Ireland’s Séamus Coleman sliced an injury-time winner as Everton condemned relegation-threatened Cardiff to a heart-breaking 2-1 defeat at Goodison Park.
The heroics of goalkeeper David Marshall looked to have earned a crucial Barclays Premier League point for the Welsh side, but the Scot cut a dejected figure after being beaten by Coleman's miskick.
Marshall produced a number of fine saves and it took a deflected 59th-minute strike from Gerard Deulofeu to beat him. Even then he looked set to earn a point after Juan Cala bundled in a scrappy equaliser.
Everton were clearly the superior side and will feel their victory, which will breathe life back into their European push, was deserved. But the manner of defeat will be hard to take for the Bluebirds, who face an increasing struggle to stay up.
Basement boys Fulham secured a vital win — the first of Felix Magath's tenure — at the expense of Newcastle. With Magpies boss Alan Pardew watching via video link from the team hotel due to his three-match stadium ban for headbutting Hull's David Meyler, Fulham substitute Ashkan Dejagah hit the only goal of a 1-0 victory on 68 minutes. Another manager under scrutiny of late has been West Brom's Pepe Mel, who had failed to deliver a win since taking the job in January.
That changed in dramatic fashion on Saturday as Youssouf Mulumbu’s late strike earned the Baggies a 2-1 victory at Swansea. Roland Lamah scored for the Swans after two minutes, only for Stephane Sessegnon to equalise in the 52nd minute.
Mel then punched the air in celebration as Mulumbu bent the ball past Michael Vorm with five minutes remaining. The victory lifts West Brom three points clear of the relegation zone after 18th-placed Cardiff lost 2-1 at the death in their meeting with Europa League-chasing Everton.
Southampton managed to climb to eighth after surviving a spirited fightback from Norwich to win 4-2 at St Mary's.
Morgan Schneiderlin opened the scoring inside five minutes and second-half goals from substitute Rickie Lambert (57) and Jay Rodriguez (72) looked like putting the Saints out of sight. But, shortly after sub Johan Elmander spoiled the hosts’ clean sheet five minutes from time, Robert Snodgrass narrowed the deficit to a single goal.
However, Sam Gallagher killed off any hopes of a comeback by hitting his first Premier League goal six minutes into time added on.
Stoke came from behind to enter the top half of the table, Peter Odemwingie’s brace proving decisive in a 3-1 home victory over West Ham. It took the Hammers only five minutes to take the lead through Andy Carroll but Odemwingie levelled in the 32nd minute before adding a second goal 10 minutes after Marko Arnautovic notched on 69 minutes. Elsewhere,
Sunderland remain marooned in the drop zone after playing out a goalless draw with Crystal Palace at the Stadium of Light.
