Villa go fifth, Leicester draw with Leeds and Wolves claim vital win

Tyrone Mings.
Photo: Graham Wilson

Defender Tyrone Mings scored a brilliant header from a set piece as Aston Villa beat Fulham 1-0 at Villa Park to lift them to fifth in the Premier League and a step closer to ensuring European football next season.

Villa are on 54 points after 33 games, one ahead of Tottenham Hotspur and five behind fourth-placed Manchester United.

Fulham, whose European dreams were derailed by a run of four defeats in March and April, are ninth on 45 points.

Fulham suffered a blow when midfielder Willian was injured in the warm-up and was unable to play, with Manor Solomon taking his place.

The visitors might have had an early chance but the home side put them under tremendous pressure in the opening 15 minutes, and they had a good shout for a penalty turned down when Ollie Watkins appeared to be tripped in the box by Tosin Adarabioyo.

Fulham were forced into another change when Harry Wilson limped off after 17 minutes to make way for Bobby Decordova-Reid as things went from bad to worse.

Villa took the lead in the 21st minute when Mings met John McGinn’s corner at the near post with a superb glancing header that flashed across the goal and into the net for his first goal of the season.

Fulham found their feet in the second half but once again their attack failed to fire and, despite enjoying more possession, they did little to threaten Emiliano Martinez in the Villa goal.

Mings’s joy almost turned to misery in the 82nd minute when he put the ball into his own net, but Harrison Reed was found to have been offside in the build-up and the own goal was chalked off as Villa held on to win.

The home side are on a remarkable run since Unai Emery took over in November, and Tuesday’s win marked their fifth straight home victory without conceding a goal as their push for Europe continues.

Vardy rescues point for Leicester in basement clash at Leeds

Leicester City’s veteran striker Jamie Vardy came off the bench to break his long scoring drought and earn his side a 1-1 draw with a late equaliser in a crunch relegation battle away to Leeds United.

Leeds were closing in on a much-needed three points in their quest for safety thanks to Luis Sinisterra’s 20th-minute header after Leicester’s Youri Tielemans had a goal ruled out.

The 36-year-old Vardy, who came on in the 70th minute, had other ideas though and fired past Leeds keeper Illan Meslier from James Maddison’s pass to rescue his side.

It was his first league goal since October and the former England striker thought he had given Leicester the lead shortly afterwards but his effort was ruled out for offside.

A frantic finale saw Leicester keeper Daniel Iversen make an outstanding save to keep out Marc Roca’s close-range header before Leeds striker Patrick Bamford scuffed a glorious opportunity wide.

The result did little to ease either side’s relegation fears with Leicester remaining in 17th place with 29 points, one point ahead of third-from-bottom Everton who would move above them if they avoid defeat by Newcastle United later this week.

Leeds have 30 points.

Second-from-bottom Nottingham Forest could also leapfrog Leicester if they win at home to Brighton & Hove Albion on Thursday.

Wolves earn vital points in battle against drop

An early own goal and a late penalty gave Wolverhampton Wanderers a vital three points in their bid to keep clear of the Premier League relegation zone as they ended Crystal Palace’s unbeaten run under stand-in manager Roy Hodgson with a 2-0 home win.

Wolves had a dream start after a third-minute own goal from Joachim Andersen and made sure of the win after another horrific mistake, this time by Palace goalkeeper Sam Johnstone who gave away a stoppage-time penalty, converted by captain Ruben Neves.

Victory put Wolves nine points clear of the bottom three places, joining Palace on 37 points and ended Hodgson’s run of three wins and a draw since returning to Palace in the wake of Patrick Vieira’s sacking last month.

Andersen, who was facing his own goal, got himself into a tangle as a corner from Neves struck him on the knee, powering into the net off the underside of the bar to the delight of the Molineux support.

Burnley seal Championship title

Burnley clinched the Championship title with a 1-0 victory at local rivals Blackburn Rovers.

Manuel Benson’s 66th-minute effort sealed the points for a Burnley side who had already booked promotion to the Premier League.

With two games remaining they have 95 points, 13 ahead of Sheffield United who can wrap up promotion.

Blackburn remain in eighth place in England’s second tier with 65 points but are level on points with Sunderland who are in the final playoff spot.

–Reuters