Everton remain seventh after a lacklustre draw
Wigan Athletic remain mired in the Premier League relegation zone after Leighton Baines’s late penalty rescued a 1-1 draw for Everton against his former club.
Charles N’Zogbia gave Wigan the lead in the 21st minute at the DW Stadium and Everton’s Mikel Arteta then had a penalty saved by Ali Al Habsi. Wigan came close to extending their lead on several occasions but a handball by Hugo Rodallega enabled Baines to draw the Toffees level from the penalty spot 12 minutes from full-time.
With three games of the season remaining, Wigan are third-bottom in the table while Everton remain seventh, four points behind sixth-placed city rivals Liverpool, who host Newcastle United today.
Kakuta, Davies sink Sunderland
Meanwhile, Fulham maintained their recent run of good form at Sunderland, downing the Black Cats 3-0. The Cottagers went ahead through loan signing Gael Kakuta, the Chelsea teenager latching on to a Bobby Zamora pass and finishing from eight yards.
Simon Davies doubled Fulham’s lead midway through the second half, silencing the Stadium of Light with a neat finish from Steve Sidwell’s cross before grabbing a second 12 minutes later to complete the scoring.
West Brom seal victory
Ten-man West Brom came from behind to take the honours in their Midlands derby against Aston Villa, winning 2-1 at the Hawthorns.
An own goal from Abdoulaye Meite handed Villa the lead but Nigerian striker Peter Odemwingie got West Brom back on level terms in the 60th minute. Then with full-time looming, West Brom snatched all three points when Youssouf Mulumbu pounced on 84 minutes.
Blackburn down Bolton
Blackburn halted their slide towards Premier League relegation when Martin Olsson’s first-half goal earned them a priceless 1-0 win over Lancashire rivals Bolton.
It was Rovers’ first win in 11 league games stretching back to January and eased the pressure on beleaguered boss Steve Kean.
Meanwhile, Blackpool’s hopes of Premier League survival remain on a knife-edge after a gritty 0-0 draw with Stoke at Bloomfield Road. The hard-earned point left Ian Holloway’s men hovering just above the relegation zone, ahead of 18th placed Wigan on goal difference.
Published in The Express Tribune, May 1st, 2011.
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