25/02/2017 Match of the Day

COMMENTATOR: Just brilliant, just brilliant!

COMMENTATOR: What a turn, what a goal!

COMMENTATOR: Look at that. Oh, look at that!

It's been another quiet week in football, not much to report

other than the fact we've six crucial Premier League games

Alan Shearer and Jermaine Jenas are on hand to guide us through.

We start with league leaders Chelsea.

Antonio Conte's team began the weekend with an eight-point lead

at the summit and seemingly on course for the title.

Their opponents, Swansea, have seen an upturn in form

since the arrival of manager Paul Clement, a former

Your commentator at Stamford Bridge, Guy Mowbray.

From John Hollins and even Frank Lampard for a short while, through

Paul Clement, there has been a line of notable blue blood at Swansea

City, and the Swansea blood is pumping with confidence at the

moment due to their revival since Clement took charge. But this is

their biggest challenge yet against a Chelsea side that shows one change

since their game at Burnley, with Matic making way for Cesc Fabregas

who plays in the Premier League for the 300th time. The Stamford Bridge

connections in Swansea continue with their captain Jack Cork, who started

out on Chelsea's books without ever making the first team. The Swans

lost Nathan Dyer to injury, said their only change sees the similarly

experienced Wayne Routledge take his place.

Can Swansea somehow stalled Chelsea's charge towards the title?

It is going to come to Diego Costa again, and it will be Hazard's turn.

Fabregas, and it is blocked. Chelsea were waltzing their way through to

goal. It was undoubtedly on target. It struck the shoulder of Tom

Carroll. Paul Clement had two spells on the coaching staff at Chelsea,

with the academy in the late 90s, and then from 2007-2011 he was

coaching assistant to Carlo Ancelotti.

That trick didn't work, only succeeded in playing the ball to

Fabregas. Hazard. Here is the busy Pedro, behind Fabregas, and he

somehow managed to scramble it home. Chelsea have been putting their

passes together over the last five or six minutes. Now they have

managed to see their persistence payoff. Diego Costa had to work to

get to that, but he stretched and he got some of the ball and played it

back Hazard's way, and was Hazard sufficiently in the way of Lukasz

Fabianski? No, he's not interfering. He's not

in the keeper's byline, and Fabregas has managed to dig it into the

corner, Seppi crowns his 300th Premier League appearance with his

46th goal in the competition. It has just run away from Costa, but

he won't give up on it. Still in play with Moses. Fabregas, and that

is a super save by Fabianski. Old Arsenal denies old Arsenal. What a

save this was from Lukasz Fabianski, it was hit just as Fabregas wanted

to hate it. Swansea are rattled and rocking. Staying in the game has to

be their priority. Olsen is the man who got it back for Swansea.

Fabregas gives it away. It is one back again, given away again, lost

again. Finally, we get the referee's whistle to indicate a Swansea free

kick. We have passed the minute but was indicated. The half-time whistle

any time now. Is there time for Swansea to just lift one more ball

in the direction of Thibaut Cortois's goal? And it is headed in!

Would you believe it? Right on the stroke of half-time, Fernando

Llorente draws Chelsea level. -- draws Swansea level. The minute is

the minimum, it is not offside, he looked in-line, did Llorente. But

came his way from Gylfi Sigurdsson. And the Chelsea defenders were

guilty of abandoning their post there. They let the man most likely

to head the ball in head the ball in.

Leroy Fer looked close, Swarbrick played advantage on Chelsea Gnahore

throw-in. -- Chelsea now have a throw-in. Fabregas forces a fine

save from Fabianski. Mawson's attempt to get the ball away. Well

drilled by Eden Hazard, Fabianski down really smartly. That Swansea

goal might just have changed the half-time words a little from

Antonio Conte. Alonso, a lovely first-time ball far

Hazard, and there is Fabregas to hammer the crossbar. Brilliant

Chelsea football, but it doesn't end with a goal. Alonso, Hazard, and it

is a thumper from Fabregas. The signs are that it will be a long

half for Swansea. Sigurdsson has passed Victor Moses.

Tries to keep the ball away from Azpilicueta, who he felt handled it.

Referee Swarbrick didn't. It does come off the outstretched

arm of Azpilicueta, and the arm does move towards the ball at first. It

actually hit him on the secondary move. Neil Swarbrick didn't see it,

Sigurdsson did, and I think Chelsea might have got away with one there.

Fabregas is looking for Victor Moses with that one, and Moses does really

well. Costa... And there is a whole scramble around the ball as Swansea

end up with the decision in their favour. Diego Costa it seemed to me

was looking for a penalty here. David Luiz, Gary Cahill.

Pedro waited for it. Now has a shot which has beaten Fabianski. Straight

through the Swansea keeper. He really should have saved it. Chelsea

want mind how they've scored it. It is just a pick-up in the pace of

play whenever Pedro gets the ball. And it was a speculative effort. Not

even sure he believed he'd scored. I don't think he thought he hit it

quite as he wanted to, but it has ended up where he wanted it to go. A

Pedro goal that has Antonio Conte celebrated, and has made the score

Chelsea 2-1 Swansea City. Pedro's eighth of the season, eight in the

last 11 games. The long stride of Nemanja Matic, and the ball has

really just bounced off the boot of Costa and ballooned over the bar.

Brilliant from Hazard, and scored by Diego Costa. And that should wrap up

the points for Chelsea. The warm hug of appreciation from goal-scorer the

goal maker. It is that Chelsea combo again. Hazard and Costa. Mastery of

the football from Eden Hazard. And all the time, aware of what might be

on in the middle and who's waiting in the middle. Diego Costa is that

man. Three goals for Chelsea, three points surely for Chelsea. Chelsea

3-1 Swansea City. We dominated the game and we played

very well, a good performance in the first half, we created many chances

to score the goals. We conceded the goal at the end of the first half. I

think also the time was finished. There was a big moment at 1-1 with

Sigurdsson and Azpilicueta, I thought it was handled at the time,

I have seen the replay again and it is a clear handball, and that gives

you a chance to go to- one up. Three minutes later you are too- one down,

and it was a soft goal. And then the killer blow at the end, great

quality from Hazard and a good finish from Costa, so based on

chances they deserve to win, but at 1-1 and a big moment to go ahead

away, who knows what could have happened? We created a lot of

chances, and we scored, and at the end, the result is 3-1 and it could

have been maybe 5-1. We need over 29 points to be champions. It is

important to know this, for me, for my players. To continue with the

great focus, with great concentration.

Looking good for Chelsea indeed. It could have change things

dramatically. What is your point of view? I agree that it was a penalty,

it was a deliberate movement of his hand towards the ball, and I think

they got away with one here, it could have been very difficult. It

was only six inches away when he kicks it. I know, but his arm goes

towards the ball when it is kicked. I don't think it is a penalty,

Azpilicueta's arm is out first, and I think he is trying to stop

Sigurdsson's run. Slow motion, it looks like he is trying to catch it.

I think he is trying to stop the run past him. It wasn't a walk on the

bridge for Chelsea, but they do play some lovely stuff. They have made it

very difficult, Swansea, for Liverpool at Anfield. They were

unlucky to lose at Manchester City. So they are very well organised, but

the difference between Liverpool and City and this Chelsea side, that is

the pace going forward, and it is very difficult when you have got men

behind the ball to get in behind them and work through with the pace

like Chelsea did today, and that is why Fabregas was in the team today,

because they knew they would have a little bit more of the ball and the

possession, and he would get on the ball, and he was brilliant on his

300th Premier League appearance. He started that off but he was on the

edge of the box, and they get away with it. When they have men behind

the ball, like Swansea did here, this is how you get through them, by

one touch of the ball, by runners in behind, they get away with it here,

but their intention is there, and for a lot of the game, they were

like that. And this was the goal. Fabregas starts it off, a little

one-two, to Pedro, and Fabregas finds himself in the box, and that

is the goal that he deserves. What about this for a bit of skill?

Quick, incisive, get a game behind and a very good save from Fabianski.

And this is the third goal here. He has got him one-on-one in the box,

and there is just no stopping him. The ability to do that and pull it

back to Costa, and that is one hell of a Finnish. You don't want Hazard

running at you, do you? What a transformation we have seen with

Chelsea this season compared to last. Same players, different... It

is topical, players not working for managers, and the irony is that last

season we were sat here with a large bunch of these players that we are

seeing here today, they were not working for their manager and we

know what happened. But it is such a transformation now, because we saw

how brilliant they were with the ball, but look at them here, and I

know they have this guy here, can take, who makes a huge difference,

but look at the hunger and the desire from every player to get the

ball back, to do the dirty work that a lot of players don't want to do.

If Kante doesn't get it, Fabregas or Matic do. Look at the reaction from

the players. Barbara Gass is in there, Kante again, brilliant bit of

still from Fabregas, Moses doing his bit tracking back, there is just no

space at all for the Swansea players, and look at the reaction of

three of them, Alonzo, Pedro, Moses, Kante falls over, Azpilicueta is

acting, and Chelsea were superb about, and that wasn't the case last

season, so the transformation from then to now was incredible. It is.

One game down, five more on their way.

COMMENTATOR: Pickford will just about stop it. On side. Blocked. A

chance. Blocked by Hennessey. Dipping. Not quite dipping enough.

Really dangerous ball in. Headed wide by Antonio.

David Moyes returned to Everton with his current side, Sunderland,

A win was vital for Moyes and Ronald Koeman, who is chasing

COMMENTATOR: Back at what he calls his second favourite club,

five-year-old Sunderland mad Bradley had to be the mascot today. A day of

reunions, but not for sentiment. Everton, their sights on the top

six, they face their long time former boss, seeking to make his

latest venture that little bit more challenging. Romelu Lukaku's 11

minute hat-trick at the Stadium of Light in September were his first

goals of the season. He added 14 more since and scored seven times in

his career against Sunderland. Like their hosts, the visitors have had

two weeks to prepare for today's match, allowing Jordan Pickford to

return to full fitness, he retained his position, lost due to a knee

injury. Bryan Oviedo starts, less than a month after they left here.

Ramiro Funes Mori. It's a big gap there. Baines will try and exploit

it. Clever ball. Pickford will just about stop it creeping it over the

line. Just a little nervous moment for the goalkeeper returning for his

first game in two months. Didn't look as though he should be beaten

by the shot. You can see there is no need for goalline technology. He did

get there before it crossed the line. The opening goal in any

Premier League fixture is often pivotal for a team struggling in the

bottom three, it's vital they don't concede it, particularly not early.

Wouldn't it be typical of a side in the bottom three if they should

concede the opening goal from a corner that they really ought not to

have conceded in the first place. It almost does indeed become a reality.

Lukaku came sliding in. He was a little bit disappointed it brushed

off his shin pad. Well, he had nine top 10 finishes from his seasons in

charge of Everton. He had a wonderful spell when he qualified

Everton for Europe, four times in five seasons, including once the

UEFA Champions League itself. He has got beyond Kone as well. Pickford

just about getting something on it. It was probably a combination of his

knee and thigh that got it away. He put a foot to the accelerator. A

decent stop from Pickford. Baines. Davies.

Barkley has made the run. Davies tries to find him. Not sure it was

necessarily aimed at Coleman, he gets to it. Here come Idrissa Gueye,

and Everton score. Well, in the blink of an eye, all Sunderland's

excellent defensive work evaporates and Idrissa Gueye scores his first

Everton goal. Gueye, a late arrival, great run from midfield. He plants

the ball into the roof of Sunderland's net. Everton, who have

been on top, now have the lead. Barkley, good turn.

Really good from Barkley. He's been outstanding today, actually. That's

another excellent attempt. Right on cue, he almost has the same goal.

Denied by another young England star, Jordan Pickford. Barkley

really does look like he's oozing with confidence and self-belief.

It's a joy to. With a when he's like this. That would have crept in.

Barkley himself that takes the corner. Looped into the air. O'Shea

clears. Lookman. The referee has given a free-kick to Everton. We are

in the final minute of a first half that Everton have dominated, and

lead. Clearing header. Schneiderlin. Davies! The outside of the post

post. Well, Sunderland could not afford to be two behind at

half-time. But they so very nearly were. From a Sunderland perspective,

it's still only 1-0. Here's Ndong on the charge for

Sunderland. Jermain Defoe can't get to it. Borini. It's cleared for a

Sunderland corner. He is not convinced the right decision has

been made. He is. O'Shea moving around. Kone gets to it. Claims of a

handball from Kone. One or two of the Sunderland players nearest to

him. Gibson's ball is a good one. Jones. Jermain Defoe. Strikes

Williams. Again there is an appeal for handball. Sunderland keeping

Everton hemmed in. Here's Oviedo. A great cross. Headed away by Funes

Mori. Here's Januzaj. Better from Sunderland from in the opening

moments of the second-half. Here's Oviedo. Away by Coleman. Oviedo,

again. Better options than that. There were

a couple of half hearted appeals for handball. Cooney's downward header

and a second time his arm is by his side. That debate about unnatural

position and deliberate. No penalty. They have only scored 1 #0s goals

away from home this season, Sunderland, four were against

Crystal Palace. Valencia. -- 10. Mirallas. Now Coleman. And it

reaches Barkley, who never really met it with any conviction.

Ronald Koeman said that Sunderland would be no push over. He will feel

his side should be more than just one ahead. Valencia's ball forward.

Lukaku takes it. Faced by Kone. Lukaku, good save Pickford.

Important save, too. Not had that much to do in the second-half,

Jordan Pickford, but when called upon there, he got his angles

absolutely right. They are still in this, Sunderland. Here's Funes Mori.

Doesn't have anywhere to go here except backwards. Tries to find

Schneiderlin. Won by Gibson. Here's Januzaj. Striding purposefully. Now

Jill Dando. Jermain Defoe. Is this his moment? You bet it's his moment.

Under side of the bar. Borini. Somehow Everton escape. Sunderland

within a whisker of grabbing an equaliser that their second-half

improve am merited. Well, it just seemed like Defoe was waiting for

such an opportunity. He is, what, a ball's width away from giving

Sunderland an equaliser. Januzaj's delivery from the corner. Honeyman

gets it back. Here's Januzaj, again. Tackled by Gueye. Kept in play. Only

as far as Oviedo. Wins it, again, Idrissa Gueye. Mirallas on the

counter. It comes Lukaku. Has he got the legs on Oviedo? He has. Oviedo

can't stop him. Pickford can't stop him. And Romelu Lukaku, what a 60

seconds. Lukaku makes the game safe. He draws level with Duncan Ferguson

on 60 Premier League goals for Everton. It's the one which surely

gives Everton the points. It's 2-0 now. Defoe hitting the under side of

the bar at one end, Lukaku, smuggling it over the line at the

other. Just at the exact moment that David Moyes sensed an equaliser.

Lukaku, on towards Valencia. He's onside. Good stop by Pickford. You

can't underestimate the number of times Pickford has come to

Sunderland's rescue as well. 2-0. Where does this leave the race for

European places, do you think? I don't know. Still there is a gap

between the teams. OK, it's still 12 games to play. You never know. You

need to continue and keep the momentum. The team is strong. The

team is playing some good football and we have a lot of clean sheets.

That makes a lot of points. I was disappointed we lost the first goal.

We had tried to come here and frustrate the supporters, keep

things quiet. You know, for long we sort of done that. In the end, you

know they got the goal. I didn't want us to concede in the

second-half. To be fair we grew in the game and made the chance. It

didn't go in. A landmark goal Forlan you. Yes. 60 for Everton in the

Premier League. I'm happy. I want to keep improving and working hard. The

important thing is win the games and improve as a player. Some teams seem

to be running into form? We still have our time to run into form as

well. Plenty of games to go. Ronald Koeman appears to be developing,

well, a kind of young, talented and, I suppose, more dynamic side than we

have seen in recent years? Much more dynamic. He took his time with it.

Gradually, he's brought in Davies and Schneiderlin. Idrissa Gueye was

already there, but in midfield today they were too much to handle for

Sunderland. This is in the early stages of the of the game. Linking

up, down that right hand side. Davies whipping in the ball there.

So mobile they can play in each other's positions. Schneiderlin

plays deeper. Winning the ball. They are all flying forward. The energy,

the freshness in the team now. Goes out wide eventually to Barkley.

Whips it in first time. Lukaku is very unlucky not to get on the end

of that. That is the service that Lukaku will thrive on. Davies in a

deeper position. He will shank that to the right hand side. He find

Coleman. Look is on the end of it, midfield parter in the right

position, edge of the box, sticking it in the back of the net. Foraging

together in midfield. Davies, Schneiderlin backing him up. Gueye

won the ball in the end. Schneiderlin in the deeper role that

didn't allow that ball go into the forwards at all. Gueye is the stand

out performer within the midfield three pure and simply he did this on

a more consistent basis, on the front foot, winning the ball. He

created the goal for Lukaku. Brilliant, power and pace sticking

the ball in the back of the net, 60th goal. This type of stuff here,

on the front again. This is the 88th, 89th minute, 2-0 up, still not

happy. Wants to do more for his team. He was very good at finding

passes into his front men as well. Run from Valencia. He should do

better with this opportunity. Willing runners. McCarthy, they

could have squared it to him. Ronald Koeman can be happy with his team's

performance and the way the midfield is developing is exciting. You are

not sure what Sunderland are trying to achieve on the pitch No, is the

simple answer to that. Look at Hull, Swansea, they seem to have found a

way of trying to get results of the trying to get themselves out of the

situation they are in. When I look at Sunderland I think - do you get

it wide and get crossing into the box? Do you play deep and try and

play a counter-attacking style of football? No. I'm watching it. I'm

confused in terms of what your sfooil style is. Second-half they

were much better. Plainly simple their plan of attack is, work hard

and get the ball to Jermain Defoe. If he puts it in the back of the net

1-1, they have a chance. If he doesn't put it in the back of the

net, it can happen. They lose the game. It's literally on injury may's

shoulders week in, week out what happens to them. No pressure there

Jermaine. Anyway! Bournemouth managers, past

and present, met at the Hawthorns The West Brom manager has made

a name for himself keeping sides in the top flight and if Howe isn't

careful, his current side might be Darren Fletcher plays his 300th

Premier League appearance, and Dan McCauley has 500. A hamstring injury

for Matt Phillips forces a reshuffle. Bournemouth's defeats in

the last few games make these concerning times, but a win would

steady their ship. Jack Wilshire has an ankle injury picked up in the

game against Manchester City. Marc Pugh comes in for Jordon Ibe who has

an injury. Here is Daniels, to Wilshere, then

Pugh. That is switched away to Fraser on the outside, and a penalty

at! Leaning down on the Bournemouth player, the defender exposed by the

pace of little Ryan Fraser, news always struggling. The right time

came across, West Brom might see it as soft, but Bournemouth will have

no concerns whatsoever about that, and it will be Josh King from the

spot with the rain pouring down who puts Bournemouth 1-0 up. What a

great start for them on a important weekend. If they can get a win, it

will open up a buffer zone again to the bottom three, who are six points

behind them this morning. Haphazard defending by the full-back, need

penalty. Here is front, in towards one gone.

Towards Rondon. There was roaring from some West Brom fans who thought

it was in. Chris Brunt on the right-hand side, could get it to his

favoured left and have a go. West Bromwich Albion stunned by the goal,

quite clearly. Smith allowed to come inside, and will have a go at goal,

and it is splendidly tipped over by the goalkeeper. Scored here last

season in their 2-1 win with a similar run. Lovely safe, great

start for Eddie Howe. He was in the youth team when Tony Pulis was

manager at Bournemouth, signed pro, made his debut just after Tony had

left the club, and what a Bournemouth man he has been,

involved in 623 Bournemouth games as manager or player. Remarkable. Nacer

Chadli. He brings in Dawson, it is difficult, and it is 1-1! The curled

beyond the goalkeeper, what a start, two goals in the opening few

minutes. Allowed to pick it up and drive in the first of his season,

but watch the deflection, Dawson arriving from the deep position, and

it looped up and off Charlie Daniels to beat the goalkeeper. One apiece.

It is given away here by Bournemouth, and Rondon, but what a

brilliant block by Cook. Once more in position, Fletcher rolls it back.

It was just wide off the deflection, Arter flung himself at it, and what

a mistake from the goalkeeper! How about this for celebrations. Gareth

McAuley, 500 games in English football, a long and distinguished

career, and he celebrates with a goal, and that is seven for the

defender this season, and a nightmare for Artur Boruc. Yes, he

was blocked off, but the punch was feeble, and lifted into the roof of

the net by the defender. Horrible goalkeeping error. Individual errors

have cost Bournemouth so dearly in 2017. Mings, they have to make a

decision, the referee checks with the assistant, no foul given. There

was too much hesitation about that Bournemouth defence again. Cook is

making no attempt to play the ball, the referee having nothing of the

appeal, though. Bournemouth may accept they got lucky. This is

dangerous, Rondon has gone in behind him, what is the referee going to

give here? I think he played the ball, and the referee agrees.

Last-ditch defending for Bournemouth. Rondon gets goal side,

but he played the ball, and it is the correct decision by Mark

Clattenburg. Got it absolutely spot on. West Brom just dropping off,

forming their rank. A little space here now for Fraser.

It is nearly came all the way through to Pugh, just a glance took

it away. That might have made a big difference as it comes in towards

Wilshere, just a little nick away by Gareth McAuley.

Dawson through a rather weak challenge, that is the run that

Rondon has been making all week long. And Acorn is given. To be fair

to the Bournemouth centre-backs, they have lacked great production.

-- a corner is given. It is aimed at the far post, Mings has got up well,

and the header off the top of the bar, and that man again, Gareth

McAuley, his second in the game, and it's in now! Chadli nudges it in,

and the referee will go and check, because is he offside? He looks

really not too good at all. I think if Chadli did not touch this, the

goal will be given. That is the first header by McCauley of the bar,

and when it comes in again, that is where Dawson in heading the ball on

gets absolutely clattered. He is in an offside position as he nudges the

ball forward, and that is why the goal is disallowed, and had he not

touched it, Dawson's header would have gone in and it would have

counted. Dawson can play no further part, that was a terrific bump to

the head. This has been cagey, more tactical in the second half. Rondon

was too strong therefore Gosling. Comes up, McClean again, good

defending by Smith, kept his eyes on the ball not on the player's

movement. That has kept it at 2-1, and kept Bournemouth in the game.

Daniels, can they get one last quality cross in, Bournemouth? Could

save! Found the space, but good goalkeeping.

Mousset, the challenge there, and he is left to fill in on the challenge,

McClean. Artur Boruc has come up, and he is not being marked. Is it

in? Know, a superb effort by Mings, and Ben Foster kept West Bromwich

Albion ahead. They are both goalkeepers, and it is Ben Foster

who comes out on top, but for Eddie Howe it is 60 feet in seven now,

worrying times ahead. You are always a little bit nervous that they will

come back and have their opportunities and chances, and they

didn't the last few minutes of the game, but generally, one

disappointment, the opportunities and the chances again that we have

created, we have to be more clinical. The first goal was

deflected, the second goal and error, individual errors have cost

you dearly? You will find that, there are errors from the team, it

is different players, and that is why we have to take collective

responsibility. We will be a much better team from this. Top scorer,

Gareth McAuley? He has been flying this season, a great player, and we

work hard on our set pieces, and he wants to go and attack the ball and

that is why he gets his rewards. I love it and I have the desire to

keep in it. If submitted giving me a job that I will keep playing!

Good for you. It was end-to-end stuff which you get with

Bournemouth, but it really boil down to the tale of two keepers in the

end. It did, another individual error from Bournemouth, but this

time the goalkeeper gifted the goal to McCauley. It has happened so many

times this season, he comes for the punch, there is traffic in and

around, but there is no excuse for that. It is a simple tap in for

McCauley again. It is a simple chance for them, gifted the goal,

1-0 up. They have to do much better, it is as simple as that, and to be

fair, at the other end, Ben Foster is in fine form. He moves his feet

brilliantly to get across to this. Fantastic to get across and tip that

one over, and the huge celebrations with the players jumping on his

back. 40 points already for West Brom and Tony Pulis. He has done one

hell of a job. And 49 is their record in the Premier League, 12

games to go to beat that, I'm pretty sure they will do it. He is having

one hell of a season, he and the team have been brilliant. In

contrast, Bournemouth with one win in ten, four consecutive defeats in

the lead. They have the second worst defensive record in the league, it

is as simple as that, only Swansea have a worse record. They concede an

average two goals in a game, Manchester United away next week.

Sometimes it is easy if you are able to score goals, to adjust things at

the back, but if you can't score, then that is an issue. It is, but

based on what we have just spoken about with all the errors they

create, they need to cut that out and eventually they will be OK.

Selhurst Park might not be the number one choice for thrills

and spills this weekend, but the Crystal Palace

v Middlesbrough match was one of huge importance.

Palace have lost their last five league home games.

Boro have only scored two goals this year.

COMMENTATOR: Crystal Palace fans keeping an evil eye on those around

them on the table, Mamadou Sakho making his debut ten months after

his last game for Liverpool, but this is a team that has won just one

of its last 11 games. Boro's recent record is one win in ten, but hardly

a cause for celebration. Gassed on's first start after a possible move to

Leicester. Zaha. Taking an Ayala, and a few appeals from Crystal

Palace fans behind that goal for a push on Zaha who is so quick. He

certainly did lean into him, there is no question about it. Benteke's

header. Puncheon to van Aanholt. And Benteke rose brilliantly, and

seemed to hang their direct in the midriff of Valdes, two managers

under pressure, but then, aren't they all? Tomkins, curled in towards

Benteke on the turn, good save. It is handball, it won't be counted. It

certainly hit his right wrist, I'm not sure he intended it to. Gaston

Ramirez, Negredo, and around the corner to Downing. Three in the

middle here, lofted up towards Negredo, chance on the turn. Still

on the -- Stuani couldn't put it away, lovely piece of football from

Middlesbrough. Mamadou Sakho just up got his toe to it, did well. Only

three goals in the last eight Premier League games in which they

failed to win. Zaha's flick, Cabaye, well covered. Ayala's header, and

van Aanholt on his right foot has budgeted! Patrick van Aanholt's

first goal for the club. Off his left foot, you would have backed

him. Off his right, I think he is as surprised as anybody. Deflected back

into van Aanholt's path, and swept into the corner. Crystal Palace 1-0

Middlesbrough. Vital for a Crystal Palace team who have taken only

seven points at home in the Premier League so far this season.

That was well won by pension. -- Jason Puncheon. Certainly Valdes

would have had this covered, but credit Puncheon for winning it. Sam

Allardyce has been through this particular mangled many a time, and

he normally comes out nice and clean and smelling of roses.

Stuani away, then blocked by Tomkins. Sakho was calm, Tomkins

slightly less so, I don't think he wanted that from Sakho. Here is

Gaston Ramirez, Stewart Downing. For sure is trying to get underneath it,

the chances blocked by Hennesey. They got lucky here, Palace. Well

hit by Stuani. It is just unfortunate that where the ball went

is exactly where Hennesey was standing.

Away from Gaston Ramirez. Again, beautifully played into McArthur.

Couldn't get the shot away. Gibson did well to get his body between

McArthur and the ball. That was really dangerous. Almost scored

seconds after coming on the pitch. Still to all to play for the Boro

boss. Stuani is saying handball. He thinks he should be getting a

penalty. Bobby Madly right on-the-spot here. No, you can't give

that. Middlesbrough corner. Missed by Hennessey. Gibson back across

ball. Puncheon, away. A little bit lucky there, the Palace goalkeeper.

Here's Zaha. Townsend ahead of him to the left. Benteke, to the right.

Collision between Ramirez Fabio allowed him back on to. Benteke,

still. Blocked in the end Ayala. He was beaten all end up.

Benteke on the back, missed by Ayala. Benteke, still. Downing, has

he turned into trouble? He has. The referee has given it the other way.

He said the Palace man dived here. Stewart Downing certainly turned

himself into trouble here. He's got time here. He then turns into some

right bother. He's caught him. He's definitely caught him, Stewart

Downing. The Palace man gets a yellow card. Launched away to

Gestede, trying to get himself in front of Sakho. Here's bib Gibson.

Downing is away on the left hand side. Here's Benteke. Townsend is

with him. Benteke. Benteke, into Andros Townsend. Well, he could have

knocked that up to the back post. That is what Benteke was looking

for. Townsend with a wild lash. I got the feeling to go forward. I

have the capability to score goals. I showed it last season. I'm showing

it this season again. I did it today again. It's the winning goal. It's

never been a big Erwin for us this season I think than this one. It

lays to rest, for the home fans particularly, that Sunderland game

the last time we played. Big victory. Hopefully we can move on

from there. We have to keep going together. We started together, and

we will finish together. So we know that we will have the experience

other teams have. We don't have the money other teams have to spend. The

only tool we have is to keep working together. Good fashioned six

pointer. Crystal Palace got the three points. A vital win for them

nevertheless, wasn't it? It was almost Big Samesque? It deserves the

points. I thought they were the better team throughout. I thought it

was a better team performance. They understood what each other's roles

were. How they were going to play the game, what they wanted from each

other. They were more direct. They didn't hesitate at all to get balls

into the box. They knew, I think, they had to do that. Patrick van

Aanholt got a very good goal. Down the left hand side, again. No other

thought than, get the ball into the box to Benteke. Should have done

better. Should have put it in the back of the net. From the right

side, ball into the box, again. That was their first thought - can we hit

the big man if there is nobodies around him? Get it up to him, see

what he can do. Good turn, good shot. Second-half that didn't change

either, to be honest. Up on his own again. Not a lot of people around

him, support. He does enough. They thorough thrill deserved the three

points today. It was three massive points for them. They could have

doubled their lead, couldn't they, but for a dubious penalty decision?

Dubious? That is very kind. I don't know how Kop Bobby Madly had not

seen this one. Poor decision. Given Palace situation and desperation

they would have loved to have the two goal cushion. McArthur gets to

the ball first am you can see Bobby's position with his assistant

on the other side. Clear view of the incident. How none of them have

managed to give it. They not only give the right decision. We get

another look at it. Clear touch from McArthur. Downing makes the foul.

But they've booked McArthur on top of that for diving. I mean, it is's

a poor decision. Like I said, I think tensions have been high down

at Selhurst Park they could have done with that two goal cushion. We

agree on that one. Sglm we do, yeah. As for Middlesbrough, they are the

opposite, aren't they, of Bournemouth. In the sense they are

pretty well-organised. Don't concede many goals, at the same time they

don't look like scoring a goal? We say the same thing everything week

about Middlesbrough. 19 goals, 26 games. Haven't won in the league

since mid December. Haven't won in nine. Not scored in the last three.

In a slump. In big trouble, I think. Palace's win drops Leicester

into the bottom three Leicester will feature in the game.

It gives us a chance to talk about the demissal that bagged the

headlines this week of Claudio Ranieri. What is your view, Alan? I

didn't need the sacking of Ranieri to tell me the players weren't

working for them. I have been saying it for the last two three months

that the players aren't working for him. What I would say to the

Leicester players. Look in the mirror and ask a question - have I

worked as hard as I could and given the manager everything? I would

pretty much say for the vast majority of that Leicester squad the

answer answer is no. They could do more, I'm certain of that. I feel

the timing was ludicrous. Gone to Sevilla it could have been a tough

result... It might be a watershed moment coming back - It was

Leicester back to their best defensively. Something was mores

positive. Give the man an opportunity to keep the team in the

Premier League. Does it take away the magic of last season, the

goodwill that the whole country, large parts of the world, had for

the club to do something that so sudden and so stark as that? Fans

will get over that, I'm sure. We saw what happened with Chelsea, they got

back to inwithing ways. Fans for get. You should never ever for get

what happened last season. It's the best thing that ever happened and

will happen in the Premier League, a team like Leicester achieving what

they did. I certainly concur with that.

Marco Silva's impact at Hull cannot be underestimated as confidence

and hope has returned to the side as they fight against relegation.

They welcomed Burnley, who have secured just a single

COMMENTATOR: Hull are back believing, again. Silva has restored

faith and points as he looks to lead Hull to three consecutive home wins

in the Premier League for the first time and in doing so out of the

relegation zone. The Hull boss is without Sam Clucas and Markovic he

can welcome back Mbokani after illness. He plays under Marco Silva

under the first time. Burnley refer back to the team that drew with

Chelsea. Two names returning, Robbie braidly fresh from his debut goal

against the leaders and George Boyd who helped Hull into the Premier

League at their time at the club. They have been relegated and

promoted together. What a huge incentive for Hull with a victory to

take them out of the relegation zone. Away by Huddlestone. Hull

relieved as McGuire trots back on. N'Diaye and Barton. Brady's

free-kick. In came Ben Mee. It came off the post. A goal kick at the end

of it. He picked up Ben Mee. He didn't hold what should have been a

routine catch. In the end it came off Ashley Barnes yesterday. They --

Maloney, Huddlestone. Pulled back. Westwood will get the yellow card.

Hull get a free-kick. I don't think this one is up for debate. This is a

fairway out. Dipping, but not quite dipping

enough. Had Tom Heaton moving. Decent try. Westwood. Looking for

the ball over the top to Gray. Brilliant take, good try. Just

couldn't find the target. Beautifully timed run. Lovely first

touch. Just drifted across the face. The clearest opportunity of this

game so far. They have scored 22 league goals, second-lowest in the

division. His team, have only five away goals all season.

Elmohamady, suddenly Mbokani with space. Grosicki, over. That's Hull's

biggest chance. The Polish international couldn't take it. At

last, this game is beginning to open up.

Useful cross from the central defender. It's fallen for Grosicki.

His first touch let him down. It's still potentially alive. Touch on

the way through, it's a Hull corner. The early cross from the central

defender surprised Burnley here. It just clipped off Westwood.

Grosicki's corner. McGuire came in. Appeals for handball. It's been

given. He says penalty, yellow card, Ashley Barnes. It's Michael Keane

the offender. Leading with his arm. It's a good spot from Martin

Atkinson. Barnes' yellow card was for dissent. 19 minutes remaining.

Bul Hull have scored both their Premier League penalties this

season. Tom Huddlestone has the responsibility here. Against Tom

Heaton. It could be a big moment. Oh, and it's in. Tom Heaton thought

he'd kept it out. Relief for Huddlestone and for Hull. 72 minutes

gone. And Hull have the lead. Heaton left frustrated. He thought he'd

just pushed that round the post. Instead, he just helped it into the

back of the net. The most important thing for Marco Silva and Hull is

that it went in. Burnley have not won a Premier League game under Sean

Dyche when they've conceded the first goal, in 34 of them. Here's

Gray. Robbie Brady's cross was an excellent one, as was the

interception from Harry McGuire. He's been a rock back there for Hull

again today. Brady with him. Through to Keane! Would you believe it, the

man who gave away the penalty at one end has equalised at the other. Just

his second ever Premier League goal. It's got Burnley back on terms. Hull

didn't deal with it. He hammered it past Jakupovic. Hull 1, Burnley 1.

Perfect response. Elmohamady takes over. Away by

Lowton. Clears it for Burnley. He got a blow in the face there. A

second yellow card for Barnes, and he's off. Ashley Barnes sent off for

barnly in stoppage-time. He did have a little look there and caught

Ranocchia in the face. In from Huddlestone. Ranocchia's head down.

Oh, he had the swing. That is the opportunity missed for Hull to win

the game and temporarily move out of the bottom three.

Having gone in front, is it frustrating to just get a point?

Yes, it is frustrating. During 95 minutes, it is not easy for all

teams to play against them. We try to put our football on the pitch, to

put our ideas there. A lot is being made about our away form, we took

the game on, we created chances, we had the golden chance of the game.

The first half, we made so many good opportunities, but we failed with

the final moment of quality in the top third of the pitch, but in

general, to come back with the amazing character we have got in the

team, I am very pleased with that. I am obviously disappointed to give a

weather penalty, I thought it was harsh. I got a push in the back, and

it pushed my arm towards the ball, and unfortunately that went against

us today, but to respond straightaway with a goal, we are

strong from set plays, the great Hall in, and I think they took a

good first touch. No question who the chief

protagonist was. It was a crazy five minutes for him and what was

probably quite a dull game. He mentioned he got a push in the back.

I don't think it was that much of a push, not enough for him to stick

his hand out in the way that he did. It is not clear in that one, but you

can see here, the ball is about to hit Maguire's head, so he is

stopping a held player get on the ball. It is the right incision from

Martin Atkinson to give the penalty. Tom Huddlestone comes up, and he

goes down the other end, and his twin brother will be proud of his

defensive brother, his quality to bring that down on his chest and put

that in the back of the net. A fantastic finish. Very, very good

finish. He has a team back in the game, and ended a run of defeats

away from home. And Hull have become difficult to beat. He has them

organised, but I think they are up against it.

There are a few things to look out for this week.

Radio 5 Live will have commentary of the EFL Cup Final

as Manchester United take on Southampton.

More live action from the FA Cup on Wednesday night as free-scoring

Manchester City take on Huddersfield in a tricky replay.

And, coverage from Serbia of Athletics' European Indoor

Championships gets underway on BBC Two from Friday morning.

COMMENTATOR: Scholes goes into the middle, and Dwight Yorke is there!

Dwight Yorke, he is on his hat-trick, a great chance for 3-1.

What a great hat-trick. When Watford and West Ham met

earlier in the season, it was a six goal thriller and kick

started Watford's season. West Ham were struggling

at the time, but have Martin Fisher watched

at Vicarage Road. COMMENTATOR: Troy Deeney accused

West Ham of showboating at 2-0 up, and Watford stormed back to win 4-2

to climb back out of the relegation zone, and haven't been in any real

trouble since. Personally he is back in the goals with three of his last

four outings. Juris -- Joseph West Ham have yet to keep a clean

sheet since the Portuguese joint. A victory would take them above West

Ham in the table. Deeney is in behind Fonte. They have got a block

in, Zarate goes down, penalty! The referee pointed to the spot inside

two minutes. The diminutive Argentine has given Watford the

perfect opportunity to take an early lead here. He scored seven of his

last eight penalty kicks, Troy Deeney, the one blot on his copybook

was at Upton Park back in April. He doesn't miss this one. Into the

bottom corner, and Troy Deeney's eighth in the campaign looks the

perfect penalty. The manager dent even watch what was

unfolding. Zarate has done well, and plenty of

power in that shot, but it was always rising. Slaven Bilic took his

players to Dubai in the interval between their last game and this

one, he was keen to stress that they did train every day. Feghouli

tussling with Holebas, and he has got the better and picked out

Snodgrass. What an opportunity from Robert Snodgrass, poor defending

from Holebas, and when Snodgrass was picked out, it is Kaboul who has got

the shot. Antonio ploughed on, but is denied. The determination here,

not a little skill from Antonio. He stayed on his feet. Here is Querrey

Arte. Noble lucky for Feghouli, and it is away by Janmaat. West Ham

press for the equaliser, Creswell with the cross, and it wouldn't

quite drop for Snodgrass. The referee has now spotted that Zarate

is down and needs attention. What a chance here for West Ham, Gomes

could only push it out. A problem for Zarate, he went down after that

challenge from Feghouli, and this looks nasty. The knee just seems to

have called underneath him, and applause all around the ground as he

is stretchered off the pitch. What a blow to him personally, signed last

month, this only his third game for Watford.

Watford players hugely irritated by that challenge, it is a level for

Antonia. It is a sore leg for Behrami. Kouyate on the far side.

Piatti has gone for the return, tried to get in behind, and he might

just do so. He goes down, and the whistle goes and Watford's favour.

Kouyate who was involved in the incident in that penalty area to

concede in the first half. On the far side, Kouyate is well forward

again against Holebas. Beaten by Tom Cleverley, and cheering from the

West Ham fans behind that goal as West Ham are given a free kick.

Fonte attacking many opposed, Antonia couldn't go, and what a save

by Gomes! Great athleticism here from Gomes. It is not quite

happening for Bilic again. Might Creswell provide the opportunity? It

is a quality ball in from Creswell, but Antonio couldn't guide it home.

In the 72nd minute, Vicarage Road stands to remember Graham Taylor.

Now, can Ayew just help that an? Yes, he can. Antonia will look to

burst away, he hasn't lost it yet, and Ayew! West Ham United level the

score at 1-1, and Andre Ayew gets his second goal in claret and blue.

Produced a wonderful shot, and the rebound favours West Ham United.

1-1. Lanzini for West Ham. The pass wasn't good enough for him. Antonia

slipped to the ground, and Watford players felt that he handled it. It

is a yellow card, and having already been booked, Antonia is off. More

frustration for Slaven Bilic. He is having a look again, definite

handball, silly from Antonio. That was won by Behrami, but Success

was fouled. This might be the last chance for either of these sides to

win this game. Corner given. Final touch of the

Solder of Kouyate -- the shoulder of Querrey Arte. It goes right across,

and is hooked away. In goes Holebas, West Ham can't clear it, still the

chance, and Success sends it wide, and referee Craig Pawson blows her

time, and West Ham just about hang on.

Can we just check on the progress of Zarate, any news on his condition as

yet? I saw him in a lot of pain, and also a bit worried. This is not a

good sign, but he was also making a difference on the pitch, so

hopefully it is not too bad. It is a good point, especially it is hard to

come back away, but on the other hand, if you ask me which team today

showed more quality, basically more quality in every department,

especially on the ball, that was us, especially in the second half. We

can't get to a point where we think we are safe, and is definitely a

game of two halves. We had the better of the first half and they

dominated the second, so fair result, just one of those games.

Honours even, couple of penalty decisions to look at, Jermaine. Very

similar, the first one, Zarate who had a big influence on this game

until he unfortunately went off with what looked like a terrible injury,

but it is just clumsy, we Arte stamps on his heel and it was the

right decision from Pawson. Niang getting himself into a bad has

issued with Kouyate, he could get there but he is being obstructed, so

I think that is a penalty. That should have been a penalty. I think

Slaven thinks that as well. That was calm for him! West Ham struggling in

the sense that they haven't gotten out and out striker with Andy

Carroll injured, and is that showing? It did a large parts of

this, and not through lack of effort, because I thought Antonia

Gega think that he had, but just running out of options. When you

pick up your head, you want somebody to run in with you, and it wasn't

quite happening. Pace, power, energy to get down the left-hand side. Your

he does it anyway. But when he looks up there, he needs people in the

box, and Feghouli and Snodgrass are just a little too late. And the

chance has now gone, exactly the same thing happens on the left

again, Snodgrass, and again two players should be in the box, but

they are not, and the chance goes again. But a hopeful ball forward,

there isn't a lot he could do with that, Antonia, just try to push them

under pressure, but when Ayew came on, second-half, the one bit of

quality and the determination to get in the box change, brilliant run

from Antonio, unlucky not to going, and they definitely deserved that.

Both of these teams, you would imagine, would finish in the middle

of the table. I think so. To be fed to West Ham, they have managed to

get themselves a little bit of good form, so both teams will be

mid-table, I would say. We have just about run out of time. Before we

leave you, let's have a look at the table.

Leaders Chelsea extended their advantage to 11 points

Tottenham have a chance to go second when they play Stoke on Sunday.

Crystal Palace's win against Middlesbrough moves them out

of the bottom three with champions Leicester replacing them

ahead of their match against Liverpool on Monday.

Sunderland stay bottom after their defeat at Everton.

Let's see what the papers have to say.

The Mail on Sunday focus on the denials from some key Leicester

players that they had a hand in Claudio Ranieri's sucking. And could

Nigel Pearson be heading back to Leicester to replace the Italian?

Chelsea get 11 points clear, which means Leicester can no longer retain

the title. Goodbye.