Burnley’s heavy home defeat at the hands of World and European champions Chelsea ensured the Clarets remained pinned in the top flight’s bottom three, but a solitary point would see them swap places with Frank Lampard’s free-falling Toffees.
Leeds United, who replaced iconic boss Marcelo Bielsa with American head coach Jesse Marsch recently, still find themselves stuck in quicksand after Leicester City inflicted a fifth defeat on the bounce at the King Power Stadium.
Meanwhile, Brentford arrested an eight-game winless streak when overcoming relegation rivals Norwich City at Carrow Road to open up a little bit of breathing space, though the Bees have played more games than the teams around them in the table.
However, Newcastle United pulled themselves out of the mire when extending their fruitful spell under Eddie Howe.
Meanwhile, Brentford arrested an eight-game winless streak when overcoming relegation rivals Norwich City at Carrow Road to open up a little bit of breathing space, though the Bees have played more games than the teams around them in the table.
5. Leeds United
MARCH: 10 - Aston Villa (H); 13 - Norwich City (H); 18 - Wolverhampton Wanderers (A). APRIL: 2 - Southampton (H); 9 - Watford (A); 16 - Chelsea (H); 23 - Crystal Palace (A); 30 - Manchester City (H). MAY: 7 - Arsenal (A); 15 - Brighton & Hove Albion (H); 22 - Brentford (A). Photo: GEOFF CADDICK
6. Brentford
MARCH: 12 - Burnley (H); 20 - Leicester City (A). APRIL: 2 - Chelsea (A); 9 - West Ham United (H); 16 - Watford (A); 23 - Spurs (H); 30 - Manchester United (A). MAY: 7 - Southampton (H); 15 - Everton (A); 22 - Leeds United (H). Photo: Julian Finney
7. Newcastle United
MARCH: 10 - Southampton (A); 13 - Chelsea (A); 17 - Everton (A). APRIL: 3 - Spurs (A); 8 - Wolverhampton Wanderers (H); 16 - Leicester City (H); 23 - Norwich City (A); 30 - Liverpool (H). MAY: 7 - Manchester City (A); 15 - Arsenal (H); 22 - Burnley (A). TBC: Crystal Palace (H). Photo: Ian MacNicol