Everton moved out of the Premier League relegation zone with a ruthless 5-1 win at Brighton on Monday, whereas Leicester’s hopes of survival are hanging by a thread after a 5-3 defeat at Fulham.
Everton’s Dwight McNeil celebrates scoring their fifth purpose with Alex Iwobi and Amadou Onana(REUTERS)
Nottingham Forest additionally pulled themselves away from the underside three as they beat fellow strugglers Southampton 4-3.
Brighton are within the hunt to qualify for Europe for the primary time within the membership’s historical past, however a heavy schedule appeared to have taken its toll on Roberto De Zerbi’s males as they have been torn aside by an Everton facet that had not gained away since October.
The Toffees had the dream begin as Abdoulaye Doucoure opened the scoring after simply 34 seconds.
Doucoure’s sensible volley from Dwight McNeil’s cross doubled Everton’s lead earlier than Brighton goalkeeper Jason Steele deflected McNeil’s cross into his personal internet.
De Zerbi responded by making 4 half-time substitutions and Brighton peppered the Everton purpose however have been caught out on the counter-attack when McNeil confirmed nice poise to spherical Steele to make it 4-0.
Alexis Mac Allister pulled a purpose again after Kaoru Mitoma’s preliminary effort got here off the put up.
But McNeil had the ultimate say as he rounded off a stunning efficiency by smashing into the highest nook in stoppage time.
A primary win in eight video games lifts Sean Dyche’s males two factors away from the drop zone.
“It’s a quality of performance that we want to build,” Dyche stated. “It shows it is in there – it’s the consistency I’ve been searching for.”
Brighton stay in seventh, two factors behind Tottenham with two video games in hand, however their outdoors shot at a top-four end seems gone.
Leicester’s psychological struggles
Leicester boss Dean Smith admitted his gamers are scuffling with the pressures of a relegation battle after a disastrous defensive show at Craven Cottage.
The Foxes, who gained the Premier League in gorgeous vogue in 2016 and lifted the FA Cup two years in the past, are staring relegation within the face.
Victories for Everton and Forest pushed Leicester into the relegation zone they usually additionally face a tricky run-in with Champions League-chasing Liverpool and Newcastle to come back earlier than ending the season at house to West Ham.
Only Leeds and Bournemouth have conceded extra targets than Leicester within the Premier League and defensive deficiencies have been once more their undoing at Craven Cottage.
Goals from Willian, Carlos Vinicius and Tom Cairney put Fulham 3-0 up earlier than half-time.
“The first-half is what killed us,” stated Smith. “You can’t give three-goal leads at this level and expect to come back.”
“Some of them are struggling mentally with the pressures, but that’s for me and the coaching staff to sort out and pick the right team.”
Cairney and Willian struck once more both facet of Harvey Barnes’ comfort purpose to make it 5-1.
Jamie Vardy additionally noticed Leicester’s first penalty of the sport saved by Bernd Leno in an action-packed second-half earlier than the guests pulled two extra targets again within the ultimate 10 minutes.
James Maddison transformed a second penalty earlier than Barnes pounced to make it 5-3 after a calamitous defensive mix-up between Shane Duffy and Leno.
Forest moved three factors away from the drop zone in a seven-goal thriller that just about sealed Southampton’s destiny.
“There was so much that went on in the game,” stated Forest boss Steve Cooper. “I am really pleased with some of the quality we showed in attack, creating chances and scoring, but we didn’t cover ourselves in glory with the goals we conceded.”
Two targets in three minutes from Taiwo Awoniyi put Forest on the highway to victory earlier than Carlos Alcaraz pulled a purpose again.
Morgan Gibbs-White restored the hosts’ two-goal lead from the penalty spot, however they needed to survive some nervy moments after Lyanco’s header made it 3-2 early within the second half.
Danilo rounded off a effective crew transfer 17 minutes from time to offer Cooper’s males respiration house on the backside regardless of James Ward-Prowse’s penalty in stoppage time slicing the arrears as soon as extra.
Southampton are eight factors from security with three video games remaining.
Source: www.hindustantimes.com
