The European week saw just six matches in the Premier League on Saturday, but Leicester City and Chelsea made sure there was enough drama for the rest of us.
[ MORE: Can Chelsea still finish in the Top Four? ]
With Manchester City and Liverpool tangling in the League Cup final on Sunday and Spurs, Arsenal and Manchester United also on the docket, the spotlight was on some of the lesser-known clubs in the league.
And many of them, West Brom and Crystal Palace among them, made sure we were entertained.
Leicester City 1-0 Norwich City -- RECAP
- WATCH: Ulloa’s dramatic winner
The Canaries had their chances against a misfiring Leicester side, but the table-toppers found their finish through super sub Leonardo Ulloa, who slapped home a Marc Albrighton cross in the 89th minute to give Leicester a five-point table lead ahead of Sunday’s PL action.
Southampton 1-2 Chelsea -- RECAP
- WATCH: Ivanovic’s late winner | Long puts Saints ahead
- MORE: Can Chelsea still finish in the Top Four?
Shane Long but Saints ahead and the St. Mary’s faithful looked to have the better of Chelsea, but Cesc Fabregas ended Fraser Forster’s shutout string with a goofy goal before Branislav Ivanovic netted at the death to leave us wondering whether Chelsea can still contend for a European place.
Stoke City 2-1 Aston Villa -- RECAP
Whether it’s been Remi Garde or Tim Sherwood at the helm, Aston Villa has looked destined for the drop all year. That hasn’t changed after Marko Arnautovic scored a pair of goals, one from a penalty, and Geoff Cameron returned to the Potters’ lineup in a win. Leandro Bacuna pulled one back for Villa, but it was too late for the last place Villans.
West Ham United 1-0 Sunderland -- RECAP
A lively-enough start on a frigid pitch looked like it could level the pitch beneath the Irons and Black Cats, but Michail Antonio abused the left side of the Sunderland defense to curl home a first-half lead. USMNT winger/fullback DeAndre Yedlin again started at right back for the Black Cats, and played brightly in a loss that keeps Sunderland in the drop zone.
WEST BROMWICH, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 27: Connor Wickham of Crystal Palace shoots past Gareth McAuley of West Bromwich Albion to score their second goal during the Barclays Premier League match between West Bromwich Albion and Crystal Palace at The Hawthorns on February 27, 2016 in West Bromwich, England. (Photo by Nigel Roddis/Getty Images)
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West Bromwich Albion 3-2 Crystal Palace -- RECAP
It turns out playing a super talented striker along your record buy striker helps the whole “goal scoring” thing, and Tony Pulis saw Saido Berahino and Salomon Rondon link up well. The Baggies got a trio of first-half goals, with Berahino joining Craig Dawson and Craig Gardner on the scoresheet.
Hold on, though: Connor Wickham scored a pair of goals -- including an absolutely beauty -- and Palace probably deserved to tie the match. Two penalty shouts went unheeded by Jonathan Moss when the Eagles were down 3-1.
Watford 0-0 Bournemouth -- RECAP
Both teams had chances despite the score line, with Odion Ighalo doing plenty to threaten the Cherries. The point inches Bournemouth closer to safety, while Watford drops to 10th.
Standings |
| Team | GP | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Home | Away | PTS | |||
| Leicester City | 27 | 16 | 8 | 3 | 49 | 29 | 20 | 8-4-1 | 8-4-2 | 56 | |||
| Tottenham Hotspur | 26 | 14 | 9 | 3 | 47 | 20 | 27 | 7-4-2 | 7-5-1 | 51 | |||
| Arsenal | 26 | 15 | 6 | 5 | 41 | 23 | 18 | 8-3-2 | 7-3-3 | 51 | |||
| Manchester City | 26 | 14 | 5 | 7 | 48 | 28 | 20 | 9-1-4 | 5-4-3 | 47 | |||
| West Ham United | 27 | 11 | 10 | 6 | 41 | 31 | 10 | 6-5-2 | 5-5-4 | 43 | |||
| Manchester United | 26 | 11 | 8 | 7 | 33 | 24 | 9 | 6-4-2 | 5-4-5 | 41 | |||
| Southampton | 27 | 11 | 7 | 9 | 35 | 26 | 9 | 7-2-5 | 4-5-4 | 40 | |||
| Stoke City | 27 | 11 | 6 | 10 | 29 | 33 | -4 | 6-2-5 | 5-4-5 | 39 | |||
| Liverpool | 26 | 10 | 8 | 8 | 38 | 36 | 2 | 4-5-3 | 6-3-5 | 38 | |||
| Watford | 27 | 10 | 7 | 10 | 29 | 28 | 1 | 5-4-5 | 5-3-5 | 37 | |||
| Chelsea | 27 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 40 | 37 | 3 | 5-5-4 | 4-4-5 | 36 | |||
| Everton | 26 | 8 | 11 | 7 | 46 | 35 | 11 | 4-4-6 | 4-7-1 | 35 | |||
| West Bromwich Albion | 27 | 9 | 8 | 10 | 27 | 34 | -7 | 5-4-5 | 4-4-5 | 35 | |||
| Crystal Palace | 27 | 9 | 5 | 13 | 29 | 35 | -6 | 4-2-8 | 5-3-5 | 32 | |||
| Bournemouth | 27 | 7 | 8 | 12 | 30 | 44 | -14 | 3-4-6 | 4-4-6 | 29 | |||
| Swansea City | 26 | 6 | 9 | 11 | 24 | 34 | -10 | 4-5-5 | 2-4-6 | 27 | |||
| Norwich City | 27 | 6 | 6 | 15 | 30 | 51 | -21 | 4-4-5 | 2-2-10 | 24 | |||
| Newcastle United | 26 | 6 | 6 | 14 | 27 | 49 | -22 | 4-5-4 | 2-1-10 | 24 | |||
| Sunderland | 27 | 6 | 5 | 16 | 32 | 51 | -19 | 4-3-6 | 2-2-10 | 23 | |||
| Aston Villa | 27 | 3 | 7 | 17 | 21 | 48 | -27 | 2-4-7 | 1-3-10 | 16 | |||