Aston Villa 6-1 Sunderland: Villa have spiced things up down at the bottom after this thrashing over a very poor Sunderland. After half an hour of entertaining, end to end, football, the deadlock was broken when a blocked shot came out to Ron Vlaar about 40-yards out. The Dutchman took a touch before then firing a shot in to the bottom corner that Simon Mignolet saw too late to react, a great strike to get your first goal for the club. But Villa's cheers lasted no more than 90-seconds as Sunderland went up the other end with Danny Rose playing a couple of great one-twos before finding himself scoring past Brad Guzan for his first goal for Sunderland. Six minutes after that, seven minutes before half-time, Villa were back in front when a great counter attack saw the ball get squared over the top to Andreas Weimann for the Austrian to calmly lift the ball over Mignolet.
The fourth goal was always going to be the most crucial and it arrived ten minutes in to the second half when Christian Benteke rose above everyone else to head home from a corner, scoring his 20th in all competitions this season. Benteke then made it two in four minutes when Gabriel Agbonlahor's deflected effort forced Mignolet to track back and he could only get an arm to the ball. It bounced back to Benteke who easily headed home from six yards. Sunderland's day got worse on 70-minutes when Stephane Sessegnon got sent off for a studs in 'stamping' tackle. It wasn't malicious by any means but you can definitely see why Lee Probert sent him off. If Sunderland's appeal is unsuccessful, Sessegnon will miss the remaining games and will be a huge blow.
Villa performed possibly better than at any point this season and they made it 5-1 just two minutes after Sessegnon had been sent off. Benteke was played through and the Belgian completed his hat-trick by beating Mignolet at his near post from an acute. It was just three more reasons why Benteke should have been given the Young PFA Player award. The rout was completed two minutes before the end when substitute David Vaughan, who had just been on the field for a matter of moments, played a poor pass back and allowed Agbonlahor through on goal, the striker rounded Mignolet before becoming Villa's top scorer in the Premier League era. Not only is the result huge in terms of levelling on points with Sunderland and Newcastle. But because of the two vast scorelines, Newcastle are now the team teetering above the relegation zone on goal difference. If Wigan win their game in hand then they will be just two points behind those three teams.
Reading 0-0 QPR: Both teams have now officially been relegated from the Premiership after an absolutely diabolical draw. The writing may have already been on the wall for both clubs but they showed zero Premiership class or desire in this goalless encounter. What must surely upset the fans most was that both Harry Redknapp and Nigel Adkins were able to smile about this achievement. Fans need to see emotion in their clubs and that wasn't on show in this game, the most despicable of all was Jose Bosingwa who actually walked down the tunnel laughing at the final whistle. Two sides deservedly vacating the top league in English football.
Arsenal 1-1 Manchester United: The newly crowned champions took the pitch with a guard of honour from the Arsenal side, but for the first half United looked like they were still partying. Arsenal took the lead after just two minutes when Theo Walcott was played through, although offside, and managed to score over David De Gea. Arsenal would rue only scoring the one goal despite their dominance and Bacary Sagna was too eager to ratify a mistake and would ultimately bring down Robin Van Persie, on his return to The Emirates, to concede a penalty. The Dutchman stepped and scored against his old club for a second time this season and again refused to celebrate. The point for Arsenal leaves them a point behind Chelsea but more importantly two above Tottenham.
Chelsea 2-0 Swansea: It was the first time these two sides met since the ball boy incident in the Carling Cup. It was Mark Clattenburg's first game officiating in a Chelsea match since that one against Manchester United where he was wrongly accused of being racist. Fortunately, there were no similar talking points as Chelsea reclaimed third and are now a point ahead of Arsenal, but more importantly three ahead of Tottenham. Substitute Frank Lampard played the ball for Oscar to give Chelsea the lead two minutes before half-time. Chelsea were then awarded a penalty in first half injury time to ensure the points; Juan Mata was fouled by Leon Britton before Lampard stepped up and converted, moving to one goal behind the all time Chelsea goalscoring record.
Newcastle 0-6 Liverpool: Liverpool's first match without Luis Suarez for ten games begins with a thrashing over Newcastle, moving the Toon to five points above the relegation zone. Daniel Agger headed Liverpool ahead after just three minutes. Jordan Henderson made it 2-0 on 17-minutes when Philippe Coutinho's brilliant through ball saw Daniel Sturridge lay it off to the former Sunderland man to stroke in to the empty net. The third came nine minutes in to the second half when Coutinho again slid the ball to Sturridge to fire home. Sturridge scored his second on the hour mark when Henderson beat the offside trap and rolled the ball across Rob Elliot for the striker to tap home. Fabio Borini scored his first Premiership goal on 74-minutes just a minute after coming on. It somehow got worse a minute later when Mathieu Debuchy was given a second yellow card for a poor challenge on Coutinho. Henderson took the following free-kick on the side of the box and it somehow curled in to the net to make it six.
Wigan 2-2 Tottenham: Wigan remain two points from safety after a late draw against Tottenham. The result sees Spurs two points behind Arsenal and three behind Chelsea. The PFA Player and Young Player of the Season, Gareth Bale, put Spurs ahead on nine minutes when Joel Robles' clearance was blocked by the Welshman and rebounded in to the net. The lead lasted all of two minutes when Emerson Boyce headed home from a corner. Wigan were temporarily out of the relegation zone four minutes in to the second half when Callum McManaman scored his first Premiership goal with an absolute battering ram. The the win was denied ten minutes from the end when Boyce accidentally shinned the ball from Tom Huddlestone's free-kick in to the net.
Southampton 0-3 West Brom: An eventful St.Mary's sees West Brom emerge with all three points. The visitors took the lead when Marc-Antoine Fortune scrambled the ball over the line with his knee at the third time of asking. Romelu Lukaku made it 2-0 on 67-minutes after being played through by Fortune and the Belgian rounded Artur Boruc to roll home. Gaston Ramirez was sent off on 70-minutes for elbowing Shane Long. Fortune was also given a red card for then putting his hand in Ramirez's face in the aftermath of the foul. Long got revenge on 77-minutes by making it 3-0 by putting the ball through Boruc's legs. The action wasn't finished as Daniel Fox also received his marching orders seven minutes before half-time; a straight red was shown for a two footed challenge on Steven Reid.
Manchester City 2-1 West Ham: Manchester City respond to surrendering their title with a close victory over West Ham. Sergio Aguero put them in front on 28-minutes when a great team goal saw him play the ball through Jussi Jaaskelainen's legs from four yards. The points were assured seven minutes from the end when Yaya Toure smashed a rocket in to the top corner from the edge of the box. West Ham did deserve a goal and it came in injury time when Andy Carroll's blast somehow broke through Joe Hart as it trickled through his legs.
Stoke 1-0 Norwich: Stoke move six points clear and reach the magic-40 mark with a crucial victory over Norwich who are two points behind them. The only goal of the game came a minute in to the second half when a lofted ball was brought down by Cameron Jerome before being fired home by Charlie Adam.
Everton 1-0 Fulham: Everton move three points behind Chelsea with a close victory over Fulham. The only goal of the game came on 16-minutes when Seamus Coleman's pull back was fired home by Steven Pienaar.
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