Great weekend of relegation soccer, as we had two very important 6-pointers where the importance of victory was on full display. If you haven't watched the last 10 minutes of the Leeds-Norwich match I invite you to go do so. It will show you how much this means to the teams and exactly why they are in the relegation fight. Was truly must watch television, in fact, I have watched it twice now.
Our bottom 6 clubs claimed 9 points over the weekend, which led to a bit of space for Brentford and Leeds, and a lot of concern for the three clubs who did not get points (Norwich, Burnley and Everton). I have been a long fan of the Toffees, but I am calling my shot, I think Everton are going down. I just don't see any resolve or fight with the club. You watch Leeds and see what it means to the players and how they have let Marsch into their inner circle immediately, and I just don't see that with the Everton players and Lampard. Give me either Roy Hogdson or Sam Dyche to overtake Lampard and Everton.
Weekend Results:
Brentford 2-0 Burnley. Brentford boosted their chances of EPL survival by claiming their first ever consecutive EPL victories thanks to Ivan Toney scoring two late goals earning Brentford a 2-0 victory over relegation rivals Burnley. Bryan Mbeumo and Christian Eriksen each had early opportunities for Brentford, but could not get the ball Nick Pope and ex-Brentford defender James Tarkowski, who cleared Mbeumo's volley off the line. Burnley had their best opportunities in the second half, with Maxwel Cornet denied by David Raya's reaction save before substitute Jay Rodriguez's spectacular shot struck the bar. Toney put the Bees ahead with five minutes remaining, heading in a beautiful cross by Eriksen. Toney's second goal came from a penalty kick awarded in stoppage time, when Nathan Collins was given a straight red for denying Toney a goalscoring opportunity in the penalty box. Brentford are 15th but now have 30 points, nine clear of Burnley, who drop to 19th, one point behind Watford and Everton.
Everton 0-1 Wolverhampton. Conor Coady put a dagger in the heart of Evertonians, as he scored the only goal in Wolverhampton Wanderers 1-0 victory at Goodison Park, condemning Everton to a fourth straight Premier League defeat and real relegation fears. Everton came close to the opening goal in the 6th minute, but Richarlison was denied from six yards by Jose Sa. Sa made another reaction save on Demarai Gray in the 21st minute. The Wolves nearly scored twice before the end of the first half, but Joao Moutinho fired straight at Jordan Pickford from distance and Raul Jimenez's overhead kick was off target. Wolves went ahead just four minutes after the break when Coady headed in a Ruben Neves' cross, scoring his third goal of the season. Richarlison nearly leveled for Everton, but he just found the woodwork from Anthony Gordon's cross. Jonjoe Kenny sealed Everton's fate when he received two yellow cards in three minutes, forcing the Toffees to play the final 13 minutes with 10 men. Everton remain 17th, above Watford on goal difference, but with three matches in hand.
Leeds 2-1 Norwich City. Joe Gelhardt earned a place in Leed's history when he came on as a stoppage time substitute and scored deep into stoppage time, earning head coach Jesse Marsch a first Premier League victory over fellow relegation combatants Norwich City, 2-1. Rodrigo put Leeds into the lead in the 14th minute, finding the corner of the net with his first-time effort. The Whites missed several opportunities to double their lead and rightfully should have had this game out of contention, but Raphinha was denied by the woodwork in both halves and Patrick Bamford missed wide when through on goal. Somehow, Norwich stayed in close range and it appeared Kenny McLean had earned Norwich a point when he scored from close range in the first minute of stoppage time. But Gelhardt entered the match on the restart after Norwich's goal and slammed in Raphinha's cutback three minutes later to secure a vital three points for Leeds, which moves 16th-placed Leeds on to 26 points, four clear of the bottom three. Norwich remain bottom, with a run of six consecutive defeats leaving them on 17 points.
Southampton 1-2 Watford. Cucho Hernandez scored twice in the first half and Watford held on for a surprising 2-1 victory over Southampton, boosting the Hornets hopes of Premier League safety. Hernandez took advantage of an under hit backpass and went around Fraser Forster to open the scoring in the 14th minute. He then doubled their advantage in the 34th minute, volleying in Juraj Kucka's cross. Mohamed Elyounoussi got Southampton back in the match right before half, when Che Adams flicked James Ward-Prowse's free-kick on to Elyounoussi turned it in at the back post. From there the Watford defense was able to hold on, with Forster at full stretch to deny Kucka and Emmanuel Dennis narrowly missing wide for the Saints. Watford's first win in five matches moves them up to 18th, level on points with 17th-placed Everton, who have three matches in hand.
Current Relegation Standings:
Team GP Points
15. Brentford 29 30
16. Leeds 29 26
17. Everton 26 22
18. Watford 29 22
19. Burnley 27 21
20. Norwich 29 17