Premier League round-up: Steven Fletcher believes win will provide a festive boost

STEVEN Fletcher always knew Sunderland’s season would start to turn around and believes Saturday’s win at Southampton will help them through a tough Christmas period.

The Black Cats have struggled this season and headed to St Mary’s in 16th place, but Fletcher’s eighth goal of the season proved the difference in appalling conditions on the south coast as Martin O’Neill’s side eked out a 1-0 win to make it two victories from their last three matches.

“We’re all professional boys,” the Scotland international said. “We all know what is needed when we need to go and win a game. I thought it was a good performance. We attacked and defended well so you’re always going to win games when you play like that.

“We needed the three points and we got that. We’re just happy we got the points and a good performance as well.”

It is a result Fletcher hopes can act as a catalyst this Christmas, with Manchester City, Tottenham and Liverpool all lying in wait. “We approach them with a bit of confidence,” the striker said.

Referee Taylor angers both West Ham and Everton with red cards

WEST HAM and Everton will appeal the red cards controversially dished out by referee Anthony Taylor to Carlton Cole and Darron Gibson at Upton Park on Saturday.

Taylor infuriated Sam Allardyce and West Ham’s fans by sending off Cole for catching Leighton Baines with a raised boot while making what appeared an innocent attempt to control a dropping ball. Taylor completed his conversion to pantomime villain by dismissing Everton’s Darron Gibson for a similar offence in stoppage-time, Hammers supporters pouring scorn on what looked to them an obvious attempt to even up the score as Everton completed a 2-1 away win.

Prior to the first sending off, it was the visitors who felt hard done by, with Leon Osman seeing a goal controversially ruled out two minutes before Cole put West Ham ahead.

But Moyes’ men fought back to ensure that the three points would be heading back to Liverpool thanks to Steven Pienaar’s winner. Moyes said: “I think the players have got bags of character.”

Lambert and Norwich settle contract spat

ASTON Villa manager Paul Lambert and his former club Norwich have agreed a settlement over the dispute regarding his departure from Carrow Road.

Lambert and Norwich were both suing each other for breach of contract and the issue was due to go before a Premier League tribunal next month.

The Scot left Norwich in the summer after three years in which he led the Canaries to successive promotions and 12th place in the Barclays Premier League. Lambert has always said he did no wrong, believing he was entitled to talk to interested clubs. Villa were also sure they acted properly and would have met the terms of Lambert’s contract.

The two clubs said this evening: “Paul Lambert, Norwich City and Aston Villa have agreed settlement in respect of the dispute regarding Paul Lambert’s departure from Norwich City. Villa will pay Norwich City the original amount as agreed in the contract between Paul Lambert and Norwich City, and Norwich City will pay Paul Lambert the bonus he was entitled to after the 2011/12 season.”