Frank Lampard scores the winner as Manchester City edge 3-2 thriller against Sunderland Frank Lampard marked his extended stay at Manchester City with the winning goal as the Barclays Premier League champions completed a dramatic 3-2 victory over Sunderland to keep the pressure on leaders Chelsea. The former England midfielder celebrated the renewal of his stay at the Etihad Stadium until the end of the season by rescuing hisManchester Citysidejust when they appeared to be on the verge of spurning a two-goal lead for the second time in consecutive league home matches. The second-half substitute guided a header from Gael Clichys pinpoint 73rd-minute cross into the bottom corner for what proved to be the goal that took the wind out ofSunderlands sails. It capped a frantic period of five goals in the space of just over 16 minutes. Yaya Toure had clattered home a brilliant long-range strike to give City a 57th-minute lead and Stevan Jovetic slotted in an impudent flick, with Clichy the provider once more. But a pair of City old boys in the form of Jack Rodwell and Adam Johnson - the latter from the penalty spot after Pablo Zabaleta had fouled Billy Jones - brought the score back to 2-2 as Burnley did on Sunday, before Lampard had the final say. Southamptonstrengthened their grip on fourth place in the BPL with a 2-0 victory overArsenal. Sadio Mane and Dusan Tadic both capitalised on mistakes from the visitors defence to give Southampton a seventh home win of the season. Mane opened the scoring after 34 minutes with a sublime goal from a tight angle, the in-form 22-year-old lifting the ball over stranded Arsenal keeper Wojciech Szczesny. And after Fraser Forster had kept his side in the match with three quality saves to deny Santi Cazorla and Alexis Sanchez, Tadic profited as Arsenal failed to clear a cross inside their six-yard box, the Serb firing home from close range to seal the points shortly before the hour and take Southampton three points clear of Arsene Wengers charges. West Ham Unitedmissed out on the chance to leapfrog the Gunners asWest Bromwich Albionended their own losing run by holding the hosts to a 1-1 draw. Under the watchful eye of Tony Pulis, who was appointed the visitors new head coach earlier in the day, Saido Berahino cancelled out Diafra Sakhos opener before half-time. His strike ended a sequence of three straight Barclays Premier League defeats for the West Midlands club while Sam Allardyces side failed to get back to winning ways after ending 2014 with back-to-back defeats by Chelsea and Arsenal. The Hammers remain sixth while West Brom stay a point clear of the drop zone in 17th. Second-half goals from David Nugent and Jeffrey Schlupp ensuredLeicester Citycame back from two goals down to draw 2-2 atLiverpool. The resurgent Reds looked to be heading for a third consecutive top-flight victory when two Steven Gerrard penalties put them in command at half-time. But Nigel Pearsons strugglers were in no mood to feel sorry for themselves and two goals in as many minutes from Nugent and Schlupp salvaged a point at Anfield. Leicesters fightback came on the back of a victory at Hull City that ended their 13-match winless run and will give them great heart in their battle to avoid the drop, while a point for eighth-placed Liverpool ensured they have suffered only one defeat in 11 fixtures. George Boyds dramatic late leveller earnedBurnleya 3-3 draw withNewcastle Unitedin a pulsating match at St James Park. Sean Dyches side had fought back from two goals down to take a 2-2 draw from champions Man City and once again displayed their fighting spirit on Tyneside as they hit back from a goal down on three occasions. Stand-in manager John Carver saw his side lead at the break through goals from Steven Taylor and Jack Colback either side of a Paul Dummett own goal as Burnley, who had to make all three changes by half-time due to injuries, hit the woodwork on four occasions. However, the Clarets finally levelled through Danny Ings header. Moussa Sissoko thought he had won the match in the 78th minute, only for the visitors to silence the home fans when Boyds low drive proved too fierce for Jak Alnwick to keep out. Ahmed Elmohamady and Nikica Jelavic were on target asHull Citysealed only their second league win in 13 attempts, to inflict a fourth successive Barclays Premier League defeat onEvertonwith a 2-0 success at the KC Stadium. The home side took the lead when Elmohamady nodded Hull ahead just after the half-hour, and the second was not too far behind, as former Everton striker Jelavic made the most of slack defending after an admirable display of craft from Abel Hernandez. Wilfried Bony scored a stoppage-time equaliser as 10-manSwansea Cityearned a 1-1 draw atQueens Park Rangers. The Ivorian came off the bench to net the leveller at the end of a match in which Swansea rarely threatened. Leroy Fer had given QPR the lead with a thunderous strike in the 20th minute and matters worsened for the visitors when Wayne Routledge was sent off for his reaction to a Karl Henry challenge in the closing stages. Elsewhere,Aston VillaandCrystal Palacesaw their respective goalscoring woes continue with a 0-0 draw at Villa Park. Yannick Bolasie passed up the best chance of winning the contest, lashing an effort against the crossbar after breaking free of the home defence, while Villas, opportunities came and went the way of Alan Hutton, whose shot was smothered, and Christian Benteke, who blazed over midway through the second half.
Posted on: Fri, 02 Jan 2015 06:34:54 +0000
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