Premier League: Vital wins for Aston Villa, Sunderland and Leicester

Aston Villa, Sunderland and Leicester secured priceless victories on Saturday, but QPR and Burnley suffered damaging defeats in the Premier League relegation battle.

Manchester United were beaten 1-0 at home by West Bromwich Albion, Jonas Olsson's deflected goal the difference at Old Trafford, though Robin van Persie missed a golden chance to equalise by missing a penalty.

An extraordinary afternoon saw no less than six players sent off in the top flight, the second highest total in one day - eight saw red on 31 October 2009 - and also seven penalties, five of them converted.

One of the day's main talking points though was Newcastle boss John Carver's accusation that his defender Mike Williamson deliberately got himself sent off in their 3-0 defeat at Leicester, a result which leaves the Magpies just two points above the relegation zone.

Christian Benteke was Villa's hero, scoring two goals in the first half in their 3-2 victory at home to Everton.

Sunderland beat Southampton 2-1 at the Stadium of Light, with both of the Black Cats' goals coming from Jordi Gomez penalties. Saints had James Ward-Prowse sent off after conceding for a second time.

Burnley also had a man sent off - Michael Duff - after conceding a penalty in the first half at West Ham, Mark Noble burying the only goal of the game from the spot. The Clarets increasingly look down and out, eight points behind Leicester in 17th. They need to win all three of their remaining games and hope other results go for them.

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Steven Gerrard's goal three minutes from time sent QPR home with nothing as Liverpool won 2-1 at Anfield.

Leroy Fer (73) had cancelled out Philippe Coutinho's first-half strike to give QPR hope of a point. Rob Green then saved a 77th-minute penalty from Gerrard, but the skipper thumped home a header from a corner with three minutes left to clinch the victory and leave QPR seven points behind the Foxes.

Things continue to look up for Leicester, who finished a difficult week in which Nigel Pearson took all the headlines for the wrong reasons.

They crushed hapless Newcastle 3-0 at the King Power Stadium to make it five wins in six as their remarkable late-season form continued. Newcastle had Daryl Janmaat and Williamson sent off as the pressure piles up on Carver - who later accused defender Williamson of getting himself deliberately sent off. 

Newcastle are now in real danger of relegation - they are just two points ahead of Sunderland in 18th - after their eighth straight defeat.

In the other 3pm kick-off, Swansea beat Stoke 2-0, Jefferson Montero scoring his first Premier League goal in the process.

On Saturday Night Football, the Baggies took the lead at Old Trafford on 63 when Chris Brunt's free-kick took a wicked deflection off defender Olsson which took it sailing past David De Gea.

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Just over 10 minutes later, Saido Berahino gave a penalty away with a handball from Antonio Valencia's cross, but keeper Boaz Myhill denied van Persie with a fine diving save to his left.

United pressed desperately in the closing minutes but some last-ditch defending and some fine keeping from Myhill kept them out. The Baggies are on the magic 40-point total - seven points above the drop zone - and are surely now safe for another season. United remain in fourth, but their lead over fifth-placed Liverpool is cut to four points.

At Villa Park, Tim Sherwood's hosts were full value for the three points. It was a superb performance from start to finish, with Fabian Delph at the heart of it all, and Benteke's revival continued with two goals. He powered in the first 10 minutes in, then was in the right place to fire in the second after Ciaran Clark flicked on a corner just before half time.

Villa conceded a soft penalty on 59, Ron Vlaar conceding it by fouling Steven Naismith, and Romelu Lukaku cooling converted.

But Tom Cleverley scored Villa's crucial third on 64, outpacing Gareth Barry and lashing his shot high into the net. Phil Jagielka scored a late consolation for Everton, but there was no time to chase a third.

Dick Advocaat will sleep easier after Sunderland's 2-1 win over Southampton. Gomez put Sunderland in front with a penalty on 21 minutes after a Jose Fonte foul - the first spot-kick Saints have conceded all season.

But the visitors equalised just a few minutes later in bizarre circumstances. Fonte chipped a long ball into the box, and Costel Pantilimon looked to have the situation under control and came forward to collect it. But defender Sebastian Coates mis-read the situation, challenged for the ball and wiped his keeper out, allowing a gleeful Sadio Mane to tuck the ball into an empty net.

But 10 minutes into the second half, James Ward-Prowse was controversially sent off - and conceded another penalty - after being ruled to have fouled Jermain Defoe and Gomez nailed the spot-kick again. Sunderland are a point behind Leicester - but have a game in hand.

At Anfield, Coutinho curled home with a superb finish on 19 minutes after excellent work from Rickie Lambert in the build-up.

Fer equalised on 73 but then came some serious late drama. Nedum Onuoha pulled Martin Skrtel to the ground as the defender attempted an overhead kick in the box - a clear penalty. But Green brilliantly saved Gerrard's penalty.

Ohuoha's blushed were spared - but only briefly. Minutes later, he was sent off for his second yellow card, for chopping down Jordon Ibe. And three minutes from time, Gerrard rose highest from a corner and powered his header past Green.

Burnley's brave battle to stay in the top-flight looks increasingly like to end in defeat after their 1-0 defeat at West Ham.

Noble put the Hammers in front on 24 from the penalty spot when Cheikhou Kouyate fooled Duff in the box and the defender brought him down. Duff was sent off and there was no way back for the Clarets from there.

Leicester recorded their biggest win of the season to move further away from the relegation zone but dragged crisis club Newcastle deeper into trouble with a 3-0 win at the King Power Stadium.

Leonardo Ulloa struck twice and Wes Morgan was also on target as the Foxes maintained their survival charge against a freefalling and disjointed Magpies side, who finished with nine men after Williamson and Janmaat saw red.

Swansea saw off Stoke City 2-0, Montero breaking the deadlock on 76 with his first goal for City. Stoke defender Mark Wilson was sent off and Sung-Yeung Ki sealed the points for the hosts.

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