Heroes and Villains: Boring Chelsea close to title and relegation revivals

It was another cracking weekend of Premier League action, with more twists and surprises occurring in the ruthless battle to avoid relegation, as Hull City and Leicester City both secured crucial away victories.

Elsewhere, Jose Mourinho’s Blues took a big step towards claiming the title with a goalless draw at the Emirates and, despite being branded as ‘boring’, Chelsea are now just two wins away from domestic success.

Heroes
Hull City
Alan Pardew has revived Crystal Palace since arriving from Newcastle United, but Steve Bruce’s Tigers rallied to a vital 2-0 win at Selhurst Park thanks to a delightful double form Dame N’Doye, with Robbie Brady playing a starring role.

Hull’s crucial away triumph came on the back of a six-game winless streak, seeing them climb a point above the drop zone and, with their remaining five matches at the KC Stadium, Bruce will believe his side have every chance of staying up.

Fighting Foxes
Jamie Vardy’s third goal in five outings sent Leicester on their way to three important away points, toppling rock-bottom outfit Burnley 1-0, as Nigel Pearson’s men continued their recent top-flight revival. Luck was on the visitors’ side as Matt Taylor missed from the penalty spot just 59 seconds before Vardy opened proceedings.

The Foxes are now out of the bottom three of table and secured four consecutive top-flight victories for the first time since 1966. Leicester finally look up for the challenge of beating the drop and are a 2/1 chance with Coral to be relegated.

Boring Chelsea
A defensively defiant Chelsea ended Arsenal’s eight-match winning run, as a 0-0 draw helped the Blues edge towards their first domestic silverware success since 2010.

Mourinho rapidly responded to ‘boring’ jibes from the Gunners faithful by claiming: “I think boring is 10 years without a title, that’s boring.”