The Premier League’s strugglers took centre stage on Saturday, with Newcastle and Cardiff picking up crucial victories.
Salomon Rondon scored a double for Newcastle in their 2-1 win over Bournemouth, while Cardiff won 2-1 against Brighton.
Rondon drilled home on seven minutes for his first league goal for the club and then powered in a superb header from Kenedy’s cross to put Newcastle in charge.
Bournemouth went into the match on a run of two wins in a row away from home but blew the chance to make it three successive victories for the first time in the Premier League. Jefferson Lerma, a £25 million summer signing, pulled one back for the Cherries in first-half stoppage time as eight minutes were added following what looked a serious injury to Adam Smith. But Eddie Howe’s men couldn’t find a leveller in the second half as Newcastle claimed a second win in a row.
In Saturday’s early kick-off, Cardiff claimed just their second win of the season in all competitions, courtesy of Sol Bamba’s injury-time strike in a 2-1 win over Brighton.
The Seagulls took the lead through Lewis Dunk’s header on six minutes before Callum Paterson equalised for the home side with a header of his own.
Dale Stephens then saw red for the visitors but it looked as though Brighton would hold on with 10 men as the game drifted towards full-time. Bamba, though, had other ideas. He smashed in following a melee in the box to hand Cardiff a big victory.
Under pressure Southampton boss Mark Hughes remains in trouble after seeing his side held 1-1 at home by Watford.
Manolo Gabbiadini gave Southampton the lead on 20 minutes with his first home goal since October 2017 — the opener was Southampton’s first league goal from open play for over 10 hours — but Saints could not hold on. Jose Holebas’ powerful left-footed drive went through a crowd of players and into the back of the net eight minutes from time to salvage a draw for the visitors.
Huddersfield were denied all three points in a 1-1 draw with West Ham. Alex Pritchard struck for the hosts on six minutes with his second goal for the club and West Ham responded to a limp first 45 minutes by bringing on Javier Hernandez at the break. He almost made an immediate impact, but Jonas Lossl was equal to his effort before Hernandez headed the rebound over. Felipe Anderson equalised for the Hammers 16 minutes from time with his fourth of the season.
Elsewhere, Leicester and Burnley could not be separated on an emotional afternoon at the King Power.
It was the first match at home following the death of owner Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha in a helicopter crash on Oct. 27. Foxes fans took part in a memorial walk to the stadium ahead of the game in tribute but neither side could find a breakthrough during the match.