Sports
Everton and Newcastle win as West Ham can only draw
West Ham missed the chance to close the gap on Nottingham Forest and Premier League safety as they could only draw 2-2 at home to Brighton.
With Forest losing at home to Everton, West Ham could have moved to within two points of safety with a home win but despite taking the lead twice they could only draw.
Everton’s win at Forest pushed them into the top half, while Burnley’s woes continued with a home defeat to Newcastle.
Hammers waste chance
West Ham went ahead with their first attack of the match when Jarrod Bowen chased Luucas Paqueta’s ball over the top and outpaced Brighton’s defence to finish.
Max Kilman’s clumsy challenge gave Brighton a penalty, with Danny Welbeck sending Alphonse Areola the wrong way from the penalty spot.
Paqueta’s rugby tackle on Lewis Dunk then gave Brighton another penalty but Welbeck’s ‘Panenka’ style effort came back off the crossbar.
The next penalty drama came as an eventful first half moved into stoppage time, with Dunk blocking a goalbound Callum Wilson shot.
Replays showed the ball hit the Seagulls defender’s arm, which was away from his body, and after a lengthy VAR check the spot-kick was given.
Paqueta rolled the penalty home to put West Ham ahead once more, but Joel Veltman scored from a corner to leave the Hammers in trouble.
Newcastle win on the road
Newcastle needed a win away from home and duly got one with a 3-1 triumph at Burnley.
Early goals from Joelinton and Yoane Wissa set Newcastle on their way, with Joelinton hooking in after 65 seconds and former Brentford man Wissa bundling in a scruffy second.
An excellent finish on the volley from Josh Laurent puulled Burnley back into the contest but Bruno Guimaraes wrapped up the points with a fine long-range strike.
Forest fall to defeat
Former Nottingham Forest midfielder James Garner scored and made a goal as Everton picked up a 2-0 win at the City Ground.
Three successive losses have Forest down in 17th position, just four points above West Ham, who they visit next week.
Dwight McNeil slipped in Garner, whose clinical first-time finish arrowed into the bottom corner to put Everton ahead.
Sean Dyche’s side pushed hard in the second half, with Igor Jesus poking an effort just wide after Everton failed to clear.
But Garner then beat Murillo with a fine bit of skill and then found Thierno Barry with a defence-splitting pass and the striker, whose only other goal of the season was against Forest, finished coolly.
