Nineteen up for United, any old Irons down

The title and one relegation was confirmed on the penultimate weekend of the Premier League season, as Manchester had the weekend of its life, and Millwall delighted in mocking the demise of the unhappy Hammers.

Manchester United confirmed their status as the most successful English league team of all time with a scrappy draw against relegation-threatened Blackburn. United lost their challenge at Ewood Park last season, and were mindful of the cost of a slip-up. Rovers meanwhile knew that a win would keep them safe, though a loss would be devastating. United started purposefully, and almost took the lead early on, when a cracking Rooney cross was headed against the crossbar by Nani. At the other end, Christopher Samba couldn’t get over the ball as a chance went begging. Tomas Kuszcak began his very nervy afternoon by almost losing possession on the edge of his own box, after he decided at the last minute that he couldn’t pick up a backpass. Nemanja Vidic got him out of jail with a decisive tackle, just as Jason Roberts had outmuscled the Pole. He continued this indecision by tipping an Emerton chip wide, but got caught between retrieving and staying put on his line. Eventually he chose the latter, but when Hoilett took a return from Olsson and crossed, Jonny Evans went to sleep as his man Emerton swept the ball home. Kuszcak then unforgivably dithered over another comfortable backpass, and was forced into belting the ball against Hoilett, as he was upended by the Rovers player. Fortunately for the goalkeeper, the ball was wide of goal. Blackburn incredibly almost sealed the game in the second half, when a lovely Emerton cross was headed against the post by Martin Olsson, but the roof was lifted off Ewood Park by the sizeable travelling contingent, when Javier Hernandez took a heavy touch as he bore down on goal, before nicking it out of play as Paul Robinson stupidly went to ground at the Mexican’s feet and took him down. The rules for penalties seem bizarre when the ball has travelled out of bounds before contact is made, but the only rule that counts is the foul, and Robinson bought it all ends up. Wayne Rooney stepped up and lashed the penalty into the net, to the delirium of the away fans, some who had waited four decades for the chance to see United usurp Liverpool as the most dominant force in the English top division. United almost sealed a win before the end, but somehow Nani couldn’t make proper contact with the most inviting of Rooney crosses, and the final ten minutes were played out in a freakish truce atmosphere, where Rovers dare not attempt to dispossess United lest they counter and win, while United were more than content with the draw that saw them over the line. Rovers now have a do-or-die relegation play-off with Wolves to look forward to, whilst United play another of the drop contenders Blackpool, in a stupendous final day of action.

Wigan Athletic launched a swashbuckling comeback to bring the house down at the DW, and send West Ham crashing down out of the Premiership. West Ham started the day knowing even a win would probably not be enough, while for Wigan, a draw would leave them needing a miracle, but a win would open it right up for the final day. The Latics took the game to the Hammers early on, as Tom Cleverley cleverly found Diame, who blasted over, but from a corner, West Ham grabbed the lead. A goalmouth scramble ensued, culminating in Collison drilling in a shot that was well blocked, but Wigan seemed to believe it was job done, and switched off as the ball was delivered wide, with a great cross swung in for a completely unmarked Demba Ba to fling himself at and score. Mohammed Diame thumped in a shot in riposte that was well dealt with by Green, but from another dead ball the Hammers extended their lead. A free-kick was nodded across at the back post by Tomkins for Demba Ba to poach his second before the half-hour. It was a case of Ba-Ba back post for the Latics, who looked to be taken down with the Hammers, and they nearly surrendered a third goal in their confusion, with Piquionne meeting a free-kick missed by everyone else, but Watson was the hero in clearing off the line. Mohammed Diame continued his attacking intent by nipping onto a through ball round the back of the defender, but Rob Green stood up to block his effort well. Wigan thought they had at last seen the good end of a set-piece when Rodallega stooped to send a diving header at goal from point-blank range, yet Green found himself in the right place as it struck him and bounced away. West Ham came off at half-time with a two goal lead, and salvation a possibility, particularly against a side as goal-shy as Wigan. The Latics took to the field still brimming with attacking intent though, and maverick maestro Charles N’Zogbia began tormenting the hammers backline frequently. As he bore down on the edge of the box, he wrestled with James Tomkins, and both players hit the deck. Seemed a case of two sixes, but the referee awarded Wigan a free-kick, and we were treated to N’Zogbia clearing the wall and the ball nestling in the ‘postage stamp’ for a fabulous goal. West Ham may have been nervous, but they continued to play freely, and Ba found himself set away, but contrived to fluff the chance as Alcaraz caught up and offered enough pressure. Young prospect Conor Sammon had come on for Wigan at half-time, and he made himself a hero on 67 minutes. A couple of meaty West Ham challenges went unpunished in centre mid, and Ben Watson picked up the pieces amid the carnage, finding a moment of clarity to slide a superb slide-rule pass to Sammon inside the box. The striker stepped effortlessly outside Gabbidon and coaxed the ball past Green in the same movement to leave the Wigan fans in raptures, and the Hammers faithful in tatters. Zavon Hines saw two glorious chances at the other end to regain the lead, but he was heroically blocked, first by Figueroa, then by Gary Caldwell. Wigan were calling for a red card minutes later, when Conor Sammon latched onto a long ball, and was left in a heap by Danny Gabbidon, who would have been sent off as last man had it been deemed a foul. A cute Ben Watson effort thudded against the post, while Thomas Hitzlsperger sent in a devious cross that Carlton Cole defied physics in sending wide; replicating the howling Robbie Keane miss of last week. He paid the ultimate price for his incompetence, as Wigan surged forward in injury time, and once again that man N’Zogbia delivered when it mattered; progressing down the right flank, before beating an inept challenge from the criminally overrated Wayne Bridge, and firing a shot under the grasp of the equally criminally overrated Rob Green. So, Rob Green, how d’ya feel? Ending his Premiership season the way he did his World Cup; abject failure, surely ends the arguments over his supposed brilliance, mostly propagated by himself. Apparently, he is considering ‘doing a Ben Foster/Paul Robinson’ and ‘retiring’ from international duty, as he thinks he is better than permanent reserve. Capello must be rubbing his hands together quite frankly.

A scoreline reminiscent of the ‘Stanley Matthews Final’ of 1953 saw Blackpool dare, and win, to leave them with a fighting chance of survival on the final day. In a breathless game of tit-for-tat attacking, the real winner was the neutral, and this match demonstrated more than most why it will be a crying shame for the Premier League to lose the gung-ho bravado of Blackpool. Bolton, who have somewhat lost impetus since their humiliation in the FA Cup also contributed valiantly to the contest, and took the lead in the 6^th minute, when a free-kick into the Blackpool box was missed by Davies and bounced off Baptiste for Davies to readjust and flick into the net with aplomb. Before some of the crowd had taken their seats Blackpool were level, with a goal that owed everything to the persistence and strength of DJ Campbell. A long pass was flicked on by Taylor-Fletcher and found Campbell scampering goal-side of Gretar Steinsson. The striker, under heavy pressure, then held off the full-back admirably, before looking up and having the composure to lob the advancing Jaaskelainen for a superb equaliser. The Tangerines thought they may have been in again soon after, but Jason Puncheon was incorrectly flagged. A Charlie Adam corner was then guided up and onto underside of the crossbar by DJ Campbell, before Gary Taylor-Fletcher fired in a rebound effort which struck a defender. Blackpool claimed goal or handball, but replays showed neither to be the case. Some deft footwork and movement in a tight area just inside the Bolton area between Taylor-Fletcher and Campbell saw the ball fed to Puncheon, who lost possession, but instantly regained it, before pivoting to fire in a left-footed shot as he fell, which flew into the corner of the Trotters’ net. However, Bolton found a way back just five minutes later, when a poor clearance was returned to Matt Taylor, who fired across Gilks and in off the post, despite the goalkeeper getting a full hand to it. Gilks atoned minutes later by flying out to block Daniel Sturridge as he ran clear of the Blackpool backline. Sturridge came so close to converting a Taylor cross to give Bolton a half-time lead, while Taylor-Fletcher and Knight had an unseemly spat which earned the two a rebuke and yellow card. Kevin Davies continued his excellent performance by coaxing an outrageous shot onto the crossbar with the outside of his boot, but it was Blackpool who stormed in front on the stroke of half-time, with an excellent close-range volley from DJ Campbell, from a deadly Adam cross. The half still continued to see brilliant chances, and David Vaughan was so close to creating a goal from nothing, but his amazing run and cross was cut out at the last by Jaaskelainen, with Campbell ready to strike. At the Blackpool end, Baptiste cut out a Lee cross brilliantly before the lurking Sturridge could convert, but the equaliser was earned early into the second period. The imperious Davies slid a cute pass inside the full-back for Chung-Yong Lee to run onto. The South Korean deftly put Gilks on his backside before dinking across for Sturridge to convert, leaving Blackpool staring into the abyss once more. Another Davies chip went close, but just after the hour Blackpool seized the initiative once more. Southern won the ball bravely just inside his own half in the process of being clattered, and DJ Campbell advanced with Adam in support. The two exchanged passes before Adam slid Gary Taylor-Fletcher in. The striker held the ball up as Campbell dragged men away, and laid it back for Charlie Adam to lash it into the top corner for a glorious winner. A classic game in keeping with Blackpool’s memorable season so far; a season that could yet end with the ultimate prize of survival.

Wolves gave themselves every chance of escaping the dreaded drop with a priceless victory over Sunderland, bizarrely Mick McCarthy’s first win at the Stadium of Light, despite being manager there for almost a season! The home side fired the first broadsides, with Boudewijn Zenden swerving a 20-yarder against the angle, before Sessegnon tested Hennessey with a strike. Unfortunately for Steve Bruce, his Mackems couldn’t clear a corner, and Hunt swung in a lovely cross that evaded everyone before former Sunderland man Jody Craddock volleyed crisply in at the back post. Jamie O’Hara hit the top of the bar, while at the other end a Zenden corner swung all the way across as George Elokobi air-kicked, and Sessegnon swivelled expertly to steer the ball in at the back post for the equaliser. John Mensah then survived a handball claim, and Elmohamedy defended excellently to deny Stephen Fletcher. Steed Malbranque was only denied by the reflexes of Hennessey, and it looked as if Sunderland were giving as good as they got; that is, until Matt Jarvis came on. The England winger bolted down the flink and floated in a tantalising cross; too tantalising for Mignolet, who clutched and missed as it also drifted over Mensah’s jump, leaving Fletcher to nod into the unguarded net. Wolves were now on course for victory, yet they got away with a penalty claim it is difficult to believe was actually denied, when Stephen Hunt lunged in from behind as Sessegnon was about to shoot. His legs taken away, Sessegnon crashed clumsily to the ground, yet incredibly Mike Jones spotted nothing untoward. Wolves sealed the points with a diving header from powerful full-back George Elokobi, while at the death Sunderland youngster Ryan Noble fractionally missed his attempt at a diving header, to leave a heavily depleted Sunderland well beaten.

An excellent and very rare away win for Fulham left Birmingham right in the mire on the final day. Most assumed, even with their poor post-Cup win form, that this was a home banker, and yet Birmingham were appalling, and now go into the final day with a very real chance of winning a cup and going down in the same season. The fun started when an enormous clearance from Mark Schwarzer was ducked under by Roger Johnson just inside his own box. The bounce was so high it almost caught out Ben Foster, who leapt backwards to superbly make up for his error by tipping it wide. Another goal conceded to a goalkeeper, following his Watford gaffe allowing Paul Robinson to score, would have made an undesirable career statistic. Unfortunately for Foster, his redemption didn’t last long, as Brede Hangeland climbed all over his own player Senderos to head into the net. Bobby Zamora headed a free-kick against the post, and then Jiranek incredibly managed to chest a cross onto the post at the other end. Zamora was presented with, and spurned, some glorious chances as the second half wore on, and Steve Sidwell thumped a great effort against the foot of the post as Fulham looked to kill the game off. They completed this objective in a mad scramble, as a corner was almost bundled into his own net by Jiranek, where Zamora helped it on, only for Ferguson to head off the line, but see the return lobbed into the net by Hangeland again. Fulham almost ran away with it at the end, as some great persistence by the tenacious Andy Johnson won the ball back and squared for Eidur Gudjohnsen, whose shot brought a scrambled save from Foster.

Newcastle snatched a last-minute equaliser to deny Chelsea the chance to close the final gap on champions Manchester United. Chelsea took the lead as early as the second minute, with Branislav Ivanovic volleying in a corner flicked on by Fernando Torres at the near post. Newcastle withered not though, and equalised with a ridiculous goal from Jonas Gutierrez, who deflected a Ryan Taylor free-kick into the opposite corner with his back. The second half saw Chelsea regain control, when a deep Lampard free-kick tempted Krul out of his goal, only to miss at and allow burly centre-back Alex to head into the unguarded net. The Stamford Bridge faithful were celebrating their final home game as a victory as Shola Ameobi’s brother Sammy came on, to a warm reception from the away contingent. With Chelsea seeming to play the game out, Newcastle almost sprung a surprise when Ryan Taylor’s diving header was deflected narrowly wide. If the home fans breathed a sigh of relief at that, they were left frustrated from the resultant corner, which was nodded back by Sammy Ameobi for Stephen Taylor to guide past Cech from close range. There was no time for a response, and Chelsea performed their lap of honour with an air of slight despondency, while Carlo Ancelotti seemed resigned to the fact this will be the last time he will address these fans.

Arsenal finished their Emirates season as they have done many times throughout it: by disappointing their long-suffering fans with a dismal surrender. The victory for Villa owed much to some fine movement and absolutely clinical finishing by Darren Bent, who helped himself to an impressive brace to justify his big price tag, as essentially he has single-handedly saved Villa the £40million it would have cost them to be relegated. A long pass from Kyle Walker was taken on his chest and exquisitely volleyed in with the outside of his boot for a stupendous opener. He then got himself goalside of a sleeping Squillaci to receive a lovely ball from Ashley Young and dispatch past Szceszny with the greatest of ease just four minutes later. Arsenal should feel aggrieved when clumsy lump Richard Dunne got away with scything down Aaron Ramsey inside the box; an offence which could and should have seen the Irish defender add to his impressive collection of red cards. Robin Van Persie was as usual Arsenal’s most potent weapon, and he did all his own work in turning Collins inside out before striking the post with a cracking drive. In the second half Villa almost added to their haul, but Szceszny was alert enough to deal with first Young’s drive, then Downing’s sneaky effort. The game wore on, and Arsenal were aggrieved when a goal was disallowed, though Chamakh clearly pushed Kyle Walker in the back before heading in Walcott’s cross. They finally scored a consolation with a minute to play, as Van Persie gobbled up a close-range chance, but it was too late to salvage a result. How Arsenal could use another Van Persie next season.

Liverpool fans were brought crashing down to earth twice, as they kicked off against Spurs knowing Manchester United had replaced them as the country’s most successful league side, before losing at home to the team who may beat them to fifth place. Tottenham have not shown much form since their Champions’ League adventure ended, but they seized the chance to at least grab pole position for fifth place, as Rafael Van Der Vaart returned a Skrtel clearance with interest, before a Luka Modric penalty for a Flanagan foul on Assou-Ekotto was dispatched. Andy Carroll headed a fantastic chance over, and Jonjo Shelvey swerved an effort narrowly wide, but Spurs always looked in control, and Pienaar led some nice football around the edge of the Liverpool box, before whipping in a low shot that only just went wide. Spurs go into the final day a point ahead of Liverpool in the Europa League placing.

West Bromwich Albion continued their superb form under Roy Hodgson with a hard-earned win over Everton at the Hawthorns. The game was settled as early as the ninth minute, when their star of the season Peter Odemwingie finished some brilliant work by beating Jagielka and crossing low for Youssouf Mulumbu to plunder a goal. Victor Anichebe, looking sharp in Everton’s new gold away kit, turned his man but couldn’t beat Carson, while an excellent run from Jerome Thomas saw him round the goalkeeper, but only hit the recovering Hibbert on the goal line. Odemwingie was rubbing his eyes in disbelief when Tim Howard made a magnificent point-blank save from him, after Jonas Olsson had flicked on a long throw into the box. Anichebe tested Carson again with a header, while Simon Cox was a stud’s length from converting a delicious Odemwingie cross. The most bizarre moment of the game actually came from one of the more curious red cards of the season. Diniyar Bilyaletdinov was red-carded just five minutes after coming on as a substitute, for a challenge that was neither dangerous nor high. Even his ‘victim’ James Morrison could be seen pleading his case to a referee who clearly had already made his mind up. The final big chance came when Odemwingie progressed deep into Everton’s box, but shot and forced a save, instead of giving Chris Brunt a goal on a plate. Still, Baggies fans will be over the moon at the season they have enjoyed, with Odemwingie at the forefront. Di Matteo’s sacking may have shown gross disloyalty, but the West Brom board have certainly been proven to have picked the perfect replacement.

Mancitti, having claimed their first trophy in 35 years against Stoke, proceeded to demolish the Potters for the second time, to snatch third place from Arsenal going into the final round of matches. Carlos Tevez also made a grab for glory with his brace; he is now level with Dimitar Berbatov at the top of the scorer’s charts. Tevez beat two men inside the box before lashing home in the 14^th minute, and Stoke showed little in response as City took control. It was early in the second half when Joleon Lescott headed in Adam Johnson’s set-piece, and just after the hour mark Tevez put the icing on the cake with a fabulous free-kick, to leave Stoke down and out, and City dreaming of automatic qualification to next season’s Champions’ League.

And then there was one…