Yesterday’s Premier League fixtures were all about the fight for survival. Sunderland helped their bid for survival with a 1-0 home win over Champions League chasing Everton at the Stadium of Light.

The only goal of the game came on the stroke of half-time.

Midfielder Stephane Sessegnon capitalised on a Leighton Baines mistake to poke the ball past Tim Howard in the Everton goal. The win took the Black Cats six points clear of the relegation zone.

Elsewhere, Stoke claimed a 2-0 victory at QPR to ease their relegation worries. Stoke took the lead just before half-time. Cameron Jerome got to the by-line and crossed for Peter Crouch to fire home against his former-club.

The visitor’s second goal came from a Jonathan Walters spot-kick, after Clint Hill brought down Crouch in the penalty area. The victory took Stoke six points clear of the drop zone.

Norwich secured a vital 2-1 victory over Reading at Carrow Road. The Canaries took the lead early in the second half. Alex McCarthy saved a Grant Holt header, only for Ryan Bennett to score from close-range with the rebound.

Soon afterwards, it was two, as Elliott Bennett fired home the Canaries second goal. Garath McCleary got a goal back for the visitors 15 minutes from time to make it a nervous finish, but the Canaries hung on to three crucial points.

Norwich are now also six points clear of the relegation zone. Meanwhile Reading now looked doomed to life in the second tier next season.

Arsenal helped their chances of a place in the Champions League next season by winning 1-0 at London rivals Fulham. Fulham gave the Gunners an early advantage, midfielder Steve Sidwell was dismissed after just 12 minutes for a reckless tackle on Mikel Arteta.

The Gunners took the lead just before half-time. Laurent Koscielny headed across goal and Per Mertesacker stooped to find the net. Arsenal were reduced to ten men in the 90^th minute, as Oliver Giroud saw a harsh red card for a tackle on Stanislav Manolev.

The victory moved Arsenal up to third in the Premier League table, five points clear of fifth place Tottenham in the race for Champions League places.

Other Premier League results:

Swansea 0-0 Southampton

West Ham 2-0 Wigan

West Brom 1-1 Newcastle

Is it now a straight fight between Wigan and Aston Villa to stay up this season?