EPL:Burnley strike late to frustrate Chelsea 1-1

Ben Mee celebrates after scoring the equaliser for Burnley at Stamford Bridge

Chelsea had taken the lead inside the opening quarter of an hour thanks to Branislav Ivanovic’s fourth goal in six matches in all competitions. The defender finished from close range after good work from Eden Hazard on the by-line.

The home side looked comfortable for large periods but Nemanja Matic was sent off with 20 minutes remaining for reacting to an Ashley Barnes challenge.

The visitors, battling to avoid relegation from the top flight, snatched an equaliser with nine minutes to go as Mee rose highest to head in Kieran Trippier’s left-wing corner.

Arsenal kept up the pressure on their top-four rivals as goals from Santi Cazorla and Olivier Giroud ensured a 2-1 victory over Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park.

The pair were on target before the interval as Arsene Wenger’s side moved up to third in the BPL table after Manchester United were beaten by Swansea City, with Southampton in action against Liverpool on Sunday.

A clumsy tackle from Pape Souare on Danny Welbeck allowed Cazorla to open the scoring from the spot after eight minutes, before Arsenal landed another blow on the stroke of half-time.

Quick thinking from Giroud inside the area allowed him to prod home the second after Welbeck’s shot was saved. Despite their resolute second-half display eventually being ended when substitute Glenn Murray scored late on for Palace and then struck the woodwork, the visitors held on.

Swansea City recorded a League double over Manchester United thanks to a deflected strike with 17 minutes to go.

Jonjo Shelvey’s thunderous 73rd-minute effort, which deflected off the head of Bafetimbi Gomis, who was ultimately credited with the goal, means three of the last four meetings between these sides have finished 2-1 in Swansea’s favour.

After Swansea had looked the more dangerous in the opening stages, it was the visitors who went in front thanks to Ander Herrera’s deflected shot shortly before the half-hour mark. Yet Swansea were level two minutes later, when Ki Sung-yueng got his boot to a Shelvey cross from the left.

United put Swansea under sustained pressure for long spells of the second half but the hosts struck late on to subject Louis van Gaal’s men to a first defeat in five league matches.

A stoppage-time penalty from Victor Moses spoiled Tim Sherwood’s first match in charge of Aston Villa as Stoke City earned a 2-1 victory at Villa Park.

Sherwood saw his side remain in the bottom three after Ron Vlaar fouled Moses, with the forward coolly converting from 12 yards after the defender was sent off.

Scott Sinclair had put Villa in front when he headed in his first top-flight goal since August 2012 after 20 minutes but Stoke restored parity before the break.

Mame Biram Diouf met Stephen Ireland’s cross seven yards from goal and placed his header past Brad Guzan on the goalkeeper’s 100th successive league start.

Dame N’Doye marked his 30th birthday with a last-minute goal as Hull City claimed a vital 2-1 win over fellow strugglers Queens Park Rangers.

A nervy affair was brought to life after 16 minutes when a defensive error allowed Nikica Jelavic to fire home for the hosts, before QPR captain Joey Barton was shown a red card after a confrontation with Tom Huddlestone.

Charlie Austin was on hand to restore parity just before half-time, flicking home a teasing cross from Matt Phillips, but N’Doye fired home at the death to earn his side a second consecutive league win. It is the first time Hull, who are now up to 15th, have sealed back-to-back league victories since September 2013.

Sunderland were unable to break down Tony Pulis’ stubborn West Bromwich Albion side, as the visitors held on to earn a 0-0 draw.

Although failing to create clear-cut chances, Sunderland should have been ahead on the stroke of half time when Adam Johnson stole in to tuck home from close-range, but the goal was ruled out.

Santiago Vergini could not open his Sunderland account 15 minutes into the second half while Connor Wickham went close with a header with just over 10 minutes remaining, but for all their pressure, Sunderland were unable to snatch a winner.

source:premierleague.com