LAST UPDATE | 12 Apr 2021
IRELAND STRIKER CALLUM Robinson scored again as West Bromwich Albion improved their slender hopes of avoiding relegation from the Premier League with a 3-0 over Southampton 3-0, while Evertonโs fading top four bid was damaged by a 0-0 draw at Brighton tonight.
Albion saw Mbaye Diagneโs goal questionably ruled out by VAR early in the first half at the Hawthorns.
But Sam Allardyceโs side recovered from that blow to sweep into a two-goal lead by half-time thanks to Matheus Pereiraโs penalty and a Matt Phillips strike.
Callum Robinson sealed West Bromโs second successive win after the interval as the Baggies built on their stunning 5-2 victory at Chelsea, when Robinson scored twice.
Second bottom Albion move within eight points of fourth bottom Newcastle with seven games left, Ireland international Dara OโShea playing the full game in defence.
The Baggies have scored eight goals in their last two games, two more than they had netted in their previous 11 combined, but their unexpected revival might have come too late to save them from slipping into the Championship.
โWe have had two very important wins that are pricking up peopleโs ears but unfortunately we have to rely on other people losing,โ Allardyce said.
The latest VAR row in a season of problems with the technology drew a scathing response from Allardyce.
โIโm afraid so,โ he said when asked if VAR is a laughing stock. โThere are too many of us not being given an opportunity to express how to make it better.โ
Southamptonโs limp display was the worst possible preparation for next weekendโs FA Cup semi-final against Leicester.
After just four minutes it looked like being a frustrating evening for Albion.
Diagne nodded in from close-range and was flagged offside, with VAR backing the onfield call because television cameras could not get the right angle to conclusively prove the striker was on or offside.
But Pereira was brought down by Saints keeper Fraser Forster in the 32nd minute and the Brazilian picked himself up to dispatch the spot-kick.
Phillips got the second three minutes later when he converted Diagneโs cross at the far post.
Robinson put the result beyond doubt in the 69th minute when he drilled in from Okay Yokusluโs pass.
Adding to Southamptonโs woes, Johnstone saved James Ward-Prowseโs stoppage-time penalty after Conor Townsendโs foul on Moussa Djenepo.
At the Amex Stadium, Everton were hoping to close the gap on fourth placed West Ham in the race to qualify for next seasonโs Champions League.
But Carlo Ancelottiโs team managed only one shot on target as their winless run extended to five games in all competitions.
Brighton dominated for long periods and Neal Maupay and Yves Bissouma, with a spectacular overhead kick, both went close in the first half.
Lewis Dunkโs goalbound flick brought a fine save from Everton keeper Robin Olsen after the break.
Maupay and Jakub Moder were narrowly off target as Brighton pressed for a winner.
But Alex Iwobi nearly snatched the points for Everton when he flashed his shot wide in the last minute.
Everton, in eighth place, are seven points behind West Ham with a game in hand, while Brighton moved seven points clear of the relegation zone.
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The Real CR7
@Aido: brilliant comment!
Delighted for Callum Robinson. He has been through a tough season but itโs brilliant to see him involved in the goals regularly again. On the other hand, Southampton have been awful lately. Itโs hard to think they were top of the league in November. If they didnโt make that good start, they would in a proper relagation fight.
@Eoin Fitzgerald: its hard to believe Liverpool were top of the league at the turn of the years โ thats football!
@Declan: Spurs and Arsenal were top of the league too. How the mighty have fallenโฆ
Brighton frustrated by Everton I think you mean.