Crystal Palace - Leeds 2-1
Crystal Palace claimed their first Premier League win since August, coming from behind to battle past Leeds United at Selhurst Park. Patrick Vieira’s men are fierce on their own turf, losing just two of their last 13 home matches.
Jesse Marsch returned to the touchline to orchestrate the trademark Leeds high press that has earned them countless admirers over the past two seasons.
The visitors turned the ball over five times in the attacking third within the opening 15 minutes, pressure that eventually told to earn them the lead.
Brendan Aaronson wonderfully dribbled through the Palace defence before firing a shot against the post, but to his relief Pascal Struijk was the first to react and fire home the rebound.
Leeds hadn’t really been threatened at all in the opening exchanges, but were caught cold from a Palace set-piece to surrender the lead.
Michael Olise’s looping delivery towards the back post was headed home by Odsonne Edoaurd past a despairing Illan Meslier.
Vieira’s side scored their only shot of the half and would certainly need to improve after the break, as Patrick Bamford showed as the returning forward missed a huge chance to double the lead moments before conceding.
The Eagles improved after the break and Jordan Ayew looked to be in a glorious position to put his side in the lead, but Rasmus Kristensen made a heroic last-ditch block to keep the scores level.
A piece of real brilliance would decide the contest in the end, as the resurgent hosts fired into the lead. A flowing team move was finished off by Eberechi Eze, receiving the ball after a delightful flick from Wilfried Zaha before beating a man and thrashing home beyond Meslier.
A first home goal in over 18 months for the youngster proved a bridge too far for Leeds to cross. Marsch’s men are winless in their last five games and are now level on points with Palace who claimed just a second win of the season.
Flashscore Man of the Match: Eberechi Eze (Crystal Palace)
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West Ham - Fulham 3-1
West Ham United came from behind to make it seven wins in 10 games by beating Fulham 3-1 at the London Stadium. The Cottagers have now lost each of their last five trips to the Hammers’ home ground.
With just five minutes played, a quick transition allowed Neeskens Kebano to slip in Andreas Pereira, who smashed in his first Fulham goal from a tight angle above the helpless Lukasz Fabianski.
The visitors remained on top early on, and almost doubled their lead when Dan James cut inside and struck the crossbar from range. Gianluca Scamacca linked up well with Lucas Paqueta, seeing his header saved by Fabianski and dragging an effort wide minutes later in what was turning out to be an action-packed first half.
The Hammers came even closer to an equaliser when Aaron Cresswell’s lung-busting run ended with Scamacca heading towards Fabianski, before Jarrod Bowen’s follow-up was turned behind.
The ensuing corner proved pivotal, as Pereira brought down Craig Dawson, having twice been warned by Chris Kavanagh, leaving Bowen to send Bernd Leno the wrong way from the spot.
David Moyes claimed his side were “building momentum” ahead of kick-off, but it was Fulham in the driving seat, despite the level scoreline.
However, having failed to take his earlier chances, Scamacca made the most of Paquetá’s pick-out, delicately lobbing Leno inside the box.
The Italy international’s lack of celebration suggested possible wrongdoing, but following a lengthy VAR check, no offside or handball was evident.
In search of a way back into the contest, Tom Cairney struck low from the edge of the box, but was denied by a well-timed Cresswell block.
Centre-back Shane Duffy was desperately thrown on up front for the visitors, but the game was killed off after Tim Ream and Leno got their lines crossed at the back, allowing substitute Michail Antonio to pass into an empty net.
West Ham extend their unbeaten home streak to four in all competitions, while, despite suffering his second pair of back-to-back defeats since taking charge, Silva and his side remain 9th in the Premier League table.
Flashscore Man of the Match: Lucas Paqueta (West Ham United)
