Sports / Soccer
Newcastle United moves into top four
21 Apr 2012 at 15:14hrs | Views
London - Newcastle United moved into the top four of the Premier League on Saturday as Chelsea lost ground in the race for a Champions League qualifying berth.
Two goals from Yohan Cabaye and one from Papiss Cisse gave Newcastle a 3-0 win over Stoke City at St James' Park, a result that saw the Magpies move four points clear of sixth-placed Chelsea with four games remaining.
Tottenham Hotspur could reclaim fourth spot later on Saturday, however, if they beat relegation-threatened Queens Park Rangers at Loftus Road in the late kick-off.
Chelsea's 0-0 draw with Arsenal earlier on Saturday means the west London club are now four points adrift of the Champions League qualifying places with four games left to play.
With title rivals Manchester United and Manchester City having games on Sunday, attention elsewhere on Saturday focused on the battle to beat the drop.
Wigan Athletic's hopes of pulling clear of the relegation zone suffered a setback as they lost 2-1 at Fulham, Philippe Senderos scoring an 89th-minute winner to sink the Latics at Craven Cottage.
Senderos' winner came after Wigan had taken the lead through Emmerson Boyce on 57 minutes before Pavel Pogrebnyak got Fulham back on level terms.
Blackburn Rovers ended a run of five consecutive defeats to score a 2-0 win over Norwich City at Ewood Park.
The win left Rovers third from bottom but level on points with QPR, one place ahead of them in 17th.
Mauro Formica and Junior Hoilett scored the goals for Rovers as Steve Kean's side gave themselves a Premier League lifeline.
Bolton Wanderers, meanwhile, remain in the bottom three after being held 1-1 by Swansea at the Reebok Stadium.
Scott Sinclair put Swansea ahead after only six minutes, curling his shot into the far corner after cutting in from the left flank, before Chris Eagles levelled in the 14th minute.
In the other match on Saturday, Aston Villa and Sunderland played out a 0-0 draw at Villa Park.
Two goals from Yohan Cabaye and one from Papiss Cisse gave Newcastle a 3-0 win over Stoke City at St James' Park, a result that saw the Magpies move four points clear of sixth-placed Chelsea with four games remaining.
Tottenham Hotspur could reclaim fourth spot later on Saturday, however, if they beat relegation-threatened Queens Park Rangers at Loftus Road in the late kick-off.
Chelsea's 0-0 draw with Arsenal earlier on Saturday means the west London club are now four points adrift of the Champions League qualifying places with four games left to play.
With title rivals Manchester United and Manchester City having games on Sunday, attention elsewhere on Saturday focused on the battle to beat the drop.
Wigan Athletic's hopes of pulling clear of the relegation zone suffered a setback as they lost 2-1 at Fulham, Philippe Senderos scoring an 89th-minute winner to sink the Latics at Craven Cottage.
Blackburn Rovers ended a run of five consecutive defeats to score a 2-0 win over Norwich City at Ewood Park.
The win left Rovers third from bottom but level on points with QPR, one place ahead of them in 17th.
Mauro Formica and Junior Hoilett scored the goals for Rovers as Steve Kean's side gave themselves a Premier League lifeline.
Bolton Wanderers, meanwhile, remain in the bottom three after being held 1-1 by Swansea at the Reebok Stadium.
Scott Sinclair put Swansea ahead after only six minutes, curling his shot into the far corner after cutting in from the left flank, before Chris Eagles levelled in the 14th minute.
In the other match on Saturday, Aston Villa and Sunderland played out a 0-0 draw at Villa Park.
Source - sports
