WITH TOP-FOUR teams Manchester City, Arsenal, Chelsea and Liverpool not in action, Everton were the only side who fully capitalised on the opportunity to close on the Champions League places.
Thrashed 4-0 by Liverpool in mid-week, Everton fell 1-0 down at home to Aston Villa when Leandro Bacuna finished off a slick counter-attack.
However, Steven Naismith came off the bench to score a 74th-minute equaliser before Kevin Mirallas’s late free-kick secured a 2-1 win that left Roberto Martinez’s side a point behind Liverpool in fifth place.
Tottenham Hotspur were unable to follow Everton’s lead after being held to a 1-1 draw at Hull City that saw them slip to sixth.
Spurs were crushed 5-1 by City on Wednesday and they had to settle for a point at the KC Stadium after Paulinho’s smart 61st-minute finish cancelled out Shane Long’s first Hull goal in the first half.
Sunderland leapt up the table to 14th place after prevailing 3-0 against derby rivals Newcastle United at St James’ Park for the second season running.
Fabio Borini’s penalty gave Sunderland the lead in the 19th minute and Adam Johnson tapped in his seventh goal in seven games four minutes later before Jack Colback sealed victory with a late strike.
West Ham United also recorded a potentially important victory, weathering the dismissal of striker Andy Carroll to overcome Swansea City 2-0 at Upton Park, although they remained in the bottom three.
Carroll created both of West Ham’s first-half goals, knocking the ball down for Kevin Nolan to break the deadlock in the 26th minute and then teeing up the same player to head in a second in first-half injury time.
The former Liverpool striker was sent off in the 58th minute after catching Swansea centre-back Chico Flores with a flailing arm, with West Ham manager Sam Allardyce later revealing that the club would appeal against the decision.
Cardiff City’s new signings Wilfried Zaha and Kenwyne Jones made an instant impact as Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side climbed off the foot of the table by coming from behind to win 2-1 at home to Norwich City.
Robert Snodgrass put Norwich ahead in the fifth minute, but on-loan Manchester United winger Zaha created a 49th-minute equaliser for Craig Bellamy before Jones smashed in the winner a minute later.
Fulham slumped to last place after losing 3-0 at home to Southampton, who scored all their goals in the final half an hour through England internationals Adam Lallana, Rickie Lambert and Jay Rodriguez.
