EPL Gameweek 26: Saturday football – As it happened...

 

HALF-TIME Chelsea 3-0 Newcastle. Goals from Costa, Pedro and Willian put Chelsea in control at the break #CHENEW pic.twitter.com/DEaec8AvCL — Premier League (@premierleague) February 13, 2016

Chelsea (Costa 5', Pedro 9', Willian 17') 3 - 0 Newcastle Utd: Chelsea have started the onslaught at Stamford Bridge. It's already 3-0, and it's only 18th minute into the game.

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FULL-TIME Updates:

Palace 1-2 Watford
Everton 0-1 West Brom
Norwich 2-2 West Ham
Bournemouth 1-3 Stoke
Swansea 0-1 Southampton

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Crystal Palace (Adebayor 45') 1 - 2 (Deeney (P) 16', 82') Watford: Senegal defender Pape Souare earned the wrath of referee for an mindless tackle. Sent off in the 94th minute. Wasteful...

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PHOTO Noble's stunning strike pulls West Ham level, having trailed 2-0 just two mins earlier. 2-2 (85 mins) #NORWHU pic.twitter.com/tahCFF34ja — Premier League (@premierleague) February 13, 2016

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Crystal Palace (Adebayor 45') 1 - 2 (Deeney (P) 16', 82') Watford: Troy Deeney again on the scoreboard. The English forward produced a cool finish to give his side  the lead with less than 10 minutes to final whistle.

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Norwich (Hoolahan 54', Brady 65') 2 - 2 (Payet 74', Noble 76') West Ham: Wow! Hammers responded in similar fashion, scoring two goals in a space of two minutes. French play-maker Dimitri Payet was involved in both the goals. He scored the first goal, then assisted mark Noble for the second.

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In between, here's the teams news from Stamford Bridge. Finally, Eden Hazard got the nod.

Team to face Newcastle: Courtois; Ivanovic, Cahill, Terry (c), Azpilicueta; Fabregas, Matic; Pedro, Willian, Hazard; Diego Costa. #CFC — Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) February 13, 2016

TEAM NEWS: Here is how Newcastle United will line up at @ChelseaFC this afternoon (5:30pm GMT). #NUFC pic.twitter.com/AMVfj82oku — Newcastle United FC (@NUFC) February 13, 2016

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PHOTOS Two goals in three minutes put @stokecity in control against Bournemouth. It's 1-3 (73 mins) #BOUSTK pic.twitter.com/fw5kZO71hz — Premier League (@premierleague) February 13, 2016

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Swansea 0 - 1 (Long 69') Southampton: Saints finally breach the Swans defence with tireless Shane Long climbing tall to head home the goal. Good long pass from James Ward-Prowse.

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Norwich (Hoolahan 54', Brady 65') 2 - 0 West Ham: At Carrow Road, two goals in nine minutes allowed the home side take control the match against a strong Hammers' side.

Irish Wesley Hoolahan scored the first goal, before fellow midfielder Robbie Brady made it 2-0.

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Bournemouth (Ritchie 57') 1 - 3 (Imbula 10', Afellay 52', Joselu 55') Stoke City: Goals galore at Dean Court. Three strikes in nine minutes, two of those for the visiting side.

Spaniard forward took just under two minutes from introduction to score a goal. Three minutes earlier, Barcelona product Ibrahim Afellay scored his first Stoke goal.

Scotland midfielder Matt Ritchie reduced the lead with a 57th minute goal.

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#BPL HALF-TIME

Bournemouth 0-1 Stoke
Crystal Palace 1-1 Watford
Everton 0-1 West Brom
Norwich 0-0 West Ham
Swansea 0-0 Southampton — Premier League (@premierleague) February 13, 2016

Crystal Palace (Adebayor 45') 1 - 1 (Deeney (P) 16') Watford: Emmanuel Adebayor scored in the first-half stoppage time to give Palace lifeline at home.

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It's still goal-less at Carrow Road and Liberty Stadium. Five minutes into regulation time first-half.

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Everton 0 - 1 (Rondon 14') West Brom: Jose Rondon slotted home from a vantage position to give the visitors lead at Goodison Park.

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Crystal Palace 0 - 1 (Deeney (P) 16') Watford: Pity, what a waste from Crystal Palace to concede a penalty.  Another penalty from referee Robert Madley, for Mile Jedinak's wrapping hands on a Watford player. Selhurst Park is quite. Troy Deeney scored his first goal against Palace.

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Bournemouth 0 - 1 (Imbula 10') Stoke City: 23-year-old French midfielder Gianelli Imbula Wanga scores for the Potters. What an effort from distance, after pouncing on the rebound.

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Sunderland (Khazri 3', Kone 82') 2 - 1 (Martial 39') Manchester United: Big Sam has done it. Sunderland won.

Man Utd suffer a further setback in the race for the #BPL top four.#SUNMUN report: https://t.co/lHOWVoG53G pic.twitter.com/KvfuShMyJu — Premier League (@premierleague) February 13, 2016

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Sunderland (Khazri 3', Kone 82') 2 - 1 (Martial 39') Manchester United: United pressed hard in the dying minutes, and as a result earned a corner after Daley Blind tried a pretty spectacular flying kick on the goal.

90 minutes into the game, and it's three points to home side.

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Sunderland (Khazri 3', Kone 82') 2 - 1 (Martial 39') Manchester United: 23-year-old Will Keane returned for United, he replaced Morgan Schneiderlin with less than five minutes to regulation time.

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Sunderland (Khazri 3', Kone 82') 2 - 1 (Martial 39') Manchester United: Ivory Coast defender Lamine Kone scored from a free header from a corner as Black Cats continue to their league rescue act.

LVG slumped into his seat.

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Swansea vs Southampton: 

#Swans line-up v @SouthamptonFC: Fabianski, Rangel, Fernandez, Williams (C), Taylor, Britton, Cork, Sigurdsson, Routledge, Ayew, Paloschi. — Swansea City AFC (@SwansOfficial) February 13, 2016

The teams are in! Here's how #SaintsFC, who make four changes, line up for today's clash with the #Swans – pic.twitter.com/ZM1FFzx3Z5 — Southampton FC (@SouthamptonFC) February 13, 2016

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Norwich vs West Ham:

TEAM: Ruddy; Martin (c), Klose, Bassong, Brady; Howson, O'Neil; Redmond, Hoolahan, Naismith; Jerome. #ncfc — Norwich City FC (@NorwichCityFC) February 13, 2016

WEST HAM UNITED: Adrian, Byram, Collins, Ogbonna, Cresswell, Song, Noble ©, Obiang, Antonio, Payet, Valencia #WHUFC #NORWHU — West Ham United FC (@whufc_official) February 13, 2016

TEAM: Ruddy; Martin (c), Klose, Bassong, Brady; Howson, O'Neil; Redmond, Hoolahan, Naismith; Jerome. #ncfc — Norwich City FC (@NorwichCityFC) February 13, 2016

WEST HAM UNITED: Adrian, Byram, Collins, Ogbonna, Cresswell, Song, Noble ©, Obiang, Antonio, Payet, Valencia #WHUFC #NORWHU — West Ham United FC (@whufc_official) February 13, 2016

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Crystal Palace vs Watford: 

#CPFC XI: Hennessey; Ward, Dann, Delaney, Souare; Zaha, Jedinak (c), Cabaye, Mutch; Wickham, Adebayor.#CRYWAT pic.twitter.com/dTDYXcjFpY — Crystal Palace FC (@CPFC) February 13, 2016

#watfordfc line-up v @CPFC: Gomes (GK); Nyom, Prödl, Cathcart, Ake; Behrami, Watson, Capoue; Amrabat, Deeney (c); Ighalo. — Watford FC (@WatfordFC) February 13, 2016

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Everton vs West Brom: 

TEAM: It's an unchanged line-up for the Blues...#EFCvWBA pic.twitter.com/szx0JvekiA — Everton (@Everton) February 13, 2016

#WBA team v @Everton: Foster; Olsson, Chester, Yacob, Evans, McClean, Berahino, Fletcher, Dawson, Sessegnon, Rondonhttps://t.co/65xkLWv8q2 — West Bromwich Albion (@WBAFCofficial) February 13, 2016

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Bournemouth vs Stoke City: 

TEAM NEWS: Eddie Howe makes one change for #afcb with Junior Stanislas replacing Matt Ritchie. #BOUSTK pic.twitter.com/F6kkBcwt3B — AFC Bournemouth (@afcbournemouth) February 13, 2016

TEAM NEWS | Here is your #SCFC Starting XI for this afternoon's @premierleague game against @afcbournemouth pic.twitter.com/5krvSO8R2a — Stoke City FC (@stokecity) February 13, 2016

Teams news coming thick and fast...

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Sunderland (Khazri 3') 1 - 1 (Martial 39') Manchester United: Strange facts emerged from Stadium of Light. Sunderland, with just over 100 passes, have made 17 attempts on the goal, while United with over 300 passes only have six attempts.

LVG stats, or LVG philosophy? Still one-one at 70 minute.

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Sunderland (Khazri 3') 1 - 1 (Martial 39') Manchester United: Not a good sign for United. A series of rough challenges and yellow cards in two.

Wayne Rooney (46), Juan Mata (58) and Michael Carrick (59) all in referee's book.

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HALF-TIME Sunderland 1-1 Man Utd. Anthony Martial's clever finish cancels out Wahbi Khazri's early strike #SUNMUN pic.twitter.com/fsqfkSydFy — Premier League (@premierleague) February 13, 2016

Sunderland (Khazri 3') 1 - 1 (Martial 39') Manchester United: Flurry of exchanges from either side, and after four minutes added time, it's Half-Time at Stadium of light.

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Sunderland (Khazri 3') 1 - 1 (Martial 39') Manchester United: Anthony Martial pounced on to score the equaliser from an earlier Juan Mata attempt on the goal.

Couple of minutes ago, Donald Love his Manchester United debut, replacing injured Matteo Darmian.
Sunderland's DeAndre Yedlin was booked.

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Sunderland (Khazri 3') 1 - 0 Manchester United: Tight call from the referee, to not to give a decision against United after Matteo Darmian puts his arm across Khazri inside the box. Then, Morgan Schneiderlin handles the ball from an Khazri shot. Lucky United (25th minute).

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Sunderland (Khazri 3') 1 - 0 Manchester United: Two minutes later, injured Kirchhoff was substituted by Jack Rodwell.

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Sunderland (Khazri 3') 1 - 0 Manchester United: Jan Kirchhoff required medical attention, moments after he cleared a Daley Blind corner (13th minute). Hamstring.

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PHOTO Wahbi Khazri celebrates putting Sunderland ahead, scoring in his first home start. It's 1-0 (10 mins) #SUNMUN pic.twitter.com/GGGK2gtrL3 — Premier League (@premierleague) February 13, 2016

Sunderland (Khazri 3') 1 - 0 Manchester United: Tunisian Wahbi Khazri scored for the home side.

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And in the pre-match interview, LVG said they are looking for positional game and score goals. Pretty simple!

#mufc XI: De Gea, Darmian, Smalling, Blind, Borthwick-Jackson, Schneiderlin, Carrick, Lingard, Mata, Martial, Rooney pic.twitter.com/ukmWfoNeOH — Manchester United (@ManUtd) February 13, 2016

Jermain Defoe will play despite suffering a niggle, and he partner Senegalese Dame N'Doye,

#SAFCXI v @ManUtd: Mannone, Yedlin, O’Shea, Kone, van Aanholt, Kirchhoff, Cattermole, M’Vila, Khazri, N’Doye, Defoe. pic.twitter.com/VtkcIJNWeP — Sunderland AFC (@SunderlandAFC) February 13, 2016

A little fact before the United-Sunderland match: Black Cats have never beaten Red Devils at the Stadium of Light in the last 13 matches.

PREVIEW

The focus has truly shifted to Leicester, where Foxes under Claudio Ranieri seemed to have taken wings and have taken a giant leap of faith towards a claiming the league title.

Elsewhere, heavyweights like Manchester United and Chelsea are seeking revival of fortunes. Gameweek 26's Saturday fixture has both the former champions will be in action.

Louis van Gaal and his whole coterie will travel to Stadium of Light to play struggling Sunderland in today's early kick-off.

A win against the Black Cats will manage to comfort the embattled Dutchman even as rumours of a certain Jose Mourinho's arrival at Old Trafford gains traction every passing day.

For Sunderland, an unlikely three points will prove a huge motivational factor in their fight against relegation.

In the next lot, there will be as many as five matches with a veritable mid-table and relegation zone teams taking on each other.

Teams like West Ham United and Southampton, which have enough firepower and will to claim a top-four spot, will travel on a hectic day.

In the day's last match, defending champions Chelsea host Newcastle at Stamford Bridge. The undefeated side under temporary boss Guus Hiddink will start as clear favourites against a side struggling to justify its past glories.

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Today's fixtures:

6:15 PM IST: Sunderland vs Manchester United

8:30 PM IST: Norwich City vs West Ham United; Bournemouth vs Stoke City; Everton vs West Brom; Swansea City vs Southampton; Crystal Palace vs Watford

11:00 PM IST: Chelsea vs Newcastle