Norwich City stun Tottenham

Football EPL

Tottenham Hotspur stumbled in their pursuit of a third place Premier League finish and an automatic Champions League slot next season when they were upset 2-1 at home by Norwich City on Monday.

Midtable Norwich had a host of penalty claims turned down yet still plugged away for a memorable victory to leave Spurs on 59 points, two adrift of third-placed Arsenal, having played 33 games, one more than their north London rivals.

Newcastle United marksman Papiss Cisse scored his ninth goal in 10 matches as his side joined Tottenham on 59 points with a 2-0 win at home against Bolton Wanderers, Hatem Ben Arfa scoring the opener with a stunning 60-metre run.

Sixth-placed Chelsea could leapfrog both clubs with a win by two clear goals later on Monday when they visit London neighbours Fulham.

Everton’s 4-0 hammering of Sunderland lifted them to 47 points in seventh and put more distance between them and Liverpool who are on 43 points with a game in hand.

Arsenal shock for City

Second-placed Manchester City crashed to a 1-0 defeat at Arsenal on Sunday.
Mikel Arteta's fierce low drive in the 87th minute broke City's hearts at Arsenal. A bleak day for City ended with the volatile Mario Balotelli being dismissed in the dying minutes for a second yellow card after a nasty challenge on Bacary Sagna.

Although neither Roberto Mancini nor United manager Alex Ferguson would declare the title race over, the leaders Manchester United would have to collapse dramatically in the remaining six games to avoid becoming champions for the 20th time. Ferguson's team have 79 points from 32 games while City, who have won just once in the last five matches, are on 71.

Arsenal are now two points clear of fourth-placed Tottenham Hotspur in the race for an automatic Champions League berth.