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Rediff.com  » Sports » EPL PIX: Newcastle, Spurs grab late wins; Chelsea held

EPL PIX: Newcastle, Spurs grab late wins; Chelsea held

Last updated on: March 31, 2024 08:44 IST
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Images from the English Premier League matches played on Saturday.

IMAGE: Tottenham Hotspur's Son Heung-min celebrates scoring their second goal against Luton Town. Photograph: Dylan Martinez/Reuters

Tottenham Hotspur and Newcastle United both sealed comeback victories to boost their European qualification hopes while Manchester United were held to a 1-1 draw at lowly Brentford after Kristoffer Ajer's 99th-minute equaliser late on Saturday, denting the visitors' hopes of qualifying for next season's Champions League.

At the other end of the table Nottingham Forest edged back out of the relegation zone.

 

Chelsea's struggles continued as they were held to a 2-2 home draw against relegation-threatened Burnley.

Son Heung-min's 86th minute strike earned Tottenham a 2-1 victory over Luton to put the pressure back on Aston Villa in the battle for fourth spot.

Newcastle's win over West Ham United was far more dramatic as they trailed 3-1 with 77 minutes on the clock but two goals from Harvey Barnes gave them a 4-3 victory.

IMAGE: Harvey Barnes celebrates scoring Newcastle United's fourth goal against West Ham United. Photograph: Dylan Martinez/Reuters

With Aston Villa playing Wolverhampton Wanderers later, Tottenham climbed into fourth place with 56 points from 29 games, ahead of Villa on goals scored.

Newcastle are in eighth spot but now only a point behind seventh-placed West Ham with a game in hand.

"It was one of the maddest games I have played in for sure," Barnes told the BBC. "We were obviously disappointed to be where we are in the game and then we had a mountain to climb.

"This team is all about team spirit and never give up and that showed in abundance today."

Alexander Isak's early penalty gave Newcastle the lead but West Ham hit back with goals by Michail Antonio, Mohammed Kudus and Jarrod Bowen. Isak's second penalty 13 minutes from time gave Newcastle hope and the livewire Barnes then equalised before lashing in a 90th-minute winner.

There was still more drama as Newcastle's Anthony Gordon was show a second yellow card for kicking the ball away.

IMAGE: Harvey Barnes scores Newcastle United's third goal against West Ham United. Photograph: Dylan Martinez/Reuters

Luton dropped back below Forest into the relegation zone as they were stung by Son's late winner.

Tahith Chong gave the visitors a surprise early lead but Issa Kabore's own goal in the 51st minute levelled it up.

Tottenham captain Son then started and finished a flowing late move to bag his 160th goal for the club.

Forest, whose four-point penalty during the international break had dropped them to 18th in the table, fell behind at home to Crystal Palace at the City Ground.

But Chris Wood rescued a point which lifted Forest to 17th place, level on 22 points with Luton Town after 30 games but with a marginally superior goal difference.

Below them, Burnley and Sheffield United are showing some fighting spirit with both earning points on Saturday.

Despite being down to 10 men when Lorenz Assignon was shown a second yellow card for a foul which resulted in Cole Palmer netting a 44th-minute penalty, Burnley did not wilt.

Clarets' captain Josh Cullen stunned Stamford Bridge by scoring two minutes into the second half and although Palmer restored Chelsea's lead, Dara O'Shea's powerful header squared it up before Jay Rodriguez almost won it for Burnley.

Chelsea remained in 11th place while Burnley are 19th, four points behind Forest.

IMAGE: Burnley's players celebrate after their match against Chelsea finished in a 2-2 draw. Photograph: Isabel Infantes/Reuters

Bottom club Sheffield United led 3-1 at home to Fulham but goals by Bobby Decordova-Reid and Rodrigo Muniz denied them a victory that would have raised hopes of survival.

United, for whom Ben Brereton Diaz scored twice and Oli McBurnie once, thought they had gone 4-1 ahead but McBurnie's second goal was ruled out by VAR.

And the home crowd was stunned in the third of 14 minutes of stoppage time when in-form Brazilian Muniz met Adama Traore's cross with a spectacular overhead volley.

Manchester United were denied full points at Brentford after Kristoffer Ajer's 99th-minute equaliser.

IMAGE: Mason Mount scores for Manchester United in the 96th minute against Brentford. Photograph: Toby Melville/Reuters

Substitute Mason Mount thought he had given United an undeserved and dramatic victory when he slotted home in the 96th minute after Brentford had dominated the game.

But Ajer smashed home Ivan Toney's cut-back from close range three minutes later to deny United the win and leave them in sixth spot, 11 points off fourth-placed Aston Villa.

They are also eight points off Tottenham Hotspur in fifth, a spot which could be enough for Champions League football next season. Villa have played a game more than Spurs and United.

IMAGE: Kristoffer Ajer is poised to score the equaliser for Brentford at the fag end of the match. Photograph: Matthew Childs/Reuters

"There are still many games to go," United's disappointed boss Erik ten Hag told reporters when asked if his side could still qualify for Europe's elite club competition.

Ten Hag accepted United were second-best throughout at Brentford but was left to rue his players' inability to "bring it over the line" after taking a last-gasp lead.

"We didn't deserve to win but if you are winning you have to take this," the Dutchman said.

The draw leaves Brentford in 15th place, five points above the relegation zone, but they deserved so much more.

The title race resumes on Sunday with leaders Arsenal at Manchester City and Liverpool hosting Brighton.

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