At 2-0 up at half-time through goals from David Silva and Fernandinho City were on course for a club-record 10th consecutive victory in all competitions that would have moved them to within a point of Barclays Premier League leaders Chelsea, who drew with Southampton earlier in the day. However, after George Boyd had pulled one back, Barnes completed a memorable comeback for Sean Dyche’s side at the Etihad Stadium.
Burnley had offered signs of promise in the opening exchanges but City’s dominance in possession came to fruition when Silva opened the scoring 23 minutes in. The Spaniard’s fifth goal in as many Barclays Premier League matches was soon followed by an impressive second from Fernandinho 10 minutes later as the home side appeared out of sight.
Burnley had a lifeline early in the second half as Boyd converted from close range and the fightback was complete when Barnes fired home from inside the area nine minutes from time. It could prove a vital point for Burnley, while City manager Manuel Pellegrini, who was again without Vincent Kompany following a hamstring injury, was left to rue a missed opportunity to keep the pressure on Chelsea.
Arsenal leapfrogged West Ham United into fifth place with a 2-1 victory at Upton Park on Sunday. West Ham came into the fixture having won six of their last seven league matches on home soil, and threatened to continue that impressive form when Alex Song found the net after five minutes, though the former Arsenal man’s strike was chalked off for offside.
Sam Allardyce’s men continued to look the better team for large spells of the opening period but were undone shortly before the break. Santi Cazorla’s penalty after being felled by Winston Reid in the 41st minute came somewhat against the run of play, before Danny Welbeck doubled the visitors’ lead three minutes later. Cheikhou Kouyate’s headed goal nine minutes after the interval gave the home side hope of salvaging something from the tie but Arsenal held on for maximum points. The result lifts Arsenal to fifth, two points clear of West Ham, who sit sixth.
A Mame Biram Diouf brace helped Stoke City to earn back-to-back BPL wins for the first time this season as they beat West Bromwich Albion 2-0. Brown Ideye, Chris Brunt and Craig Gardner all went close for the visitors in a keenly contested first half, while the in-form Bojan Krkic showed flashes of his ability in attack for Stoke. The hosts appeared considerably more focused at the start of the second half and Diouf broke the deadlock six minutes after the break.
Gareth McAuley nearly drew West Brom level as he hit a post with 65 minutes on the clock and Stoke capitalised on that let-off, securing victory through a fortuitous Diouf goal shortly after, increasing the pressure on the visiting coach Alan Irvine.
Leicester City ended their three-month wait for a Barclays Premier League win as Riyad Mahrez fired them to a 1-0 victory over Hull City. Mahrez collected a pass 20 yards from goal just after the half-hour at the KC Stadium and netted his second league goal of the season past Allan McGregor.
Hull had started well but wasted the few openings they were able to create, and Mahrez punished them in a scrappy first half. Steve Bruce made three attacking changes in the second half to try to get his side back into the match but they were unable to turn possession into goals despite Paul Konchesky’s late red card.
Leicester, who were twice saved by a post, absorbed all Hull could throw at them, with the home side’s Stephen Quinn also given his marching orders for handball in stoppage time. Leicester’s first win since September’s memorable 5-3 victory over Manchester United, a run of 13 matches, and moves them to within three points of safety, with Hull one of three sides firmly in their sights.
Ten-man Aston Villa held on for a goalless draw against Sunderland after Fabian Delph had been sent off at Villa Park. Delph was shown a straight red card by referee Martin Atkinson for a late challenge on Jordi Gomez just four minutes into the second half. It was the third time in the last four BPL matches that Paul Lambert’s side had been reduced to 10 men, but Sunderland were unable to make the most of their numerical advantage.
Gus Poyet’s side had their chances after Delph’s dismissal, with Gomez striking the post late on, but Villa dug deep and showed plenty of character as they held on for a point. Villa’s lack of goals will be a concern for Lambert, as his side have only found the back of the net 11 times in 19 top-flight matches, while Sunderland have won only one of their last nine matches.
Caretaker manager Keith Millen watched his Crystal Palace side deny Queens Park Rangers a fourth consecutive Barclays Premier League triumph at Loftus Road with a goalless draw. A stubborn Palace defence kept Harry Redknapp’s side at bay as the London rivals claimed what could prove to be a valuable point apiece in their respective battles to avoid relegation.
Neither side were able to make an impact over the course of the first half, although the visitors almost took the lead through Jason Puncheon. QPR had the better of proceedings after half-time, with Leroy Fer going close with two audacious strikes, while Palace continued to provide a threat. James McArthur made a terrific goalline clearance from a Steven Caulker header, but both teams had to settle for a share of the spoils. The point lifts QPR above West Brom, while Palace remain in the bottom three.
Newcastle United ended 2014 on a high by coming from behind to earn a 3-2 win over Everton at St James’ Park to end a four-match losing streak. Papiss Cisse, Ayoze Perez and Jack Colback grabbed the goals to ensure Alan Pardew’s men are sitting in the top 10 heading into the new year.
Both teams entered the match desperate to recapture their best form, and Everton took the lead thanks to a well-taken Arouna Kone goal after five minutes. But Newcastle came back and headed into the break level as Cisse found the net. That preceded a dominant second-half showing from Newcastle, with Perez and Colback putting Pardew’s men into a 3-1 lead. Everton substitute Kevin Mirallas set up a thrilling finale with a goal six minutes from time, yet Newcastle hung on to claim three points.
source: premierleague.com
STUDIO 3 NEWCASTLE AUSTRALIA 