A late Thomas Hitzlsperger strike kept alive West Ham United’s hopes of avoiding relegation as they drew 1-1 with Blackburn Rovers on Saturday.
With Wigan Athletic drawing 1-1 at Aston Villa, and Blackpool drawing 1-1 at Tottenham Hotspur, West Ham are three points from safety with two games of the season remaining.
Blackpool are fourth from bottom, above Wigan only on goal difference.
Without the injured Scott Parker, the Football Writers’ Player of the Year, West Ham were desperately flat.
Jason Roberts slid in Brett Emerton’s cross after 12 minutes, after which Blackburn dug in and defended.
They seemed comfortable, but Hitzlsperger — the Hammer as he is nicknamed for the power of his shooting — lashed in Carlton Cole’s lay-off with 12 minutes to go.
Robbie Keane should have won it for West Ham late on, but somehow missed his kick from three yards out with the goal gaping.
West Ham face Wigan next week. “I think I’m confident,” said West Ham manager Avram Grant. “We have a chance to stay up, of course.
“But first we need to win at Wigan. If we win against Wigan, we’ll be above them. This is the most important game. Two games before the end, this is the most important game. We need to win.
“Maybe that was the story of our season today. We were on top of the other team, created a lot of chances, and had good moments in the last 10 minutes. But we didn’t score. It’s happened again and again, and it’s cost us two points. But we’ve kept our chances alive.”
At Villa Park, Charles N’Zogbia put Wigan ahead after 10 minutes following a smart one-two between Victor Moses and Hugo Rodallega, but Ashley Young levelled with a free-kick six minutes later.
“I am happy with the performance,” said Wigan boss Roberto Martinez. “We are in a position where we are fighting for our lives.”
Defoe rescues Spurs
The game at White Hart Lane turned in a crazy 60 seconds, 14 minutes from time.
First Heurelho Gomes made a stunning save from DJ Campbell. From the resulting corner, Michael Dawson handled, but Gomes saved Charlie Adam’s penalty.
That led to another corner, from which Gomes fouled Gary Taylor-Fletcher to concede anther penalty. This time Adam converted the penalty.
Jermain Defoe, though, levelled from just outside the box with a minute remaining.
Birmingham City, level with Blackburn, aren’t completely out of danger, three points above Wigan, after they went down 2-1 at Newcastle United.
Liam Ridgewell was controversially sent off after 36 minutes for handing a Fabbrizio Coloccini header on the line, leading to the penalty from which Shola Ameobi put Newcastle ahead.
Ben Foster made a number of fine saves, but he couldn’t prevent Steven Taylor doubling Newcastle’s advantage after 43 minutes.
Lee Bowyer, though, pulled one back before the break, lashing in against his former club after Cameron Jerome had reacted first to reach Foster’s long clearance.
Sunderland beat Bolton
Sunderland made absolutely certain of survival with a 2-1 win at Bolton Wanderers. Boudewijn Zenden put the away side ahead on the stroke of half-time with his side’s first away goal in three months, but Ivan Klasnic seemed to have secured a draw as he levelled with three minutes to go.
But in injury-time, Sulley Muntari spun in off Zat Knight to give Sunderland an unlikely win.
Everton downs City
Manchester City’s pursuit of third-placed Arsenal took a knock as they went down 2-1 at Everton.
Yaya Toure rattled in his ninth goal of the season to give City the lead after 28 minutes, but Sylvain Distin levelled after 65 minutes, and Leon Osman won it with a superb header six minutes later.
