesday but Mauricio Pochettino's gamble backfired against a resolute West Ham side.

Spurs dominated the first half and could have been ahead after 11 minutes when Son Heung-min was played through by Dele Alli but his shot from the left was too close to the near post of Lukasz Fabianski who got down to save.

 

The Pole also did well to deny Christian Eriksen who shot from close range after good work down the right from Lucas Moura.

Tottenham were made to pay for those missed chances as West Ham took the lead after halftime. A lofted cross from Marko Arnautovic in the 67th minute found Antonio who lashed it in past goalkeeper Hugo Lloris.

Spurs brought on Fernando Llorente and Vincent Janssen in the hope of getting an equaliser but could not find a way past. They remain third but will be under pressure from their top-four rivals, while West Ham stay in 11th position.

Not much more than pride was at stake for the Hammers but goalscorer Antonio was pleased to have given the fans some cheer in a lacklustre campaign for Manuel Pellegrini's side.

"For us to come here and get the first win is a great achievement. The fans are loving it and we've just got to keep it going," he told Sky Sports.

Pochettino was dismayed by the result but urged his side to pick themselves up quickly for Tuesday's game.

"I think the first half was good for us, second half they were better. They had more energy. We conceded a lot of space to run... We lost a lot of ball we gave them the possibility to make the game," he told a news conference.

"I'm disappointed; it's a setback. We wanted the three points, we wanted to arrive at the Champions League game in a good way but it was not (to be) but now we need to move on. It's about the recovery and get ready for Tuesday to play."

Wolves avenge FA Cup heartbreak with 2-1 win at Watford

Wolverhampton Wanderers' Raul Jimenez in action with Watford's Jose Holebas during their match at Vicarage Road, Watford

IMAGE: Wolverhampton Wanderers' Raul Jimenez in action with Watford's Jose Holebas during their match at Vicarage Road, Watford. Photograph: Ian Walton/Reuters

Wolverhampton Wanderers got some measure of revenge for a stinging FA Cup defeat by Watford earlier this month by beating them 2-1 in a lively Premier League clash on Saturday.

Having thrown away a two-goal lead in their 3-2 defeat by the Hornets at Wembley on April 7, Wolves enjoyed better fortunes this time after goals by Raul Jimenez and Diogo Jota gave them the win at Vicarage Road.

Jimenez saw a close-range effort cleared off the line before he fired the visitors into a 41st-minute lead with a close-range header at the far post, after livewire Jota had delivered a superb cross from the left.

An awful back-pass by Ryan Bennett gifted Watford a 49th-minute equaliser as Andre Gray scored his fifth goal in the last seven home games when he rounded goalkeeper Rui Patricio and slotted home from 13 metres past a Wolves defender.

Another howler, by Watford keeper Ben Foster this time, settled the contest to leave Wolves seventh on 54 points from 36 games, four ahead of eighth-placed Everton and ninth-placed Watford.

Foster was left stranded after misjudging a lofted long ball from the halfway line and Jota steered it into an empty net with a fine first-time shot from seven metres in the 77th minute.

Everton held to goalless draw at Palace

Everton's Morgan Schneiderlin challenges Crystal Palace's Max Meyer during their match at Selhurst Park, London

IMAGE: Everton's Morgan Schneiderlin challenges Crystal Palace's Max Meyer during their match at Selhurst Park, London. Photograph: Dylan Martinez/Reuters

Everton's hopes of finishing in seventh and a potential Europa League qualification spot suffered a blow as they were held to a 0-0 draw by Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park in the Premier League on Saturday.

Coming into the match on the back of four wins in their last five league games, including a 4-0 victory over Manchester United last time out, Everton had much the better of the action in the first half, but could not convert from their 11 shots.

After the break, the visitors continued to press with Dominic Calvert-Lewin firing into the side netting.

Everton went even closer in the 54th minute, but Bernard's powerful effort came out off the crossbar.

Palace goalkeeper Vicente Guaita then had to be at his best to deny substitute Cenk Tosun, while the hosts offered very little as an attacking force, seeing out the draw which means they have won just four times at home in the league this season.

The point helped Everton climb above Watford on goal difference into eighth position, but they are now four points behind Wolverhampton Wanderers in seventh, while Palace stay 12th.

Babel strike leaves Cardiff on brink of relegation

Fulham's Ryan Babel celebrates with teammates after scoring their first goal against Cardiff City at Craven Cottage, London

IMAGE: Fulham's Ryan Babel celebrates with teammates after scoring their first goal against Cardiff City at Craven Cottage, London. Photograph: Eddie Keogh/Reuters

Ryan Babel struck a potentially deadly blow to Cardiff City's Premier League survival chances with a stunning 25-yard strike that secured Fulham a deserved 1-0 win at Craven Cottage on Saturday.

The defeat left Cardiff three points adrift of Brighton & Hove Albion, who play Newcastle United later on Saturday, and means they are likely to join Fulham in the Championship next season.

Somewhat bizarrely, Fulham equalled their own Premier League record of three successive wins as Dutchman Babel struck a fierce first-time shot 11 minutes from time to register his sixth goal of the season.

The game was delayed for seven minutes in the first half after Fulham's Denis Odoi was accidentally kicked in the face by team mate Maxine Le Marchand.

The defender was knocked out cold and had to be revived with oxygen before being carried off to a standing ovation.

After a lacklustre first half, Fulham's Aleksandar Mitrovic blazed a wonderful chance just over from 12 yards and Cardiff substitute Bobby Reid hit the bar late on as the visitors mounted a storming finish.

Southampton stay up after thrilling 3-3 draw with Bournemouth

Bournemouth's Callum Wilson scores their third goal against Southampton at St Mary's Stadium, Southampton

IMAGE: Bournemouth's Callum Wilson scores their third goal against Southampton at St Mary's Stadium, Southampton. Photograph: Peter Nicholls/Reuters

Southampton secured their Premier League status for another year after a thrilling 3-3 home draw with Bournemouth on Saturday as Cardiff City slumped to a 1-0 defeat at Fulham.

The draw put Southampton in 16th place on 38 points, seven ahead of Cardiff and four clear of Brighton & Hove Albion with two games left to play.

Fresh from scoring the fastest goal in Premier League history against Watford, Irish striker Shane Long again got Southampton off to a flying start with a goal in the eighth minute, but Dan Gosling equalised eight minutes later.

Long missed a sitter in the 24th minute, stabbing the ball against the post with the keeper stranded and the goal at his mercy, and it was to prove costly as Callum Wilson pounced to rattle home a rebound in the 32nd minute.

James Ward-Prowse put the Saints level with a skimming shot that flew in at the foot of the post 10 minutes into the second half.

Matt Targett thought he had put the icing on the cake for Southampton when he leapt to meet Yann Valery's cross, sending his header into the net to spark scenes of wild celebration.

They were interrupted when Wilson scuffed home his second, but news that Cardiff had gone behind to Fulham had filtered through to the ground and Southampton were able to enjoy confirmation of their survival in the top flight.

Source: REUTERS
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