Hull 1-1 Sunderland
Dame N’Doye’s goal placed Hull City ahead but it was the moment of fracas between coaches Steve Bruce and Gustavo Poyet that emerged the talking point in a hard-fought contest at the KC Stadium.
Sunderland’s Poyet lost his cool after Jack Rodwell was booked for diving. Replay suggested referee Mike Dean was right but the Uruguayan tactician was having none of the video simulation, at whose point he was already over at Bruce’s corner to have a word.
Whatever Poyet must have said did not go down well with the English manager, who was held back from going after his counterpart on his way to the stands after being sent off.
But on the field of play, Senegalese forward Ndoye flicked in Tom Huddlestones low free-kick for his third goal in four matches.
Rodwell converted Patrick van Aaanholt’s cross in the 77th minute- though with the ball appearing to come off his hand- to help maintain Sunderland’s push for Premier League survival.
Ndoye missed a golden opportunity to grab the match-winning goal moments after the equaliser, with Costel Panitilimon denying his close-range header.
Aston Villa 2-1 West Brom
Tim Sherwood earned his first points as Aston Villa boss as Christian Benteke’s dramatic late penalty secure a first win in 12 games for the Premier League strugglers against West Brom.
Gabriel Agbonlahor, moments after shooting straight at Ben Foster, ended a run of 14 Premier League matches without a goal in the 22nd minute, firing low through the West Brom goalkeeper’s legs from an angle after a Benteke flick on.
Villa skipper Fabian Delph struck the woodwork at the break but it was their Midlands neighbours who were celebrating six minutes after the hour mark, as Saido Berahino’s close-range header from Joleon Lescott’s headed pass restored parity.
Both sides were scuttling for a disappointing draw before West Brom goalkeeper Foster lunged at Matthew Lowton and Benteke stepped up to bury in from the spot on the nick of full-time.
It was Villa’s first win since 7 December, enough to lift them out of the relegation zone- three points clear of Queens Park Rangers (QPR) who have two games in hand.
Southampton 1-0 Crystal Palace
Southampton kept hopes of Uefa Champions League qualification alive as Sadio Mane ended their home goal drought with a composed 83rd-minute finish.
The Senegalese chipped over Julian Speroni after the Palace goalie failed to handle James Ward-Prowse’s shot. It was his sixth goal of the season and first Southampton goal at St. Mary’s Stadium in six hours, 27 minutes.
The defeat brought an end to Palace’s run of five away league matches without defeat since Alan Pardew took over, though the visitors put up a good fight with Wilfried Zaha’s drilled effort coming off the woodwork immediately after the restart.
