Premier League: Crystal Palace snatch 1-0 win at Hull City thanks to Barry Bannan goal

Crystal Palace produced a resolute performance to beat Hull City 1-0 at the KC Stadium in front of new manager Tony Pulis on Saturday.

Pulis watched from the stands as his new club Palace snatched just a second win of the season at Hull, breathing fresh life into their relegation battle.

Crystal Palace caretaker boss Keith Millen was proud of his players after they got a 1-0 win against Hull.

Caretaker boss Keith Millen, who will hand over the baton to Pulis, signed off his stint with a victory secured when Barry Bannan converted Cameron Jerome's cut-back in the 81st minute.

By then Palace were down to 10 men and seemingly hanging on to a point after Yannick Bolasie was harshly dismissed for a lunge at Jake Livermore.

They were almost pegged back in the dying seconds when Livermore saw his effort bundled off the line and Liam Rosenior clattered a post from 25 yards, but Pulis will now take the hot seat with a spring in his step.

Best of the Match

• Man of the Match: Barry Bannan. At his live-wire best as Crystal Palace continually pressurised the Hull City defence and made no mistakes when presented with the match winning opportunity. Had plenty of ground to make before tapping in from close range.
• Turning Point: Anthony Taylor produced a straight red card when Yannick Bolasie jumped into Jake Livermore and although the forward may feel hard done by, his dismissal spurred on his Crystal Palace teammates scored moments later.
• Move of the Match: Crystal Palace, invigorated by the dismissal of Yannick Bolasie, sprang into action and Cameron Jerome ghosted his way around two defenders before producing an inch-perfect square ball across the face of goal, met by the surging Barry Bannan.
• Talking Point: Tony Pulis. Never been relegated as manager and faces a stern challenge if he is to protect that record with Crystal Palace. Watching from the stands the former Stoke City boss appeared impressed with his new side's winner but there is plenty of work to do if salvation is to come to Selhurst Park.

Hull were incensed by referee Anthony Taylor after just two minutes when he pulled back play for a clash of heads between Paul McShane and Marouane Chamakh.

George Boyd was in a decent position to advance on goal when the whistle was blown but the lengthy attention - and twin bandages - required by both injured parties went some way to justifying Taylor's call.

Chamakh, in fact, never fully recovered and was replaced by Jerome in the 36th minute.

At the other end, Kagisho Dikgacoi managed to get in front of McShane and into the area but his shot sailed high and wide.

Hull attempted to draw attention back to the pitch as protests over the club's re-branding to Hull Tigers continued, Tom Huddlestone and Boyd working a quick free-kick to Curtis Davies in the Palace box. The centre-half got a strong connection on his header but could not force it through a crowded area.

By the time the sides headed for the tunnel, neither had mustered a goalscoring attempt worthy of the title, although a deflected effort from Boyd at least required Julian Speroni to make a save.

Steve Bruce removed the ineffective Robbie Brady at the break, sending on Danny Graham in his place to increase Hull's attacking options.

Within seven minutes of the restart they created the best chance so far. Boyd found the run of Yannick Sagbo, but the Ivorian hesitated slightly when one on one with Speroni and saw his shot well saved.

Palace countered immediately, Bolasie looking for the advancing Dwight Gayle only for Ahmed Elmohamady to make a vital interception.

An unlikely breakthrough reared its head when Boyd tripped over the ball and then passed straight to Bolasie, but the winger screwed his shot wide of Allan McGregor's goal.

The tempo was picking up, Jerome and Robert Koren exchanging 20-yard strikes and Davies losing his footing when the ball dropped to him from a Hull corner in the 70th minute.

Steve Bruce felt that Hull didn¿t do enough today after losing to Crystal Palace.

The latter was actually an inviting chance by the standards on offer but the home captain could not even manage a solid connection.

With 12 minutes to go, the door creaked open for Hull as Bolasie saw red after sliding in on Livermore.

But incredibly it was the visitors who took the lead just three minutes later.

Hull were guilty of switching off at the back as Jerome jinked into the box and left them exposed as the striker reached the byline and rolled the ball across goal. Bannan was the man arriving to meet it and slid home side-footed to set up an unlikely success.

Hull had the numerical advantage but limited time to make it count. As it was they almost levelled twice at the end of added time - Livermore's attempt blocked on the goal-line and Rosenior's sweetly-struck follow-up rebounding off the woodwork.

Premier League: Newcastle overcome Norwich 2-1 as Loic Remy and Yoan Gouffran grab goals

Newcastle United sealed a 2-1 victory over Norwich City as Chris Hughton endured another unhappy return to St James' Park.

Loic Remy carried on his fine form by nodding in the opener after just two minutes, before Yoan Gouffran doubled Newcastle's advantage in the 38th minute after John Ruddy had spilled Shola Ameobi's header.

Best of the match

• Man of the match: Shola Ameobi was a real threat up front for Newcastle and worked hard throughout in an impressive team performance.
• Goal of the match: Yoan Gouffran had a simple finish for Newcastle's second after John Ruddy failed to hold Ameobi's header, but there was good build-up before Moussa Sissoko swung in a right-wing cross.
• Moment of the match: Loic Remy's second-minute goal set the tone for a successful afternoon and left stunned Norwich with a mountain to climb.
• Save of the match: Ruddy may have been partly at fault for Gouffran's goal but he made a magnificent save a few minutes later to leap away to his right and keep out Ameobi's thunderous 20-yard drive.
• Talking point: Can Newcastle push on and challenge for a European place? Are Norwich in danger of going down?

Leroy Fer powered in a fine header with ten minutes remaining to reduce Norwich's arrears and set up a nervous finale, but the Magpies held on to seal a third straight win.

Less than two minutes had gone when Yohan Cabaye, for the second time in the game, sent in a left-wing corner which was allowed to travel across Norwich's six-yard box to the far post.

Midfielder Bradley Johnson found himself caught in two minds and in the event did nothing to allow Remy to head into the back of the net.

The Canaries responded to the early setback to enjoy their best, albeit brief, spell of the half. Nathan Redmond perhaps should have done better after being played in over the top by Michael Turner with 11 minutes gone, but he blasted high over with the Magpies' defence waiting in vain for an offside flag.

The visitors went close once again two minutes later when Ryan Bennett turned Anthony Pilkington's deep free-kick towards goal to prompt a block by keeper Tim Krul, with returning skipper Fabricio Coloccini blocking Fer's follow-up and Ameobi mopping up.

However, with Cheick Tiote and Cabaye dominating in midfield, and Ameobi and Remy stretching the Norwich defence, Newcastle gradually established a momentum.

Moussa Sissoko should have extended their lead 14 minutes before the break after Ameobi had carved the City defence wide open with a slide-rule pass, but he dragged his effort wide.

Norwich were very nearly level within seconds when Pilkington looped a header back across goal, only for the ball to drop just wide with Krul wrong-footed.

However, Alan Pardew's men increased their advantage with 38 minutes gone when Ameobi once again produced a fine pass to pick out Remy, who fed Sissoko to float in a teasing cross.

Ameobi climbed highest to force a save from Ruddy, but Gouffran was on hand to tap home the rebound.

Pardew: Job done

Ruddy had to dive to his left to beat away Ameobi's piledriver in stoppage time, and the home side headed for the dressing room happy with their lot.

The visitors' woes increased within four minutes of the restart when Pilkington was carried off after apparently damaging a hamstring in a challenge with Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa.

Johan Elmander took his place, but it was Gary Hooper who might have changed his side's fortunes from the resulting free-kick when Newcastle failed to clear their lines and he prodded a shot just wide.

Ameobi created a shooting chance for himself with some neat footwork, but then wasted all the good work by scuffing his attempt straight at Ruddy.

Two early goals cost us – Hughton

But Norwich were making a concerted push to get themselves back into the game and the Magpies found themselves having to defend, if with few scares, for an extended period.

Newcastle were content to try to hit the Canaries on the break, which they did to good effect on more than one occasion, but the precision of their first-half performance was sadly lacking.

The relative comfort of their position persuaded Pardew to withdraw the tiring Cabaye and Ameobi and replace them with Vurnon Anita and Papiss Cisse as time ran down.

However, Fer set up a tense conclusion when he headed Redmond's corner firmly past Krul with 10 minutes remaining, although the Magpies held firm.

Premier League: Brendan Rodgers appalled by tackle from Everton's Kevin Mirallas

Kevin Mirallas' "naughty" challenge on Luis Suarez could have ended the Liverpool star's career, says Brendan Rodgers.

Rodgers was appalled by Mirallas' tackle on the Reds striker in the first half of Saturday's enthralling 3-3 draw away to Everton in the 221st Merseyside derby.

The Toffees' Belgium international, who had a hand in all their goals in the Premier League clash at Goodison Park, escaped with a booking from referee Phil Dowd for his knee-high challenge on Suarez.

"I thought Mirallas should have been sent off. It would've been interesting if Luis made the challenge," said Rodgers.

"I have seen Kevin for a few years and he looks a real honest player but if you look at it in every way, real time and slow motion, it is a bad challenge.

"He caught him on the back of his knee and that can end your career.

"It was awful jumping in like that and it took Luis 10 or 15 minutes to try to run it off and he (Mirallas) had another one by the (far) touchline where he's jumped up and come down on the back of Luis.

"He (Mirallas) caught him (Suarez) on the back of his knee and that can end your career."

Brendan Rodgers

"He (Suarez) is a player who can look after himself on the pitch, he is a strong player, but I just think it was a bad challenge.

"It wouldn't matter if it was on Luis or someone else it was a naughty challenge.

"You don't want to see people getting sent off but if they should be, then that's what should happen."

Rodgers also made a veiled criticism of England for playing unfit striker Daniel Sturridge for 90 minutes in the midweek friendly against Germany.

Sturridge came off the bench to salvage a point with an 89th-minute header after two goals from Romelu Lukaku had turned around Liverpool's 2-1 advantage with Philippe Coutinho and Suarez scoring either side of Mirallas.

Rodgers decided the striker, who has been playing with a dead leg, was not fit to start after being over-played at Wembley.

"He had obviously not trained and he played 90 minutes (against Germany) and anyone who saw the game could tell he was not fit," added the Reds boss.

"Because he played 90 minutes, he couldn't train because he has to recover.

"His first action on the field was Friday and assessing him on that he was nowhere near ready to start.

"I said to him before the game he has been a match-winner for us since he came in but he may have to do it from the bench.

"Thankfully he came in and got a great header."

Transfer news: Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers is confident Luis Suarez will stay at Anfield

Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers has shrugged off talk that this could be Luis Suarez's final season at Anfield.

Suarez's future at Liverpool was the subject of constant speculation during the summer window, with the player angling for a move away in search of playing in the UEFA Champions League.

Liverpool rejected two bids from Arsenal for the Uruguayan and the striker has moved on from the transfer saga to score six Premier League goals in five matches since returning from suspension.

Suarez scored the first Premier League hat-trick of the season in Saturday's win over West Brom to spark fresh speculation that Liverpool could face a fight to keep hold of him when the January transfer window opens.

However, Rodgers has rejected talk that Suarez is likely to be on his way.

"For me, this is the place for Luis. I still maintain that even if we were in mid-table this would be the place for him to be because this is a massive club - a global institution."

Brendan Rodgers

"No, I wouldn't say that," insisted Rodgers. "I think he, like ourselves, wants to be at the very highest level he can be.

"And you can see by his performances he deserves to be looking at that level.

"But it also shows he has been excellent in his attitude, you see his work rate - that is the key."

Rodgers added: "For me, this is the place for Luis. I still maintain that even if we were in mid-table this would be the place for him to be because this is a massive club - a global institution.

"But as a football club and as a team we are growing - and he can grow with us. Luis has the support of everyone at the club and the love of everyone and because this is a worldwide institution, there is no better place for him to grow.

"When a player is happy and working well you get a performance like you did [against West Brom]."

World Cup: UEFA president Michel Platini wants expansion from 32 to 40 teams

UEFA president Michel Platini thinks FIFA should consider expanding the World Cup finals from 32 nations to 40.

The Frenchman believes an increase in the number of participants at football's showpiece event would be embraced by all concerned.

He says only three days would be added to the schedule and that the event would reach a wider global audience.

It is possible that Platini will soon be in a position to make such calls, with it expected that he will rival Sepp Blatter for the FIFA presidency in 2015.

"There are more countries so why reduce? Forty is not so bad. You have three days more of competition and you make more people happy."

Michel Platini

Platini agrees with Blatter's recent call for more African representation on the World Cup stage, but feels a possible expansion could also benefit Asia, America and Europe.

He told The Times: "It's good for everybody.

"I totally agree with Mr Blatter that we need more African and Asian (countries). But instead of taking away some European, we have to go to 40 teams in the World Cup.

There's been a mixed reaction to Michel Platini's proposal to increase the number of teams competing in the World Cup from 32 to 40.

"We can add two African, two Asiatic, two American and one from Europe. I support this idea totally."

Platini believes the growth of FIFA in recent decades justifies a bigger World Cup.

"Football is changing and now we have 209 associations," he said.

"There are more countries so why reduce? Forty is not so bad.

"You have three days more of competition and you make more people happy."

Premier League: Arsenal's Serge Gnabry signs new long-term contract

Arsenal have rewarded Serge Gnabry with a new long-term contract after the 18-year-old's impressive progress in the last year.

Gunners boss Arsene Wenger has high hopes for Gnabry, who has been capped by Germany at youth level.

Gnabry has already made an impression for the Gunners' first team - scoring in the 2-1 victory at Swansea earlier in the season, a week after making his full Premier League debut against Stoke.

"He has technical ability, he has power, he has pace, he has finishing quality and he can give a final ball. He's a powerful offensive player and I believe that he will be a great player for Arsenal Football Club."

Arsene Wenger

He made the step up to during the 2012/13 campaign, making substitute appearances in the Premier League at Norwich and the Champions League home match against Schalke

Wenger told the club's official website: "We signed Serge Gnabry because I believe that he will be a great player.

"He's nearly there now, and competes for a regular place in the team in the Premier League.

Player Profile

Serge Gnabry

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"He has technical ability, he has power, he has pace, he has finishing quality and he can give a final ball. He's a powerful offensive player and I believe that he will be a great player for Arsenal Football Club."

Gnabry admits he is delighted with the new deal as well as the opportunities that have already come his way at Arsenal.

He said: "Arsenal is a great football club and I'm so happy to be here and sign a new contract. For me, now it's all about working hard and developing my game.

"I've had some good opportunities recently in the first team, which has given me extra confidence, and this will only improve my game. I'm looking forward to giving my best for this club in the years to come."

Premier League: Jose Mourinho says Chelsea 'beat the best' after win over Manchester City

Jose Mourinho stated after the 2-1 victory over Manchester City that Chelsea had 'beaten the best team in the Premier League', and was thankful for a slice of luck that helped Fernando Torres score the winning goal.

Chelsea had the better of the first half at Stamford Bridge and went into the interval with a 1-0 lead after Torres had made amends for an earlier miss to set up Andre Schurrle.

Sergio Aguero equalised as City responded strongly in the second half, but it was the Blues who emerged with all three points after a defensive mix-up between Joe Hart and Matija Nastasic allowed Torres to find the net.

And Mourinho was thrilled to beat a team he regards as Chelsea's main rivals for the Premier League title.

"We won a game that is very important for us. I think we beat the best team in the Premier League."

Jose Mourinho

"The first half was our half. We were better, much better," Mourinho told Sky Sports.

"It is difficult to be much better than a fantastic team. We should have scored more goals.

"The second half they start very strong. They score a great goal and after that the game was open.

"It was for both sides. In that period you have the little bit of luck you need to win these matches.

"We had this lucky situation, although you could say a belief situation because Fernando had the belief (to chase a lost cause).

"We won a game that is very important for us. I think we beat the best team in the Premier League."

Mourinho - We've beaten the best

Mourinho also praised Torres' performance, claiming the striker had showed his character after spurning an early chance.

"Everything that happened (with Torres) came after he missed the easy chance," he said.

"(It was) amazing. When you are a player and you make a mistake you are finished for the game.

"After that you saw the best Fernando. He won the first goal and worked unbelievably for the team."