TOTTENHAM MOVED UP to second in the Premier League with a 1-0 victory over Watford today that was more convincing than the scoreline suggests.
Mauricio Pochettino’s men leapfrog Manchester City, who lost to leaders Leicester City earlier in the day, thanks to defender Kieran Trippier’s goal midway through the second half.
Trippier netted from close range – his first in the top flight — after substitute Dele Alli had impressively created the opportunity within minutes of coming on in a game that saw Tottenham dominate possession and chances.
Spurs have now won four consecutive league matches and are Leicester’s closest challengers as they sit five points adrift at the top.
Watford slip to 10th in the table and have only won once in their last eight league games, failing to score in four of their last five after a poor performance that did not see them register a shot on target at White Hart Lane.
Stoke slump continues
Stoke City’s troubling recent form persisted in suitably miserable conditions at the Britannia Stadium, as free-scoring Everton ran riot in a 3-0 Premier League victory.
In howling wind and pouring rain, the Potters conceded three goals for the third successive outing in all competitions and rarely threatened their visitors on an outing to forget.
Stoke included record signing Gianelli Imbula in their starting XI, but fell behind to Romelu Lukaku’s early penalty and conceded twice more — to Seamus Coleman and Aaron Lennon — before half-time.
From that situation, a recovery was impossible and Stoke are now without a win in four matches.
Everton, meanwhile, bounced to a third victory in a row in league and cup, and made amends for the 4-3 defeat to their opponents in the corresponding fixture at Goodison Park back in December.
Mitrovic lifts Toon out of drop-zone
Newcastle United climbed out of the Premier League’s bottom three as Aleksandar Mitrovic’s goal secured a 1-0 victory over West Brom.
Steve McClaren’s side were dominant throughout the encounter and Mitrovic’s 33rd-minute strike ultimately sealed three crucial points at St James’ Park.
Mitrovic’s day had looked like being one of frustration after seeing chances blocked and being flagged for offside as Cheick Tiote fired home from distance.
Albion struggled to impose themselves on proceedings and as a result were limited to half-chances, Rob Elliot rarely called into action in the Newcastle goal.
A second win in three matches at home for Newcastle sees them move above Norwich City — who lost 2-0 to Aston Villa — while keeping West Brom firmly with them in the relegation battle.
Villa breathe hope into survival hopes
Bottom club Aston Villa saw off struggling Norwich City 2-0 to breathe new life into their unlikely Premier League survival hopes.
Joleon Lescott headed the home side in front on the stroke of half-time at Villa Park, before Gabriel Agbonlahor made it two just after the interval.
Remi Garde’s men closed out a morale-boosting victory that pulls them to within eight points of safety and leaves their opponents in the bottom three
Dann leveller shares the spoils
Scott Dann headed a second-half equaliser as Crystal Palace ended a five-match losing run away to Swansea City.
The relegation-threatened hosts led at the Liberty Stadium through Gylfi Sigurdsson’s early free-kick, but Dann levelled from a corner two minutes into the second half.
The result leaves Swansea precariously placed just four points above the relegation zone, while Palace have stopped the rot but remain without a win since beating Stoke City 2-1 away on 19 December and are by no means clear of trouble.
