Defensive duo seal Sunderland survival, send Newcastle and Norwich down

While the appointment of Rafael Benitez by Newcastle sparked a mini-revival to give the Toon Army hope, the sacking of Steve McClaren came too late.

Allardyce and his Mackems men have lost just one of their last 10 Premier League games – that being to champions Leicester City. Picking up 11 points from a possible maximum of 15 during the run-in also explains why he has kept them up.

Defoe’s key nose for goal and vital strikes has also proved the difference; he was desperately unlucky not to score in the second-half against Roberto Martinez’s men when chipping the keeper and seeing young Matthew Pennington clear his effort off the line.

That led to the corner from which Kone added his second and Sunderland’s third. Robles flapped an inswinging delivery, the ball ricocheted off Toffees defenders and the rebound was snapped up.

Defoe deal a belated masterstroke

In signing Defoe the winter before last, the Black Cats and Big Sam had a proven Premier League striker on board. Meanwhile, their neighbours the Magpies have gambled heavily on foreign imports such as Georginio Wijnaldum and Aleksandar Mitrovic – established Netherlands and Serbia internationals.

Controversial Newcastle owner Mike Ashley only added investment for best of British talent like Jonjo Shelvey and Andros Townsend during the winter window. It appears the change of direction with regard to player recruitment may have come too late.

Victory over Everton for Sunderland also rendered the Canaries’ 4-2 win over Watford on Wednesday night irrelevant. Again, the marquee signing for Alex Neil at Carrow Road was Dieumerci Mbokani – a DR Congo international with no experience of English football.

Toffees turmoil may mean Martinez axe

Big Sam was perhaps fortunate to have a home game against a Merseyside outfit that is destined for a mid-table finish and has kept a single clean sheet in 10 to leave Catalan coach Martinez clinging to his job.

This was another nonsensical defensive display for the Toffees, rigidly trying to play out from the back even when the hosting Black Cats were pressing high up the pitch. It took until the 94th minute for a visiting player to really test Vito Mannone.

Martinez’s staunch refusal to adopt more flexible football principals is now seen as a vice by fans and something for which he is likely to pay the price, with Coral quoting 1/4 on him not being Everton manager on the first day of next season.

Related

Visit Coral’s Premier League page for all the latest top-flight betting action.