Soccer: Norwich and Southampton plunge further into trouble

LONDON - Struggling Norwich City and Southampton tossed away two-goal leads to deepen their relegation fears while Bolton Wanderers leapfrogged Liverpool into fifth place in English Premier League on Saturday.

Bottom club Norwich led 3-1 at second-bottom Crystal Palace before goals by Michael Hughes and Andy Johnson, with a disputed late penalty, secured a 3-3 draw for the home team.

Third-bottom Southampton led 2-0 at home to Aston Villa but lost 3-2 after a superb second-half fightback by the visitors.

"We threw the game away and it is a massive blow to us, " Southampton manager Harry Redknapp told the club's website.

"At halftime it looked like it was going to be a perfect weekend with Palace and Norwich drawing. But if you cannot hold on to a two-goal lead when you have played like that then you have to be fearful."

The results meant Norwich, with five games left, stayed last on 24 points, with Palace on 27, the same as Southampton and one point behind fourth-bottom West Bromwich Albion who did not play.

Senegal striker El Hadji Diouf gave Bolton a 2-1 win at Charlton Athletic, a result that lifted them a point above his former club, Champions League semifinalists Liverpool, who drew 2-2 with Tottenham Hotspur at Anfield.

Bolton, who have never played in European competition before, are now only two points behind fourth-placed Everton who occupy the last Champions League qualifying spot.

Chelsea, 11 points clear at the top and homing in on their first English title since 1955, do not play until Wednesday when they host second-placed Arsenal who beat Blackburn 3-0 in the FA Cup semifinals on Saturday.

In a dramatic match at Selhurst ParkPalace went in front through Finn Joonas Kolkka but Dean Ashton struck twice to put Norwich in charge.

When Leon McKenzie made it 3-1 eight minutes into the second half Norwich looked on course for their first away league win of the season.

But Hughes' diving header gave Palace hope and Andy Johnson earned and converted a controversial spotkick seven minutes from time to deny the visitors.

"It's no more than we deserved," Palace manager Iain Dowie told Sky Sports television. "It keeps a nice cushion between us ."

Kevin Phillips and Peter Crouch put Southampton 2-0 up against Villa after only 13 minutes but second-half strikes by Carlton Cole, Peruvian Nolberto Solano and Steven Davis floored Harry Redknapp's side.

At Anfield England midfielder Steven Gerrard missed a penalty and hit the post in a thrilling game against Spurs who went in front with a spectacular long-range striker by Swedish full back Erik Edman, his first for the club.

Luis Garcia levelled superbly for Liverpool before halftime only for Robbie Keane to restore Spurs' lead. After Gerrard blasted his spotkick wide Finnish defender Sami Hyypia volleyed in the home team's second equaliser after 63 minutes.

Liverpool captain Gerrard said his team mates were tired after their Champions League match at Juventus on Wednesday and apologised for what could prove to be an expensive penalty miss.

"I sliced it," he said. "I apologise to everyone at the football club for that. It wasn't my day. I'm blaming myself for Liverpool not picking up three points today."

Diouf's neat headed finish gave Bolton the points at The Valley after Charlton's Francis Jeffers had cancelled out Jay-Jay Okocha's opener for Wanderers.

Portuguese winger Luis Boa Morte earned Fulham a 1-1 draw at home to Manchester City while Portsmouth secured a valuable point in a 0-0 draw away at Birmingham City.

Portsmouth, unbeaten in two games since Frenchman Alain Perrin took charge, remain in 15th place, but are now eight points clear of the relegation zone.

- REUTERS