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Big Sam safe for now as Hammers win, Johnson nets Sunderland hat-trick

There were also wins for Spurs and Southampton.

WEST HAM MANAGER Sam Allardyce can breathe again, for at least another week, after his side recorded a rare away win over Cardiff City.

The Hammers won 2-0 after Mark Noble added an injury time goal to double the lead Carlton Cole gave them in the 42nd minute. Allardyce’s side have climbed to 17th as Cardiff replace them in the relegation zone.

imageCardiff City’s manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and West Ham boss Sam Allardyce. Nick Potts/PA Wire

Adam Johnson scored a hat-trick as Sunderland won 4-1 against Fulham at Craven Cottage in a key game at the bottom of the Premier League table. The midfielder opened the scoring with a sweetly-struck free-kick just before the half-hour mark and then set up Ki Sung-Yeung to make it 2-0.

Ki then returned the favour for Johnson to score again midway through the second half after Fulham had reduced the deficit through Steve Sidwell, and he completed his hat-trick from the spot five minutes from time.

The result lifts Sunderland off the bottom of the table and, while they remain in the relegation zone, they are now within two points of the Cottagers, who are 16th.

Spurs beat Crystal Palace 2-0 after goals from Cristian Eriksen and substitute Jermaine Defoe in the second-half. Tim Sherwood’s men were level at 0-0 after 45 minutes at White Hart Lane and were thankful that Palace midfielder Jason Puncheon blazed over an early penalty. They turned the screw after the break and, in reality, could have scored more during their win.

Southampton had a nicely taken Adam Lallana strike and goalkeeper Artur Boruc to thank for a 1-0 win over West Brom at St Mary’s. Shane Long started up front for the Baggies but failed to fire.

– Additional reporting © AFP, 2014

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