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London: Newcastle United’s hopes of a top-four finish in the Premier League took another knock on Saturday when they were held to a goalless draw at St James’ Park by Swansea City and failed to win for the fifth successive game.
Newcastle’s 11-match unbeaten run from the start of the season, which ended a month ago, seemed like a distant memory as they squandered several chances, hit the woodwork and came up against an inspired Swans goalkeeper Michel Vorm, as the promoted Welsh team kept a clean sheet for the eighth time this season.
Apart from Newcastle, the focus was on the other end of the table, where bottom club Bolton Wanderers lost for the fifth straight match, beaten 0-2 at Fulham.
Second-from-bottom Blackburn Rovers lost 2-1 at home to West Bromwich Albion, whose goals from James Morrison and Peter Odemwingie, who scored the winner three minutes from time, sent Rovers to their sixth home defeat in eight.
Blackburn’s fans, who have been campaigning for manager Steve Kean to go for most of the season, declared a truce in their protests on Saturday, but many booed at the end. The manager is now hanging on to his job by a thread, with Tuesday’s match against bottom club Bolton Wanderers probably decisive for his future.
Manchester City, who play Arsenal on Sunday, lead the table with 38 points from their 15 matches, two clear of Manchester United, who play at Queens Park Rangers on Sunday.
Bolton remain bottom on nine points, with Blackburn one place above them on 10 and Wigan in 18th place on 12. Wolves slipped to 17th, one place above the relegation zone, after a 2-1 home defeat to Stoke City, who won for the fourth successive league match.
Saturday’s results
West Brom 2 Blackburn Rovers 1
Everton 1 Norwich 1
Fulham 2 Bolton Wanderers 0
Newcastle United 0 Swansea City 0
Stoke City 2 Wolves 1
Chelsea 1 Wigan Athletic 1
(Reuters)
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