Premier League round-up: Tony Pulis watched from the stands as his new club Crystal Palace snatched just a second win of the season at Hull, breathing new life into their relegation battle. Caretaker boss Keith Millen, who will hand over the baton to Pulis, signed off his stint with a 1-0 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.
Prior to that late drama it was a grim and forgettable outing at the KC Stadium, as notable for the home fans’ protests against the proposed renaming of the club as anything that occurred on the field. Owner Assem Allam looks set to proceed with plans to rebrand the side as Hull Tigers, but there was nothing for the locals to roar about as they turned in arguably their limpest display of the season.
Loic Remy’s eighth goal of the season set Newcastle on the road to a 2-1 victory as Norwich’s troubles on the road continued. The France international headed home Yohan Cabaye’s corner from close range with just two minutes gone, remarkably the Magpies’ first strike from that particular set-piece since October 2011.
Compatriot Yoan Gouffran wrapped up the win seven minutes before the break, converting from close range after keeper John Ruddy had saved Shola Ameobi's header, and Leroy Fer's 80th-minute header ultimately counted for little despite sparking a rousing fightback.
Norwich, who lost 7-0 at Manchester City in their last game, had first-half chances of their own with Republic of Ireland winger Anthony Pilkington, who was later carried off on a stretcher, sending a 32nd-minute header across the face of goal. However, Alan Pardew's side were deserved winners on a day when they played well enough to take the points, but did not have to be at their very best in front of an appreciative crowd of 51,328.
Stoke recorded their first win in nine league games as goals from Charlie Adam and Steven Nzonzi steered them to a 2-0 home victory against Sunderland, who had Wes Brown sent off in controversial circumstances. The Potters took the lead on the half-hour mark when Adam drilled in from Nzonzi's cut-back.
Six minutes later, referee Kevin Friend deemed a sliding tackle from Brown on Adam that won the defender the ball - and replays suggested any contact between the players had been minimal - to be worthy of a straight red card, a call that left Black Cats boss Gus Poyet fuming.
The Uruguayan saw his team battle bravely thereafter, but Stoke's win was sealed in the 81st minute when Nzonzi slotted home having been set up nicely by Peter Crouch. Mark Hughes' side, who had been 17th at the start of the day and separated from the relegation zone by goal difference alone, moved up to 14th after this result.
Sunderland, who are three points adrift of safety, drop a place. They now occupying the bottom spot in the table with Palace having moved above them.
Jonjo Shelvey came off the bench to fire Swansea to their first win in over a month as under-pressure Martin Jol saw Fulham slump to a fifth successive defeat in all competitions. 'Jol out' echoed around Craven Cottage at the final whistle after the west Londoners' promising start came to nothing thanks to a second-half collapse.
Fulham could have few arguments with the defeat as Michael Laudrup’s side peppered the Whites’ goal, before a fine Shelvey strike 10 minutes from time secured a 2-1 win.
It was the Welsh side’s first victory since October 19th and one which looked unlikely as the managerial shake-up at Craven Cottage began brightly, with new head coach Rene Meulensteen’s arrival looking to complement Jol.
