There were six Saturday games in the Premier League, but given the point of the season we’re at, only a couple carried any serious implications.
Here are the quick-hit recaps of today’s matches:
Manchester City 2-1 West Ham United
One liner: A late goal Andy Carroll goal allows the final score to carry the illusion of a close match.
More:
Yaya Touré's 83rd minute goal:
Up until then, City had controlled a one-goal game, leaving West Ham one moment of against-the-run-of-play pragmatism from getting a result at Eastlands. After the goal, the game was over.
Implications: Neither team has much to play for, so aside from bragging rights, this game meant nothing. City remains focused on next month’s FA Cup final against Wigan.
Everton 1-0 Fulham
One liner: Fulham have been terrible.
More: Obviously, Steven Pienaar’s half-volley was all Everton needed, but this match may as well have ended in the 16th minute. While the Toffees pressed for a second, it was energy wasted. Fulham never put a shot on Tim Howard.
The Cottagers have one point in their last four games, matching their goal total over the same haul.
Implications: Everton maintains their distance on seventh-place Liverpool while Fulham, still 11th in the league, start to amass doubts.
Southampton 0-3 West Bromwich Albion
One liner: The Mauricio Pochettino bounce: Dead.
More: The game had as many red cards as goals, with Gaston Ramirez, Marc-Antoine Fortuné, and Daniel Fox all sent off. Ramirez was sent off in the 70th minute after an elbow to Shane Long, to which Fortuné responded by slapping Ramirez. Fox was sent off for a tackle on Steven Reid.
By that point, West Brom had all their goals. Fortuné opened the scoring in the sixth minute then set up Romelu Lukaku in the 67th. Lukaku did the providing for Long in the 77th.
Stoke City 1-0 Norwich City
One liner: Surprise, there was a goal (and it was Charlie Adam)!
More: Both these teams, already among the worst attacks in England, started with five midfielders. Granted, with Jon Walters and Kei Kamara, both teams could easily change, but neither alignment exactly screamed, “We’re going for this one!”
Just after halftime, Charlie Adam met a Peter Crouch knockdown, beat Mark Bunn, and converted one of the matches three shots on goal (all from Stoke City).
Implications: Two weeks ago, this looked like it would have relegation implications, and while Norwich only has 38 points (Stoke has 40), it’s unlikely either team is in real danger. So, no implications other than the match having mercifully expired.
Wigan 2-2 Tottenham
One liner: Wigan run out of ways to give Spurs goals, can’t give away the last point.
More: We covered it here.
Implications: For Wigan, this is another match like the one two weeks ago at Manchester City – a chance at full points that slipped through their finders. For Spurs, you could say the same. They need Chelsea or Arsenal to start stumbling (something that will happen if Spurs win at Stamford Bridge on May 8).
Newcastle 0-6 Liverpool
One liner: Skeleton in hooded robe extends finger toward Alan Pardew.
More: Relive the onslaught.
Implications: Liverpool’s playing for nothing, but it’s encouraging to see them perform so well without Luis Suárez. For Newcastle, they still can’t be certain they’re clear of a relegation fight. And they can’t be certain their manager will be around to see them though it.