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Shock Sunday

Premier League: Sunday round-up

There were goals, red cards and shocks a plenty in the Premier League, but which teams managed to claim all three points?

All you need to know about Sunday’s Premier League action:

Arsenal 3-1 Stoke

Arsene Wenger took a risk in resting Robin van Persie with Stoke in town, and it was his captain that ultimately saved the Frenchman’s hide with a brace of goals in the second half.

The Gunners went ahead when Gervinho finished from an Aaron Ramsey’s cross just before the half-hour mark, but former Spurs man Peter Crouch levelled matters with a close-range effort to send the teams in level at half-time.

Neither team could break the deadlock until Dutchman Van Persie was introduced to the action and it took him all of six minutes to put the hosts back in front, neatly planting the ball in the back of the net from a Gervinho cross.

The latter was involved again within nine minutes when his pass allowed Van Persie’s claim a second and seal all three points for Arsenal.

What this means: Arsenal have won their fourth straight league game at home and move above their opponents and up to seventh. Stoke are ninth on 12 points.

Blackburn 1-2 Tottenham

There will be no let up on calls for Rovers manager Steve Kean to quit after the club’s latest home defeat.

Goals from Rafael van der Vaart in either half of the game at Ewood Park were enough to settle the fixture in favour of the visitors, leaving Kean still in search of only his seventh win in charge of the former Premier League champions.

Dutchman Van der Vaart fired home from 12 yards after an excellent run from Kyle Walker to open the scoring with just 15 minutes on the clock

The home crowd were given something to shout about just over ten minutes later when Mauro Formica cancelled out Spurs’ advantage with a fine strike on goal – Christopher Samba with the assist.

But they simply could not hold on and it was Van der Vaart that would compound their miserable start to the season with another goal – this time he curled a beautiful shot beyond the reach of Paul Robinson just before the 60-minute mark.

What it means: Blackburn are rock bottom of the table with just five points, along with Wigan. Tottenham are fifth, three behind Newcastle after their latest win.

Fulham 1-3 Everton

Two late, late goals were enough to secure Everton all three points at Craven Cottage.

The visitors went ahead with less than two minutes on the clock when Jack Rodwell fed the on-loan Royston Drenthe and the Dutchman curled a fine strike beyond the reach of Mark Schwarzer.

Another superb goal – this time from Fulham substitute Bryan Ruiz – put the game back on level terms with 23 minutes remaining and when Bobby Zamora missed an open goal for the home side as the game ticked into added time, the fixture seemed destined to end even.

However, Louis Saha had not read that particular script and when the ball came straight back down the other end, he controlled the ball before finishing nearly past Schwarzer. Rodwell then confirmed the three points for the men in blue when he steered an attempted clearance to the back of the net three minutes later.

What it means: Everton are up to 13th following their win, while Fulham have been left hovering just above the relegation zone on seven points.

Manchester United 1-6 Manchester City

Check out our minute-by-minute coverage of the Manchester derby here

Queens Park Rangers 1-0 Chelsea

A determined and gutsy performance from Queens Park Rangers saw them capture the prized scalp of Chelsea in Sunday’s other derby.

The home team went in front on ten minutes after David Luiz fouled Heidar Helguson in the box, and the striker picked himself up off the ground to blast the spot kick beyond Petr Cech’s outstretched hand.

Things got even worse for André Villas-Boas’ men when Jose Bosingwa saw red following a tussle with Shaun Wright-Phillips and Didier Drogba was then dismissed for a two-footed tackle on Adel Taarabt.

Despite being reduced to nine men, Chelsea might still have earned a point from the game but Nicolas Anelka, with his team’s best game of the game, headed his header straight at Paddy Kenny when any other angle would surely have seen him score.

What it means:
Chelsea miss out of the chance to move up to second following United’s defeat at Old Trafford earlier in the day. Neil Warnock’s QPR are up to tenth.

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