SHANE LONG MISSED a penalty for Southampton but Jay Rodriguez scored once and provided an assist as they won 2-1 at relegated Middlesbrough.
It was the Saints’ first victory in six games, which moves them up to ninth in the Premier League. Forward Rodriguez had not netted since January, but struck late in the first half to give Saints the early advantage. And he set up half-time substitute Nathan Redmond to strike after the break, shortly before Long struck the crossbar with a penalty.
Long, who had earned the spot-kick himself, is without a goal for the club since 11 February.
Boro, playing their first match since their top-flight relegation was confirmed by defeat to Chelsea on Monday, got one back when Patrick Bamford headed in with 18 minutes remaining, the striker’s first goal in over two years. But there was no way back for the hosts – who have now won just once in 20 league games
Sunderland 0 Swansea City 2
Swansea City took a giant step towards Premier League survival with a 2-0 victory at relegated Sunderland.
The win moved Paul Clement’s impressive side four points clear of third-bottom Hull City, who will slip into the Championship if they lose at fellow strugglers Crystal Palace on Sunday.
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Sunderland won 2-0 at Hull last weekend but a similar result never appeared likely as the Welsh side cruised relatively untroubled to their fourth away win of the season.
The Swans players mob goalscorer Fernando Llorente. Owen Humphreys
Owen Humphreys
Gylfi Sigurdsson was at the heart of most of Swansea’s best moments and he supplied the free-kick from which Fernando Llorente nodded in after nine minutes with Kyle Naughton thundering home a second mere seconds before the break.
Sunderland had hoped to give the likes of Jermain Defoe and Jordan Pickford a rousing send-off on what was likely to be their final home appearances in red and white before they seek pastures new at the end of the season but, instead, David Moyes’ men turned in another abject performance that displayed exactly why they prop up the top flight.
Repeated chants of “we want Moyes out” echoed around the Stadium of Light as if to demonstrate the frustrations of the Wearside faithful with another spell of upheaval on the agenda between now and August.
Bournemouth 2 Burnley 1
Josh King’s late strike ensured Bournemouth moved up into the top half of the Premier League courtesy of a dramatic 2-1 victory over Burnley.
In a late flurry of activity at a sun-kissed Vitality Stadium, King’s 16th league goal of the campaign ensured Eddie Howe’s side claimed the spoils from their final home game of the season.
Cherries hero King on the pitch with his son Noah after the final whistle. Steven Paston
Steven Paston
With their respective top-flight futures secured heading into next season, both sets of fans were in a celebratory mood, though the game never really took off until the 83rd minute, when Sam Vokes cancelled out Junior Stanislas’s first-half effort.
That moment of quality from former Claret Stanislas punctuated a low-key affair, until Vokes — who started his career at Bournemouth — headed in Johann Berg Gudmundsson’s cross. However, it was not to be for Sean Dyche’s side, who have relied on their superb home form to keep them up this season, as King thumped home at the other end under two minutes later.
The victory lifts Bournemouth — who face Leicester City on the final day — up to 10th place, and represents their first win over the Clarets in any competition since 1998.
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Shane Long can't buy a goal right now, while Swansea take a major step towards safety
Middlesbrough 1
Southampton 2
SHANE LONG MISSED a penalty for Southampton but Jay Rodriguez scored once and provided an assist as they won 2-1 at relegated Middlesbrough.
It was the Saints’ first victory in six games, which moves them up to ninth in the Premier League. Forward Rodriguez had not netted since January, but struck late in the first half to give Saints the early advantage. And he set up half-time substitute Nathan Redmond to strike after the break, shortly before Long struck the crossbar with a penalty.
Long, who had earned the spot-kick himself, is without a goal for the club since 11 February.
Boro, playing their first match since their top-flight relegation was confirmed by defeat to Chelsea on Monday, got one back when Patrick Bamford headed in with 18 minutes remaining, the striker’s first goal in over two years. But there was no way back for the hosts – who have now won just once in 20 league games
Sunderland 0
Swansea City 2
Swansea City took a giant step towards Premier League survival with a 2-0 victory at relegated Sunderland.
The win moved Paul Clement’s impressive side four points clear of third-bottom Hull City, who will slip into the Championship if they lose at fellow strugglers Crystal Palace on Sunday.
Sunderland won 2-0 at Hull last weekend but a similar result never appeared likely as the Welsh side cruised relatively untroubled to their fourth away win of the season.
Gylfi Sigurdsson was at the heart of most of Swansea’s best moments and he supplied the free-kick from which Fernando Llorente nodded in after nine minutes with Kyle Naughton thundering home a second mere seconds before the break.
Sunderland had hoped to give the likes of Jermain Defoe and Jordan Pickford a rousing send-off on what was likely to be their final home appearances in red and white before they seek pastures new at the end of the season but, instead, David Moyes’ men turned in another abject performance that displayed exactly why they prop up the top flight.
Repeated chants of “we want Moyes out” echoed around the Stadium of Light as if to demonstrate the frustrations of the Wearside faithful with another spell of upheaval on the agenda between now and August.
Bournemouth 2
Burnley 1
Josh King’s late strike ensured Bournemouth moved up into the top half of the Premier League courtesy of a dramatic 2-1 victory over Burnley.
In a late flurry of activity at a sun-kissed Vitality Stadium, King’s 16th league goal of the campaign ensured Eddie Howe’s side claimed the spoils from their final home game of the season.
With their respective top-flight futures secured heading into next season, both sets of fans were in a celebratory mood, though the game never really took off until the 83rd minute, when Sam Vokes cancelled out Junior Stanislas’s first-half effort.
That moment of quality from former Claret Stanislas punctuated a low-key affair, until Vokes — who started his career at Bournemouth — headed in Johann Berg Gudmundsson’s cross. However, it was not to be for Sean Dyche’s side, who have relied on their superb home form to keep them up this season, as King thumped home at the other end under two minutes later.
The victory lifts Bournemouth — who face Leicester City on the final day — up to 10th place, and represents their first win over the Clarets in any competition since 1998.
The42 is on Instagram! Tap the button below on your phone to follow us!
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Agony and Ecstasy Premier League Shane Long Hull City Swansea City