Manchester United grab another three points, while Aston Villa break their losing streak with a vital extra-time winner.
A full slate of midweek fixtures saw Tim Sherwood lead Villa to victory, an apologetic Ben Foster and a water bottle showdown between Gus Poyet and Steve Bruce.
The ESPN FC panel discuss why Chelsea have been able to maintain their lead atop the Premier League as they held on for a 1-nil victory over West Ham.
It’s time to run the rule over the Heroes and Villains of Matchday 28 in the Premier League as there were plenty of exciting midweek fixtures.
HEROES
Twice, Jonas Gutierrez has been diagnosed with testicular cancer. Twice, he has beaten it. To fight that battle with courage and dignity, whether that battle is won or lost, is an achievement that outstrips any of the trivialities this column covers from week to week. To fight it twice, to beat it twice and to return to one of the world’s most demanding leagues is simply astonishing. Little wonder that St James Park was united in its respect for the Newcastle United winger, whose every touch was roared to the rafters by the home fans. For once, we have ourselves a genuine hero.
Jonas Gutierrez came on as a substitute and played 25 minutes in his return to football.
A round of applause for fourth official Stuart Burt this week, who made himself an immovable object against the irresistible force of Steve Bruce. It’s a thankless task, the fourth official’s role. You stand between the two dug-outs in the cold, you have no real power and you get shouted at for the mistakes of your colleague. But Burt became a very real hero this week when he put his mortal body between the imperiled Gus Poyet and not inconsiderable momentum of the furious Hull City manager. We sincerely hope that Poyet has written a thank you letter.
Hull manager Steve Bruce reflects on his side’s 1-1 draw with Sunderland, and his scuffle with Gus Poyet which led to the Uruguayan being sent off.
Traditionally, Chelsea mark results like their 1-0 win over West Ham by taking their tops off and offering their waxed chests for inspection. It was gritty, it was hard-fought, it was very reminiscent of the Blues 1-0 win over Blackburn at Ewood Park in 2005, but it was one more step to the title. Nights out at Upton Park are the sort of things that ruin championship challenges. Manchester United know that all too well as proven in the 1991-92 and 1994-95 seasons. But, fresh from a Wembley triumph in the Capital One Cup win over Tottenham, the Blues were made of sterner stuff than that. They are closing on their first title for five years.
Congratulations to Southampton, who finally ended a worryingly Aston Villa-ish goal drought with Sadio Mane’s late strike against Crystal Palace. It had been six hours and 27 minutes since the Saints’ last goal, a barren streak that threatened to undo all of their good work throughout the season. This column doesn’t like to have favourites, but it’s sure that it’s not alone in hoping that Ronald Koeman and co’s bold refusal to fulfill the expectations of the doom-mongers is rewarded with some European football. Is that so wrong?
When midfielder Jordan Henderson first arrived at Anfield, he was a gentle flower who preferred to play safe sideways passes rather than demonstrating any of the potential he’d displayed at Sunderland. It seemed at first that Liverpool was too big for him. Not anymore. Last season, Henderson blossomed as a player. This season, Henderson has blossomed as a character. He’s more forceful now and certainly more shouty. And all these goals are proving useful too. It’s almost as if he knows that there’s going to be an armband that needs a new owner at the end of the season.
ESPN FC’s Steve Nicol and Craig Burley discuss Liverpool’s 2-0 triumph over Burnley and how Brendan Rodgers’ side has turned it around this season.
VILLAINS
What on earth got into Manchester United centre-back Jonny Evans and Newcastle forward Papiss Cisse at St James Park? Two players with no real history of yukkiness apparently spitting at each other like a pair of furious llamas. The Football Association are no friend to flobbers and are expected to take an extremely dim view. A six-match suspension has been mooted in some quarters. That won’t make much difference to Newcastle, whose season ended last month. But it’s not going to help Manchester United’s push for the Champions League. They have enough problems at the back naturally, they don’t need to contrive any more.
Louis van Gaal and John Carver both claimed not to have seen or spoken about the spitting incident between Papiss Cisse and Jonny Evans.
And speaking of Newcastle, where to begin with that late goal? The concerted efforts not to clear the ball to safety? Mehdi Abeid’s self-destructive backpass? Tim Krul’s assist? Just put yourself in caretaker manager John Carver’s position for a moment. You’ve been granted the unexpected chance to lead your boyhood club. You spend all week preparing for a match against Manchester United. You hold your own against them in a match that remains in the balance for 89 minutes. And then something like that happens. It’s only surprising that Carver didn’t immediately burst into flames.
It’s all getting a bit too real for Everton right now. Defeat away at Stoke City side with very little to play for left Roberto Martinez’s side with just one win in 12 games. The same squad that very nearly secured Champions League football last season is now in a very real relegation battle. While you might assume that Leicester, QPR and Burnley are already doomed and that the safety line will be low this year, it’s worth recalling the strange things that happen at this time of year. No one thought Sunderland would survive last season. Everton are not too good to go down.
Roberto Martinez could be on the hot seat as his 14th-placed Everton are only six points away from one of the relegation spots.
West Bromwich Albion have improved markedly since the arrival of Tony Pulis, but they’re not quite safe yet. They’re certainly not so secure that they can afford to have Ben Foster go to pieces on them. The former Manchester United stopper was appalling on Tuesday against Aston Villa. He nearly let one through his legs, he waved at crosses as they flew over his head and then he felled Matthew Lowton in the box to give away the crucial penalty that secured Aston Villa’s victory. Not a performance to be recalled with much pride.
The important thing to remember in a crisis is to always keep your head, especially if you’re in charge. While there is something to be said for not appearing so calm that people wonder if you’ve had an embolism, a middle ground should always be sought. Quite what Gus Poyet thinks he’s achieving with his water bottle-kicking tantrums is anyone’s guess, but it can’t be helpful. An FA charge now looms, another distraction for Sunderland at a time when everyone’s focus needs to be on the fight for survival.
Iain Macintosh is a writer for ESPN FC and editor of @thesetpieces. Follow him on Twitter @IainMacintosh.