GERARD DEULOFEU SCORED twice as Watford enhanced their chances of finishing seventh with a 2-1 win at relegated Huddersfield Town, who equalled the worst home Premier League record in a single season.
The Spanish forward profited from some slack Huddersfield play early on to open the scoring at the John Smith’s Stadium and converted a rebound from close range late on to end the Hornets’ three-match losing run on their travels.
Watford had lost three of their last four top-flight matches, either side of beating Wolves to book a place in the FA Cup final, but they got back on track in the west Yorkshire sunshine despite Karlan Grant’s late consolation.
Leicester City’s draw at West Ham and two dropped points for Wolves at home to Brighton and Hove Albion lifts Watford into seventh place.
While Huddersfield’s 14th home loss of the season — equalling the Premier League record set by Sunderland in 2002-03 and 2005-06 — sees them cut further adrift at the bottom with their relegation fate already confirmed.
Meanwhile relegation-threatened Brighton battled to a potentially pivotal point as they held Wolves to a 0-0 draw at Molineux.
Albion’s back-to-back home losses to Bournemouth and fellow strugglers Cardiff City over the past week left them in a perilous position.
Chris Hughton’s men turned in a backs-to-the-wall performance on Saturday and are now without a goal in six matches.
But they did avert a sixth consecutive defeat in all competitions, with Diogo Jota coming closest to a breakthrough for eighth-place Wolves when he headed against the post in the 73rd minute.
Saturday also saw substitute Harvey Barnes score a dramatic stoppage-time equaliser as Leicester City claimed a 2-2 draw away to West Ham.
Barnes’ first Premier League goal came two minutes into added time, just after it looked like a late strike from West Ham’s Lucas Perez, who had also come off the bench, had given the hosts victory.
A frantic finish to the contest came after a relatively quiet opening hour, in which Michail Antonio headed in his fifth top-flight goal of the season as the hosts attempted to bounce back from a three-match losing streak.
The drama began when in-form Jamie Vardy scored his ninth goal in 10 Leicester games to equalise after the break, Barnes ultimately having the last word after Perez had struck eight minutes from time.
The reverse fixture in October also ended in a draw, and West Ham have now only won one of their past 10 meetings with the Foxes.
Finally, Aleksandar Mitrovic showed he has what it takes to remain a Premier League player with a powerful performance and the winning goal as relegated Fulham beat Bournemouth 1-0 at Vitality Stadium.
The Serbian striker won and scored a second-half penalty as Scott Parker’s side chalked up back-to-back victories and the sort of performance they seemed incapable of delivering during a nine-game losing streak between February and April.
The result spoiled Bournemouth manager Eddie Howe’s celebrations as he took charge of his 500th game, and he saw Callum Wilson and Ryan Fraser miss big chances just a week after they both scored in a 5-0 mauling of Brighton and Hove Albion.
3pm Premier League results:
- Bournemouth 0-1 Fulham
- Huddersfield Town 1-2 Watford
- West Ham 2-2 Leicester City
- Wolves 0-0 Brighton
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Even when on the bench he didn’t get game time. The coach doesn’t like or trust him. Saturday once again showed just how wrong O’connor has been all season
O’Connor is just all wrong for Leinster.
He has a very big chance next season with Leinster during the World Cup, midfield won’t be as competitive so he should get a good run of matches.
Mark if Darcy doesn’t make the World Cup squad, he’ll play 12 with t’eo at 13. Then Madigan and sexton will be back so the midfield won’t be as easy to get into as you may think
That pop pass from O’Brien
Battle between him and Madigan for the 12 jersey next season.
It’s always to easy to see who coaches ‘just like/don’t like’. When Gopperth played badly it was ignored whereas when Madigan played mediocre or even if Reid played well decisions went against them.
It creates such a poisonous culture as some players start to feel entitled to spots and others feel it doesn’t matter how well they play they won’t get picked. Cody and Fergusson were masters at disregarding players identities and judging on match performance alone. MOC is such a stink manager.