Everton suffered a huge blow in their quest for Uefa Champions League football after a pair of own-goals saw them lose 2-0 to Southampton at St Mary’s on Saturday.
The loss meant Everton remained a point behind Arsenal, who currently occupy the fourth and final Champions League spot on offer to Premier League clubs, ahead of the Gunners’ match at home to Newcastle United on Monday.
Everton, whose 2-0 victory over Manchester United last week led to their former manager David Moyes's sacking by the English champions, were behind as early as the first minute courtesy of a bizarre own-goal.
Antolin Alacaraz got in front of the player he was marking to somehow head a cross from Southampton’s Rickie Lambert past Toffees goalkeeper Tim Howard.
And the visitors fell further behind on the south coast shortly after the half-hour mark when Seamus Coleman, perhaps distracted by John Stones’s leaping in front of him, diverted Nathaniel Clyne’s cross beyond Howard.
Victory saw the Saints remain eighth in the table.
Relegation-battlers Fulham blew a two-goal lead as Hull City fought back to earn a dramatic 2-2 draw at Craven Cottage.
Felix Magath’s side were well on course to give their survival hopes a huge boost for what would have been a third win in the past four matches, before a late rally from the FA Cup finalists.
Following a nervous first half, Iran midfielder Ashkan Dejagah (55) curled the ball in from the edge of the penalty area and before the visitors could respond, defender Fernando Amorebieta (58) headed in Kieran Richardson’s cross to give the Cottagers belief.
However, Nikica Jelavic set up an anxious finish when he nodded in a scrambled effort with 15 minutes left and as the clocked ticked down, Hull snatched a dramatic equaliser through Shane Long (87).
Saido Berahino’s first-half goal, on 11 minutes, proved enough to give West Brom what could be a crucial victory in their own survival bid with a 1-0 win over West Ham at The Hawthorns.
The Baggies are five clear of trouble, on 36 points with three matches left, while West Ham sit 14th on 37 points with two games to play.
A superb 50-yard strike from Jonjo Shelvey helped Swansea beat Aston Villa 4-1 at the Liberty Stadium to close in on Premier League survival.
Wilfried Bony slotted in his 14th league goal of the season to put the hosts ahead on 10 minutes, only for Gabriel Agbonlahor (22) to level from close range from Marc Albrighton’s cross.
However, former Liverpool midfielder Shelvey (26) quickly made it 2-1 when he took down a clearance and, from the centre-circle, sent a looping volley back up over Brad Guzan to net a late contender for goal of the season.
Pablo Hernandez (73) wrapped things up in the second half, having been set up by good work from Shelvey, with Bony rolling in a stoppage-time penalty.
Gary Monk’s side are 12th, with 39 points and two matches left, while Villa are still looking over their shoulders, now just four points clear.
Tottenham recorded a 1-0 win at 10-man Stoke as they looked to make the most of Everton’s defeat away to Southampton in the battle for European places.
Danny Rose headed in on 33 minutes after good work from Emmanuel Adebayor.
Stoke’s hopes of getting back into the game suffered a blow when, in the 52nd minute, Ryan Shawcross collected a second yellow card and was sent off by referee Andre Marriner for a studs-up challenge on Rose.
sports@thenational.ae
