Son Heung-min’s late winner fired Tottenham to a 2-1 win over Luton but Aston Villa beat Wolves 2-0 to retake fourth place in the Premier League from Spurs on Saturday.
Chelsea remain in the bottom half of the table after they twice blew a lead at home to 10-man Burnley in a 2-2 draw.
An action-packed afternoon also saw Newcastle come from 3-1 down to stun West Ham 4-3 and Fulham hit back for a 3-3 draw at bottom-of-the-table Sheffield United.
Spurs have now come from behind to win in four of their last five home games and needed another second-half turnaround to keep their challenge for a return to the Champions League next season on track.
Tahith Chong’s strike after just three minutes gave Luton a shock lead, but the Hatters ended the day in the relegation zone as their winless run extended to 10 games.
An Ange Postecoglou halftime substitution again made an impact for Tottenham as Brennan Johnson’s cross was turned into his own net by Issa Kabore just six minutes after the Welsh international’s introduction.
Son had missed a number of chances earlier in the game but finally got some fortune when his deflected effort trickled past Thomas Kaminski for his 15th goal of the season.
“Until the end I was getting frustrated but I wanted to stay calm as captain,” said Son.
“We don’t want it to always end like this, it could be nicer when we have it (won) earlier.”
Tottenham’s victory briefly took them into fourth, but Villa responded as goals from Moussa Diaby and Ezri Konsa gave them the bragging rights from a Midlands derby.
Manchester United are now 12 points adrift of the top four ahead of their trip to Brentford later on Saturday.
BLUES BOOED OFF AFTER MINNOWS’ TWO RED CARDS
Chelsea boss Mauricio Pochettino was met with another backlash at Stamford Bridge after his side failed to make the most of an extra man for the entire second half against second-bottom Burnley.
The Blues appeared on course to cruise to victory after Lorenz Assignon was harshly sent off for pulling down Mykhailo Mudryk inside the area.
Burnley boss Vincent Kompany was also shown a red card for taking his protests too far.
Cole Palmer coolly chipped in the resulting penalty, but the 10 men levelled two minutes into the second half thanks to Josh Cullen’s super finish from outside the box.
Raheem Sterling had been booed off in Chelsea’s FA Cup quarter-final win over Leicester a fortnight ago but thought he had set up the winner in style with a flick that Palmer stroked into the far corner.
Chelsea, though, failed to hold out again as Dara O’Shea headed in a corner nine minutes from time to leave Pochettino’s men still in the bottom half of the table.
“Today we didn’t show the capacity, the energy, the hunger that is the minimum to compete in the Premier League,” said Pochettino.
“In the defensive phase we conceded too much. That is why I am so upset and disappointed.”
He added: “It’s difficult to accept not to win. It was a must-win game.”
NEWCASTLE FIGHTBACK
Newcastle closed to within one point of West Ham in seventh after a remarkable fightback at St. James’ Park.
Goals from Michail Antonio, Mohammed Kudus and Jarrod Bowen wiped out the advantage given to Newcastle by Aleksander Isak’s early penalty.
However, a second Isak spot-kick 13 minutes from time sparked the turnaround before substitute Harvey Barnes struck twice to send Eddie Howe scurrying down the touchline in celebration.
Newly-capped England international Anthony Gordon had been involved in three of the four Newcastle goals but was then sent-off in stoppage time for kicking the ball away.
“A lot of emotions in that game, we were swinging all over the place,” said Howe.
“The last 10 minutes was amazing to be part of.”
EVERTON’S HUGE RELEGATION BLOW
Everton’s winless run stretched to 12 Premier League games after a 2-1 defeat at Bournemouth to leave the Toffees still perilously placed just three points above the relegation zone.
Dyche’s side looked set for a valuable point when Beto’s 87th minute goal cancelled out Dominic Solanke’s opener at the Vitality Stadium.
But in the final seconds, Adam Smith’s cross hit Everton defender Seamus Coleman on the chest before dropping into the net.
With a potential second points deduction for alleged financial breaches also hanging over them, Everton face a nervous end to the season but coach Sean Dyche remains confident.
“The question marks over this club have been here for two-and-a-half, three years,” he said.
“I believe in the players and I believe in myself.”
He added: “Obviously I’m frustrated and disappointed with the dying embers of the game.
“For such a simple moment we get confused and they get a goal out of nothing really.
“We find a goal and I’m pleased with that, because it’s an ugly goal and you can’t always score the perfect goal.
“We should go away with a point of course, but we can’t defend like that.”
Bournemouth took the lead in the 64th minute as Solanke got between James Tarkowski and Ben Godfrey to head home Lloyd Kelly’s cross.
Everton hit back when Bournemouth goalkeeper Neto dropped Dwight McNeil’s cross right at the feet of Beto for a simple tap-in.
But Dyche’s delight turned to despair after Coleman’s own goal sent Everton home empty-handed.
FOREST HIT BACK AFTER DEDUCTION, FULHAM FIRE LATE
Nottingham Forest edged out of the bottom three on goal difference in their first match since receiving a four-point deduction as Chris Wood salvaged a 1-1 draw against Crystal Palace.
Sheffield United were denied just their fourth win of the season by Fulham’s late fightback at Bramall Lane.
Ben Brereton Diaz struck twice as the Blades led 3-1 with four minutes of the 90 left only for Bobby DeCordova-Reid and Rodrigo Muniz to snatch a point for the visitors.
Manchester United are now nine points adrift of the top five and desperately need to beat Brentford in Saturday’s late kick-off to maintain their hopes of Champions League football next season.
All of the three title challengers are in action on Sunday.
Liverpool have the chance to go top when they host Brighton before Manchester City and Arsenal kick-off at the Etihad in a clash of huge significance in the title race.
Source Agencies
