With freezing temperatures all across England, four Americans were unable to play while Brad Friedel's Aston Villa stay in fourth.
Aston Villa 2 - 1 West Bromwich Albion
Brad Friedel's Aston Villa continue to eek out the results, making gritty work of getting all three points to keep Villa in fourth and West Brom in 20th.
After West Brom were unable to clear the ball after a Steven Sidwell header the ball was flung out to Gareth Barry on the right edge of the area. Barry took a touch to steady himself, and whipped in the cross that allowed Curtis Davies his headed goal in the 19th minute.
Goalkeeper Scott Carson was to blame for Villa's second, sending them two up four minutes before the break. Gabriel Agbonlahor was allowed the time and space to attempt to cross past Carson, but Carson stopped the pass and it rebounded into his own net.
West Brom started the second half with a point to prove, and second half substitute Roman Bednar made sure his presence was felt. Bednar nodded the ball back to James Morrison, who turned to find himself in space to unleash a consolation just four minutes into the second half.
Bednar and Martin Laursen were the only players booked in the match. Villa will travel to take on Sunderland next Saturday.
Everton 2 - 0 Hull City
Tim Howard did his job as Everton's two first-half goals set the Toffees up in prime position to take on Liverpool next week.
Marouane Fellaini scored in familiar fashion 18 minutes in, rising highest to head home Leighton Baines cross. Replays would suggest that Fellaini was a good yard offside when the ball was crossed in.
Mikel Arteta struck in a thunderous 25-yard free kick after Tim Cahill was innocuously challenged. Arteta struck cleanly through the ball and it curved viciously away from Californian Wales international Boaz Myhill to get the game winner on the stroke of half time.
Cahill and Fellaini were both booked for the Toffees while Daniel Cousin, Craig Fagan, Bernard Mendy, Sam Ricketts, and Kamil Zayette were all booked for Hull.
Everton and Hull stay within two points from each other, Everton in sixth and Hull in eighth.
Reading 4 - 0 Watford
Jay DeMerit was the only Yank on the field as his Watford was crushed by a Reading missing their starting goalkeeper Marcus Hahnemann.
English Defender Chris Armstrong started the scoring seven minutes before the break, finishing off of a Stephen Hunt lay off. DeMerit and company could not find the ball fast enough to clear out the danger, and it eventually was placed into Armstrong's path to volley past Scott Loach.
The Royals took the goal as a sign of inspiration, and came out to play an inspired second half. Noel Hunt scored in the 67th minute, striking his half volley after Jimmy Kebe rose highest for the crossed header.
Kevin Doyle finished the third off after a well worked right sided cross, that Loach could only flap at before Doyle turned it in with his instep. Leroy Lita capped off the scoring a minute before the final whistle, being sent free unmarked on the edge of the area, and cooly slotted past Loach for the game winner.
Bobby Convey did not make the bench for Reading.
Reading, now second, face Swansea next Saturday, while 19th place Watford welcome Sheffield United to Vicarage Road.
Notes
Clint Dempsey will have to wait for the replay of Fulham's game against Blackburn, as referee Rob Styles deemed the field unplayable , postponing the match.
Jonathan Spector was not on the roster for West Ham as they drew 2-2 against Newcastle United.
Eddie Johnson will have time to ready himself as Cardiff's match against Derby was also postponed due to freezing temperatures.
Zak Whitbread's Millwall will wait for the rescheduled match against Cheltenham, being called off for poor weather.
Jemal Johnson's Milton Keynes Dons play Monday against Colchester.
Frank Simek was not part of the Sheffield Wednesday squad that tied 1-1 at Ipswich Town.
Ian Joyce's Southend United had their match against Crewe Alexandra postponed due to the weather. |
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