Priceless point for Blackpool
Tottenham fail to capitalise on Man City’s slip up while Blackpool stay out of the relegation zone
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| Hitzlsperger scores a goal that might just keep West Ham in the Premier League next season [GETTY/GALLO] |
Tottenham’s dream of securing Champions League football next season looks dead and buried after they could only manage a 1-1 draw against Blackpool in the English Premier League on Saturday.
Spurs are now six points behind Manchester City, leaving City needing only a point to claim the fourth sport. However, the draw at White Hart Lane keeps Blackpool out of the relegation zone.
Penalty-to-penalty
A dramatic second half saw Gareth Bale stretchered off after a crushing challenge by Charlie Adam.
Adam – who was lucky to be on the pitch – then failed to put Blackpool ahead after his team were awarded a penalty after Michael Dawson handballed in the area.
Just one minute later Adam had the chance to make amends when Gomes clumsily took down Taylor Fletcher. Adam confidently fired the ball home with a goal that looked to give Blackpool all three points.
However, Jermain Defoe was on hand with a superb strike to cling a goal, and a point, back for Spurs.
Blackpool manager Ian Holloway was delighted with his team’s performance.
“I think we could see the improvement my club has made… We believe in ourselves again and if we can continue to produce performances like that then we are not out of it,” he told ESPN.
“I love them and whatever happens I am very, very proud of them.”
But Blackpool captain Charlie Adam was disappointed his team didn’t leave White Hart Lane with a victory.
“It’s a good result here…but to be one ahead with eight or so minutes to go is disappointing,” Adam told ESPN.
City stumble
Manchester City failed to record the victory that would have put fourth place out of Spurs reach with a disappointing 2-1 defeat to their bogey side Everton on Saturday.
City led early through Yaya Toure but Sylvain Distin headed a 65th-minute equaliser against his former club and Leon Osman glanced in the winner seven minutes later to give the Toffees their seventh win in the teams’ last eight meetings and leave City’s fans sweating going into the last three games.
“It was impossible to lose this game today after all the chances we had,” City manager Roberto Mancini told Sky Sports.
“I don’t know why we stayed too deep in the second half, for 15 minutes we kept our defenders near the box and for them it was easy to play the long ball. It was strange, but we didn’t deserve to lose.”
Manchester City face Stoke City in the FA Cup final next week.
Hammers hang on
West Ham needed a late equaliser from Thomas Hitzlsperger to salvage a 1-1 draw at home to Blackburn but the London club still remain rooted to the bottom of the Premier League.
Jason Roberts put Blackburn ahead in the 12th minute, steering home Brett Emerton’s cross, and the visitors looked destined to leave with all three points in their own battle against the drop until Hitzlsperger rifled home a superb drive from the edge of the penalty area in the 78th minute.
Blackburn remain just above the relegation zone, but time is fast running out for the Hammers with two games left to play.
On West Ham’s match against Wigan next weekend a sombre Avram Grant told Sky Sports, “It is a massive, massive game. We need to win this game.”
Ashley Young struck a fine equaliser in front of England coach Fabio Capello to give Aston Villa a 1-1 Premier League draw with relegation-threatened Wigan Athletic.
England winger Young beat Wigan keeper Ali Al-Habsi from 20 yards, his ninth goal of the season, to cancel out Wigan’s lead at Villa Park.
| Results and fixtures |
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Saturday May 7
Sunday May 8
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A. Villa 1-1 WiganThe point left Wigan in the relegation zone with two games to play.
Sunderland climb
Sunderland midfielder Sulley Muntari gave his team their second win in 12 matches with a 2-1 victory against Bolton.
Muntari latched on to a through ball from Stephane Sessegnon to find the net with a shot that defender Zat Knight touched before the ball crossed the line, ending Bolton’s run of five straight home victories.
Bolo Zenden put Sunderland ahead in first-half stoppage time with his first goal of the season after beating the offside trap.
Bolton striker Ivan Klasnic equalized in the 87th, heading into the far corner from Rodrigo’s superb ball to the back post.
Newcastle were also 2-1 winners against Birmingham at St James’ Park. Defender Steven Taylor got the winner as his side prevailed over a 10-man Birmingham who remain dangerously close to the Premier League relegation zone.
Meanwhile in the Championship QPR were officially confirmed as champions after being cleared of two charges relating to the signing of Alejandro Faurlin.