DAVID MOYES’ WEEK went from bad to worse as his Sunderland side slumped to a 2-0 defeat at Leicester City that pushed them even closer to the Premier League trapdoor.
EMPICS Sport
EMPICS Sport
Islam Slimani’s first club goal of 2017 and his sixth Premier League strike of the season turned the match in favour of Craig Shakespeare’s resurgent Foxes, who are now nine points clear of the drop zone.
Before Slimani’s 69th-minute header, the visitors had given under-fire manager Moyes cause for optimism in a week in which he was widely criticised for comments made to a BBC reporter in March.
Jermain Defoe looked sharp throughout as he sought his first goal for Sunderland since February, but when the England striker fails to find the net his side lack an alternative threat and they are now without a goal in six matches.
Shakespeare’s side were second best for much of the contest but Jamie Vardy lashed the ball home in the 78th minute to make it 2-0 and bury any hope Sunderland had of salvaging a draw.
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Meanwhile, George Boyd scored the only goal as Burnley edged past Stoke City 1-0 at Turf Moor to move away from the relegation zone.
Nick Potts
Nick Potts
Sean Dyche’s side had not won in their last seven league matches to slip to 15th in the table and were in urgent need of three points against their mid-table visitors to release growing pressure.
A single goal was always likely to decide a scrappy affair that featured few clear-cut chances and it came after 58 low-quality minutes.
Boyd made no mistake with a smart finish from close to the penalty spot after Ireland’s Jeff Hendrick beat two Stoke players and crossed for the winger to turn home a low first-time shot.
Despite plenty of effort from the visitors a leveller never looked likely and Stoke’s nine-game unbeaten run in away league games against newly-promoted sides came to an end.
Victory moves Burnley eight points clear of the relegation zone and they jump to 12th, a single place behind Stoke in the table, with both teams having seven games to play.
Elsehwere, Watford put an end to their long-standing struggles in home matches with West Brom to move into the top half of the Premier League with a comfortable 2-0 victory at Vicarage Road.
John Walton
John Walton
M’Baye Niang’s rasping first-half strike and a second-half effort from Troy Deeney sealed their first three points at home against the Baggies since November 1994.
West Brom could not take advantage of a second half red card for Miguel Britos, Nacer Chadli’s free-kick that clattered against the woodwork in the opening period their best chance.
It is a second consecutive victory for Walter Mazzarri’s men after a poor run of form, and one which consolidates their mid-table position — 10 points above the bottom three — ahead of a tricky trip to Tottenham on Saturday.
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Leicester worsen Moyes' bad week while Jeff Hendrick assists Burnley's winner
DAVID MOYES’ WEEK went from bad to worse as his Sunderland side slumped to a 2-0 defeat at Leicester City that pushed them even closer to the Premier League trapdoor.
Islam Slimani’s first club goal of 2017 and his sixth Premier League strike of the season turned the match in favour of Craig Shakespeare’s resurgent Foxes, who are now nine points clear of the drop zone.
Before Slimani’s 69th-minute header, the visitors had given under-fire manager Moyes cause for optimism in a week in which he was widely criticised for comments made to a BBC reporter in March.
Jermain Defoe looked sharp throughout as he sought his first goal for Sunderland since February, but when the England striker fails to find the net his side lack an alternative threat and they are now without a goal in six matches.
Shakespeare’s side were second best for much of the contest but Jamie Vardy lashed the ball home in the 78th minute to make it 2-0 and bury any hope Sunderland had of salvaging a draw.
Meanwhile, George Boyd scored the only goal as Burnley edged past Stoke City 1-0 at Turf Moor to move away from the relegation zone.
Sean Dyche’s side had not won in their last seven league matches to slip to 15th in the table and were in urgent need of three points against their mid-table visitors to release growing pressure.
A single goal was always likely to decide a scrappy affair that featured few clear-cut chances and it came after 58 low-quality minutes.
Boyd made no mistake with a smart finish from close to the penalty spot after Ireland’s Jeff Hendrick beat two Stoke players and crossed for the winger to turn home a low first-time shot.
Despite plenty of effort from the visitors a leveller never looked likely and Stoke’s nine-game unbeaten run in away league games against newly-promoted sides came to an end.
Victory moves Burnley eight points clear of the relegation zone and they jump to 12th, a single place behind Stoke in the table, with both teams having seven games to play.
Elsehwere, Watford put an end to their long-standing struggles in home matches with West Brom to move into the top half of the Premier League with a comfortable 2-0 victory at Vicarage Road.
M’Baye Niang’s rasping first-half strike and a second-half effort from Troy Deeney sealed their first three points at home against the Baggies since November 1994.
West Brom could not take advantage of a second half red card for Miguel Britos, Nacer Chadli’s free-kick that clattered against the woodwork in the opening period their best chance.
It is a second consecutive victory for Walter Mazzarri’s men after a poor run of form, and one which consolidates their mid-table position — 10 points above the bottom three — ahead of a tricky trip to Tottenham on Saturday.
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