Newcastle boost survival hopes, Sunderland snatch draw
By Martyn Herman
LONDON (Reuters) - Two crucial penalties, one saved and one converted, added a fresh twist to a desperate relegation dogfight between bitter north-east rivals Newcastle United and Sunderland on Saturday.
With Leicester City poised to clinch the title on Sunday if they beat Manchester United, all eyes were on the other end of the table where two teams out of Newcastle, Sunderland and Norwich City will join doomed Aston Villa in the Championship.
Newcastle were leading Crystal Palace 1-0 at home when their former player Yohan Cabaye's spot kick was saved by Karl Darlow and Newcastle hung on for three points that moved them above Sunderland and out of the bottom three.
Sunderland were seconds away from defeat at Stoke City when Jermain Defoe kept his cool to tuck away a 93rd-minute penalty that earned a potentially huge point in a 1-1 draw.
Norwich City, who have slipped to second from bottom, were visiting Arsenal in Saturday's late kickoff.
Spaniard Rafa Benitez's arrival at Newcastle has spurred hopes of a great escape and with confidence soaring and a match against hapless Villa next week, it now looks possible.
Benitez's side have 33 points from 36 games, Sunderland are a point behind having played a game less, while Norwich, who had played 34 before the trip to Arsenal, have 31.
SENSATIONAL STRIKE
Newcastle were edgy and rode their luck in the first half against their former manager Alan Pardew's FA Cup finalists Palace and they needed several fine saves from Darlow, third choice at the start of the season, to keep them level.
The hosts raised their game in the second half and the tension lifted when Townsend struck a sensational free kick past Wayne Hennessey just before the hour mark.
The St James' Park faithful's hearts were in their mouths though when Moussa Sissoko inexplicably handled in the box and Frenchman Cabaye lined up his penalty kick.
Darlow sprung to the rescue though.
"This was massive for us, we needed to win," Benitez said. "If that penalty save keeps us up he will be a hero for sure."
DEFOE PENALTY
Sunderland trailed to Marko Arnautovic's strike at Stoke, but kept plugging away and were offered a lifeline in stoppage time when Defoe was fouled by Geoff Cameron and the former England striker nervelessly converted his penalty.
"It is a very precious point and in the end the referee was brave and good enough to make the right decision for us for the penalty," Sunderland manager Sam Allardyce said.
At the top end of the table, West Ham United captain Mark Noble scored twice as they won 3-0 at West Bromwich Albion to move above Manchester United into fifth place on goal difference with 59 points -- their best haul in the Premier League era.
Everton recorded a first win in eight league games, 2-1 at home to Bournemouth, although the home fans still displayed banners calling for manager Roberto Martinez to be sacked follwing their FA Cup semi-final defeat by Manchester United.
Watford, who like Everton suffered disappointment in last weekend's Cup semis when they lost to Palace, staged a late comeback to win 3-2 against Aston Villa, whose 11th straight league defeat equalled a club record set in 1963.
(Reporting by Martyn Herman; editing by Ken Ferris)