Premier League highlights: 5 talking points from Saturday’s action

Cardiff City and Newcastle United both gave their survival hopes a big boost with their respective wins on Saturday.

Both claimed only their second victories of the campaign, with the pair both winning 2-1 against Brighton and Bournemouth respectively.

Huddersfield had also looked like picking up their second win of the campaign when they took a sixth minute lead against West Ham, but they couldn’t hold on and had to make do with a point in a 1-1 draw.

There was a similar tale at St Mary’s – albeit with far more controversy – as Southampton and Watford also finished all square.

And Leicester City’s first home game since the tragic death of Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha also ended all square, with a goalless draw against Burnley, on a day full of emotion.

Here are five things you missed from the day’s action…

1. Rondon comes good for the Toon

Crisis, what crisis?

Newcastle United made it back to back league wins with a 2-1 win over Bournemouth – now two defeats in two – and Rafa Benitez’s side took the victory thanks to a double from Salomon Rondon.

Rondon, on loan from West Brom, had scored just once for the Magpies since his move in August, failing to notch in the league.

His under-performance had increased pressure on Benitez, with the man he replaced, Dwight Gayle, free-scoring for West Brom.

But the Spaniard made clear his backing for the Venezuelan, and Rondon came good at St James’ Park with a first-half double.

“We need this to be honest, this is the way we need to keep working and fighting,” said Rondon. “You can see the level tonight, so we need to keep playing like that to stay up.

Newcastle are now up to 14th – how did that happen!

2. Tributes at the King Power

On a day when Leicester as a city paid its respects to Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha, the actual match itself understandably faded into insignificance.

Thousands of Leicester City fans united in Jubilee Square on Saturday lunchtime before marching towards the King Power in the ‘Walk for Vichai’. The likes of James Maddison and Harry Maguire joined them. Fans inside the stadium wore specially distributed scarves bearing the words “Forever In Our Hearts”.

On the field, Rachid Ghezzal hit the crossbar while Jamie Vardy also went close; Claude Puel will be pleased with how his side performed.

But this was a day for remembrance, for Leicester fans to pay tribute to a man who led the club to the Premier League’s most unlikely triumph.

On an emotional occasion, they honoured Khun Vichai magnificently.

3. Austin calls for VAR after Southampton denied

“We scored a perfectly good goal that was ruled out for offside,” said Charlie Austin after Southampton’s 1-1 draw with Watford. “The officials cost us two points. They said it was offside, that is a joke.

“People go on about VAR, they clearly need help. If this is the best, most-watched league in the world then give them all the help they need. It is a joke.”

The Saints had led against the Hornets thanks to Manolo Gabbiadini and looked to have doubled their advantage when Austin found the net.

But it was ruled out with Simon Hooper incorrectly believing the ball had gone in off Maya Yoshida, who was in an offside position.

Watford rallied and Jose Holebas shot deflected in off Cedric Soares, giving the south coast encounter a real sting in the tail.

4. A Cardiff win unlike any other

This was Neil Warnock’s 100th game as Cardiff City, and the 2-1 win over Brighton handed him his 46th win. But this was very different to, if not all then certainly most others.

Last season, Cardiff didn’t do possession. They ranked in the bottom three for average possession per game, and this season they’re bottom of the Premier League on the same metric.

But with the score at 1-1 and the visitors down to 10 men after Dale Stephens’ red card, they had to force the issue and take the game to Chris Hughton’s side.

They did just that, Warnock’s attacking substitutions helping his side register 60 per cent possession and managing 20 shots on goal, eventually getting an injury-time winner from Sol Bamba.

5. Anderson keeps improving

Last week Felipe Anderson stole the show with a brace in Southampton’s home win over Burnley.

This weekend, the Brazilian wasn’t quite at his flamboyant best, but he scored the goal that prevented Huddersfield claiming their second win in six days.

Alex Pritchard scored just the Terriers second home goal of the season – and the first actually by a Huddersfield player – to give them the lead.

But with West Ham in the ascendancy for much of the second period it always appeared a matter of time before they equalised, and Anderson produced the clinical finish 16 minutes from time to level, smashing past Jonas Lossl into the top corner.

The £37million man has taken a little time to settle, but he’s now stepping up and making an impact.

Saturday’s Full Results

• Cardiff City 2-1 Brighton

• Huddersfield 1-1 West Ham United

• Leicester City 0-0 Burnley

• Newcastle United 2-1 Bournemouth

• Southampton 1-1 Watford