Southampton 0-0 West Brom
Crystal Palace 1-3 West Ham
Swansea 1-0 Burnley
SOUTHAMPTON AND WEST Bromwich Albion shared the points in a goalless draw, with Shane Long failing to inspire the Saints to victory after appearing as a second-half substitute.
Both sides had cause for optimism going into the clash – Ronald Koeman’s men impressing in defeat against Liverpool and Alan Irvine’s charges only denied a win against Sunderland by a late Sebastian Larsson goal on the opening weekend.
However, neither side did enough to deserve maximum points on the south coast in a tight affair as Koeman and Irvine continue to await their first top-flight triumph.
Meanwhile, Swansea, fresh from their shock opening day victory away to Manchester United, also made it two wins from two with a 1-0 success at home to Burnley secured by winger Nathan Dyer’s 23rd-minute goal.
West Ham bounced back from a 1-0 defeat by Tottenham Hotspur with a 3-1 win away to managerless Crystal Palace.
The Eagles, without a manager after Tony Pulis quit before the season started in a row over transfer funds, had seen sporting director Iain Moody resign in midweek following the fall-out from the publication of offensive text messages he had shared with Malky Mackay while the pair were at Cardiff.
- Hammers’ quickfire double -
Any hope of better news on the pitch was shattered when Palace conceded two goals in three first-half minutes.
Argentinian striker Mauro Zarate marked his Hammers debut with an impressive 34th-minute volley before England winger Stewart Downing added an equally stylish second, cutting in from the right flank before curling in a 20-yard left-foot shot.
Palace pulled a goal back in the 48th minute through Marouane Chamakh.
However, the Hammers made it 3-1 in the 62nd minute when striker Carlton Cole scored his first goal since February when he volleyed home from inside the penalty area.
Additional reporting by Paul Fennessy
