CHRISTIAN BENTEKE’S GOAL drought continued in the worst possible fashion as he insisted on taking a last-minute penalty — and missed — in Crystal Palace’s 2-2 draw with Bournemouth.
The Belgian striker scored 17 goals last season but hasn’t found the net since May, his miss costing Palace all three points as they slipped to the bottom of the Premier League table.
Jermain Defoe put Bournemouth in front and then equalised with a brilliant dipping volley after Luka Milivojevic’s penalty and a close-range effort by substitute Scott Dann had put Palace in charge.
Palace were awarded their last-gasp penalty when Charlie Daniels felled Wilfried Zaha but after Benteke overruled Milivojevic and demanded the ball, his tame effort was repelled by Asmir Begovic.
Wilfried Bony scored an 81st-minute winner as Swansea City moved off the bottom of the Premier League with a 1-0 victory over fellow strugglers West Brom.
The Swans left it late to record their first league victory in eight matches, Bony ramming home a loose ball following a Ki Sung-yueng corner to lift his side above Palace.
The striker’s second goal in as many games leaves visiting manager Alan Pardew still winless since taking charge of the Baggies, who only remain outside the relegation places on goal difference.
Burnley moved level on points with Arsenal and Tottenham after Scott Arfield scored in a 1-0 home win over Watford, who had Marvin Zeegelaar sent off for a studs-up foul on Steven Defour.
Steve Mounie’s first goals since the opening day of the season helped Huddersfield Town cruise to a comfortable 2-0 win over Brighton and Hove Albion at the John Smith’s Stadium.
The Benin international has struggled since his opening-day brace against Crystal Palace, but two first-half goals doubled his tally for the season and brought a run of four straight defeats to an end for David Wagner’s side.
The 23-year-old netted his first after 12 minutes, taking advantage of some slack marking from the Seagulls’ defence to prod home at the back post.
His second in the 43rd minute came courtesy of an error from Brighton goalkeeper Mat Ryan, who inexplicably let the striker’s header slip through his hands.
The42 has just published its first book, Behind The Lines, a collection of some of the year’s best sports stories. Pick up your copy in Eason’s, or order it here today (€10):