Fulham confirmed their aerial dominance as two headed targets helped them safe a 2-1 win over Premier League top-four contenders Nottingham Forest.
Chris Wooden netted his 18th objective of the season at Craven Cottage but it surely was not sufficient for Nuno Espírito Santo’s aspect as headers from Emile Smith Rowe and Calvin Bassey allowed Manchester Metropolis and Bournemouth to shut the hole on Forest in third.
It was a 3rd successive victory in all competitions for Fulham following back-to-back wins in opposition to Newcastle United within the league and Wigan Athletic within the FA Cup final Saturday.
Nuno’s males beat Brighton 7-0 of their final league match, however sloppy passes in midfield and a willingness to take a seat deep with their again 5 invited extra strain as they struggled to copy that efficiency.
Fulham supervisor Marco Silva reserved particular reward for “nearly unstoppable” Adama Traoré who confirmed indicators of his greatest kind, together with his cross for Smith Rowe’s opener being one in all a collection of high quality deliveries on the day.
In the meantime, as Manchester Metropolis thrashed Newcastle 4-0, as they beat Leicester Metropolis 2-0 and as they edged Crystal Palace within the tea-time match.
Villa held by 10-man Ipswich
A Liam Delap objective helped Ipswich City overcome a crimson card for Axel Tuanzebe as they grabbed a 1-1 draw away to Aston Villa, with Ollie Watkins netting a 69th-minute equaliser for the house aspect.
With goalkeeper Alex Palmer placing in one other good efficiency between the posts, the purpose leaves Ipswich nonetheless within the relegation zone in 18th place on 17 factors, two behind Wolverhampton Wanderers, whereas Villa slip to ninth on 38 factors.
Ipswich defender Tuanzebe noticed crimson within the fortieth minute when he was proven a second yellow card for dragging down Youri Tielemans simply outdoors the field, however Delap scored with a deft first-time end 11 minutes into the second half to offer the guests a shock lead.
Marcus Rashford, who got here off the bench at half-time, smacked a strong free-kick off the crossbar and Watkins did fantastically to react quickest and steer the ball into the online.
Of Rashford, Villa supervisor Unai Emery mentioned: “He’s getting higher. He was feeling comfy as properly at present, 45 minutes, and he’ll assist us for the following matches.”
Bournemouth ship Southampton nearer to relegation
Ryan Christie starred as Bournemouth soared to fifth within the Premier League desk by pushing south-coast rivals Southampton a step nearer to relegation with a 3-1 win at St Mary’s.
Artistic midfielder Christie conjured a advantageous help for Dango Ouattara’s 14th-minute opener earlier than swiftly firing house an excellent second to assist put the Cherries on the cusp of the Champions League qualification spots.
Substitute Marcus Tavernier sealed victory seven minutes from time after Kamaldeen Sulemana briefly created some jeopardy by halving Saints’ deficit.
Defeat for backside membership Southampton was their twentieth of a depressing top-flight marketing campaign as close to neighbours Bournemouth deservedly claimed native bragging rights and a primary league double on this fixture.
Ivan Juric’s beleaguered aspect sit 10 factors from security, having now performed a recreation greater than Seventeenth-placed Wolves, whereas Andoni Iraola’s Bournemouth are dreaming of a maiden European journey after climbing above Chelsea, on objective distinction, and Newcastle.
Nevertheless, Iraola instructed the BBC: “I don’t care in regards to the place proper now. I proceed with the identical spirit. Forty-three factors is an efficient quantity however we’d like many extra. Later within the season we will take a look at the standings. It’s early”
West Ham nonetheless ready for Potter to solid his spell
Kevin Schade’s early objective gave Brentford a 1-0 win at West Ham United, with Graham Potter’s spell in cost but to work its magic.
The east London aspect had 12 days of fine-tuning beneath new supervisor Potter since their final match, a 2-1 defeat at Chelsea, however in some way they acquired worse.
In a one-sided first half, Brentford scored after 4 minutes, had two targets disallowed and hit a submit, with West Ham trying totally powerless to cease them.
A triple substitution, and an encouraging debut from Evan Ferguson, noticed an enchancment after the break, however not sufficient to grab some extent as Brentford sat on what they’d.
West Ham have been caught on the counter after simply 4 minutes, when Bryan Mbeumo’s header performed in Schade, whose low shot clipped the foot of goalkeeper Alphonse Areola and looped in the direction of the online. Konstantinos Mavropanos acquired again to hook the ball off the road, however Schade reacted quickest to stab the follow-up house.
Potter mentioned his aspect’s first-half efficiency was “nowhere close to how we need to be” whereas Brentford supervisor Thomas Frank mentioned: “We should always have been … no less than 3-0 up.”