Aston Villa 0-1 Crystal Palace
DWIGHT GAYLE’S LAST-gasp gem snatched Crystal Palace a 1-0 win at Aston Villa to lift them out of the Premier League’s bottom three.
The Boxing Day clash at Villa Park appeared set to finish goalless until Gayle collected a pass from fellow substitute Jonathan Williams and curled the ball home from 20 yards.
The result moved Palace to 17th in the Premier League, above Fulham on goal difference, and left Villa just three points clear of danger following a fourth successive defeat. Villa have now won just one of their last 13 matches on Boxing Day and have failed to score in eight of their last 11 outings.
Paul Lambert was without Christian Benteke and Ashley Westwood due to injury and suspension respectively, but Gabby Agbonlahor returned after completing a one-match ban. Palace’s top scorer Marouane Chamakh missed out after picking up his fifth yellow card of the season last time out.
Tottenham 1-1 West Brom
Tim Sherwood’s first match as permanent Tottenham coach ended in frustration as they were held to a 1-1 home draw by West Brom on Boxing Day.
Former Spurs midfielder Sherwood was handed the task of replacing Andre Villas-Boas after Sunday’s 3-2 win at Southampton, but they found scoring much tougher in front of the White Hart Lane faithful.
Christian Eriksen had put them ahead with a thunderous 20-yard free-kick – his first league goal since moving to Tottenham – but Jonas Olsson bundled home a deserved equaliser almost immediately.
Cardiff 0-3 Southampton
The Englishman took his tally for the season to nine in all competitions with a quick-fire first-half double at the Cardiff City Stadium as the visitors heaped misery on Malky Mackay.
The home fans protested against owner Vincent Tan before, during and after the match as uncertainty continues to surround Mackay’s future, with things taking a turn for the worse on the pitch as Rickie Lambert completed an easy triumph for Southampton before half-time.
There was no way back for Cardiff in the second half and Mackay’s side have now won just one of their last eight top-flight matches.
Norwich 1-2 Fulham
Fulham’s battle to stave off relegation received a Boxing Day boost with a battling come from behind 2-1 win at Norwich on Thursday.
Gary Hooper put Norwich into the early lead before Pajtim Kasami levelled with former Tottenham central midfielder Scott Parker grabbing a stylish late winner.
The result, only Fulham’s second win in the last 10 matches, moved Fulham up a place to third from bottom, on 16 points, with Norwich hovering above the drop zone on 19 points.
