Man of the match so far at Villa Park? Mr Beach Ball. The inflatable turns into Villa's 12th man, helping break down a Newcastle attack when Moussa Sissoko swings the actual football into the home penalty area.

Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal tells BBC Sport: “I said to the boys, we have to win, there is no excuse. We have won and it was more than deserved. We keep the pressure on our competitors and I am a happy manager.

“They were also fighting and pressing and it makes it difficult. The second half we did much better because we kept the ball and had more than one chance.

“We have seen this team can manage injuries. Away games are difficult for us and we changed the results by winning here.

“I hope we can see something tomorrow between Man City and Arsenal that helps up.

If West Ham were the Expendables, Payet would be Sly's Barney Ross. He is at the heart of everything, chucking out explosive efforts left, right and centre. He has another free-kick and again misses by mere inches, following a deflection. 

Image source, AFP/GETTY

It's been mostly Palace but Stoke earn a corner and Peter Crouch sends a free header straight at keeper Wayne Hennessey. That was a very good chance and Crouch's reaction shows he knows he should've done better.  

Image source, Reuters

The Black Cats have woken up. Lee Cattermole uses his brain rather than brawn, swinging in a delightful pass towards Jermain Defoe. The diminutive Sunderland striker rises highest to nod against the far post. Ooooh, hang on....the liner's flag is wafting anyway. Defoe is fractionally offside.

Dion Dublin
Former Leicester and Aston Villa forward on Final Score

"The Championship is a very difficult league. If you go down don't expect just to bounce straight back up, based solely on the stature of your club.

"There are lots of big clubs down there who want out."

It is a sign of Payet's quality that he looks disgusted at himself for missing the target by inches. It dipped over the wall but not enough. 

Here we go. West Ham free-kick. Payet is over it...

Swansea's first real attack nearly brings them the opening goal. Ki Sung-yueng finds space on the left and pokes a ball towards Andre Ayew that fails to reach him thanks to an interception from Aaron Cresswell.

"Down with the Villa, you're going down with the Villa!" Great bantz from the home fans. Nothing happening on the pitch yet. Even steven.

Jason Roberts
Former West Brom striker on Final Score

"No goals in four games for Norwich. Goals give you belief, but when you're not scoring it makes life so, so difficult, especially at the foot of the league."  

Pat Nevin
Ex-Chelsea winger at Stadium of Light for BBC Radio 5 live

"The team with more intensity has been Sunderland, they have been really up for it. Chelsea are not playing at a speed that will threaten the opposition.

"Kirchhoff has been the one to catch the eye so far."

Shaun Watson: Had Rafa been appointed earlier Newcastle would have been clear now.

Josh Annetts: The thing with Newcastle seems to be that their attack is hundreds of times better than their defence. They can win if Villa field Lescott and Guzan. Villa have Gestede injured and flabby Gabby suspended, so it's just Ayew who isn't hard to marshall. Should be an easy win for Newcastle.

Norwich manager Alex Neil tells BT Sport: “It has been the story of our season. There were not many chances in the game and we kept Manchester United at bay. When you gift goals and make errors, it was not going to be enough.

“It is not about commitment, it is about not making stupid errors.

"It looks a lot difficult now and we have to rely on Newcastle and Sunderland to lose games.

“We have to keep fighting. We have to stop making errors but it is a bit late in the day.”

First sign of a threat from Chelsea. Eden Hazard looks sharp today (obviously not because he knows he needs to pull his finger out if he wants a summer move to PSG), linking up with Willian to open up the home defence. The Brazil attacking midfielder shoots low, but it is meat and drink for Vito Mannone.

West Ham are on top. Andy Carroll darts into the box on the right side before pulling back a ball that is half-cleared to the edge of the box before being fired over by Mark Noble. You'd have bet good money on the midfielder smashing that in, the form he is in at the moment.

Jason Roberts
Former West Brom striker on Final Score

"Sunderland have started really strong, high pace. For that early free-kick, Cahill was the wrong side but I think Terry is covering him and it is the right decision just to book him.

"I think Sunderland are doing the right thing closing from front."

Bournemouth boss Eddie Howe spoke about the importance of finishing an encouraging debut Premier League season on a high - and it looks like his players have listened carefully to their gaffer. The Cherries are doing all the early running, Max Gradel's tame shot saved by Albion keeper Ben Foster at his near post.