Despair then elation, Bournemouth rescue a point against Everton

Bournemouth 3 Everton 3

Bournemouth twice recovered from seemingly-lost causes to earn a dramatic 3-3 draw with Everton and rescue a vital point in their bid for Premier League survival.

Following a one-sided first half in which goals from Romelu Lukaku and Ramiro Funes Mori gave the visitors a deserved, and what appeared comfortable, lead, an outstanding finish from substitute Adam Smith inspired a comeback that was eventually completed deep into stoppage time with the second of Junior Stanislas' equalising goals after Ross Barkley had again put Everton ahead.

Bournemouth climb up to 18th but remain in the relegation zone with the point gained, though more crucially they recovered the sense of momentum that began with their recent improved performances in the 1-0 defeat by Newcastle and the 2-2 draw at Swansea. Everton manager Roberto Martinez will no doubt reflect on a wasted opportunity, when his side should have secured a convincing victory and strengthened their challenge for the top four.

Crystal Palace 5 Newcastle United 1

Steve McClaren’s difficult week ended in a 5-1 thrashing at Crystal Palace as Newcastle dropped into the Barclays Premier League relegation zone.

There were angry words on the Newcastle training ground this week following the 3-0 home defeat to Leicester, but it looked as if they had cleared the air when Papiss Cisse’s first goal since the opening day of the season gave the visitors a 10th-minute lead.

But Newcastle boss McClaren could only look on in horror as Palace were 3-1 ahead by half-time with James McArthur (14), Yannick Bolasie (17) and Wilfried Zaha (41) putting the Eagles on their way to only a second win in six league games.

Bolasie punished more defensive slackness to volley home his second within two minutes of the restart and McArthur also scored his second late on as Eagles boss Alan Pardew savoured victory over his old club.

Sunderland moved above their local rivals and out of the bottom three with a 2-0 defeat of Stoke, the second successive win for Sam Allardyce’s Black Cats.

Stoke defender Ryan Shawcross was sent off for a second bookable offence after 47 minutes but Sunderland had to wait to break the deadlock.

Patrick van Aanholt lashed them ahead after 82 minutes and Duncan Watmore latched on to a defensive error two minutes later to settle matters.

Aston Villa 2 Watford 3

Bottom club Aston Villa’s misery continued as they lost 3-2 at home to Watford.

Villa were without Jack Grealish, who had been dropped after enjoying a night out in the wake of the 4-0 defeat at Everton last weekend, and Odion Ighalo fired Watford into a 17th-minute lead.

Micah Richards’ first Villa goal, a powerful header four minutes before the break, restored parity and Watford lost goalkeeper Heurelho Gomes to injury after the break.

But Villa defender Alan Hutton prodded into his own net and Troy Deeney added another to make Jordan Ayew’s late effort irrelevant.

Manchester City 3 Southampton 1

Manchester City returned to the summit with a 3-1 victory over Southampton at the Etihad Stadium.

City took advantage of the late kick-off between Leicester and Manchester United to reclaim the top spot they lost last week, even if it was only for a few hours.

England goalkeeper Joe Hart was missing with a hamstring injury sustained in the Champions League defeat at Juventus, but City were ahead when Raheem Sterling set up Kevin de Bruyne for a ninth-minute tap-in.

Fabian Delph doubled the advantage with a deflected 20th-minute shot, his first City goal since leaving Aston Villa in an #8million move last summer.

Southampton halved the deficit when Shane Long headed home Sadio Mane's cross soon after the interval and City's anxiety grew when star striker Sergio Aguero limped off midway through the second half.

But Aleksandar Kolarov fired home City’s third after 69 minutes to secure the three points.