Saturday, February 27, 2016

Leonardo Ulloa's late strike clinched Leicester a 1-0 home win against Norwich and lifted his side five points clear at the top of the Premier League.

The Argentinian forward turned home Marc Albrighton's cross from close range in the 89th minute to ensure Leicester stole a march on their title rivals.

Leicester City's Jamie Vardy (left) and Norwich City's Timm Klose (right) battle for the ball in the air during the Barclays Premier League match at the King Power Stadium, Leicester. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo.

It was only Ulloa's third goal of the season but could prove crucial as both Tottenham and Arsenal are in action on Sunday, while Manchester City take on Liverpool in the Capital One Cup final.

Defeat for Norwich, out of the relegation zone on goal difference, piles the pressure on manager Alex Rae, whose side's 2-2 draw against West Ham last time out halted a five-game losing streak.

Chelsea interim manager Gus Hiddink gives instructions to Chelsea's Cesar Azpilicueta (right) during the Barclays Premier League match at the St Mary's Stadium, Southampton. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo.

Chelsea made it back-to-back league wins as Branislav Ivanovic's late header snatched his side a 2-1 win at Southampton, who slipped to their first defeat in seven league matches.

Southampton broke the deadlock three minutes before the break when Shane Long buried a low finish for his 12th goal of the season, but Chelsea hit back through Cesc Fabregas, who converted Diego Costa's cross in the 75th minute.

Ivanovic secured all the points for Chelsea in the 89th minute when he headed home Willian's cross.

Stoke City's Ibrahim Afellay (left) and Aston Villa's Leandro Bacuna battle for the ball during the Barclays Premier League match at the Britannia Stadium, Stoke-on-Trent. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo.

Marko Arnautovic's double ensured a second straight league win for Stoke, whose 2-1 victory over Aston Villa inflicted a 17th league defeat of the season on the bottom club.

Arnautovic struck twice in five minutes early in the second half to put Stoke in control, converting a 51st-minute penalty after Ashley Westwood's foul on Phil Bardsley before turning home Xherdan Shaqiri's cross from close range soon after.

Leandro Bacuna pulled one back for Villa with his first goal of the season in the 79th minute, but Remi Garde's side remain eight points adrift of safety.

Watford's Troy Deeney (centre) and Bournemouth's Harry Arter (left) compete for the ball during the Barclays Premier League match at Vicarage Road, London. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo.

Bournemouth earned a valuable point in their bid to steer clear of relegation trouble following a goalless draw at Watford, while Sam Allardyce endured an unhappy return to Upton Park as Sunderland slipped to a 1-0 defeat against West Ham in the 12.45pm kick-off.

Michail Antonio's first-half goal, which extended West Ham's unbeaten home run to 13 matches, left Allardyce empty-handed and the Black Cats stuck in the relegation zone.

Yet the former Hammers boss, who left the London club in May last year, will be wondering how his side did not take something from the game after Jermain Defoe and Jack Rodwell missed glorious second-half chances.

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