SERVICES

Tuesday May 27, 2009

Newcastle, 'Boro Relegated!

Arsenal 4 Stoke City 1

Arsenal swept aside Stoke City 4-1 with three quick first-half goals to sign off in style from a difficult campaign.
An own goal from James Beattie, making his 300th league appearance, was swiftly followed up by a penalty from Robin van Persie and Abou Diaby's bullet header.
Stoke, safe from any last-day relegation drama, pulled a goal back from the spot through Ricardo Fuller, only for Rory Delap to then gift Van Persie his second four minutes before half-time.
Arsenal, already secure in fourth place following a 21-match unbeaten run, had little other than somewhat wounded pride left to play for after going out of both the FA Cup and Champions League at the semi-final stage.

Aston Villa 1 Newcastle United 0

Newcastle United's 16-year spell in the Premier League came to an end as Damien Duff's own goal doomed them to a 1-0 defeat at Aston Villa.
Duff deflected a 38th-minute shot from stand-in skipper Gareth Barry past his own goalkeeper Steve Harper to seal their fate.
It meant Magpies legend Alan Shearer had failed to work the miracle he was brought in to try and achieve with eight matches remaining.

Blackburn Rovers 0 West Bromwich Albion 0

Blackburn Rovers were hoping to celebrate Tugay's 294th and final appearance for the club with a victory but were held to a 0-0 draw by West Bromwich Albion.
With Blackburn safe and West Brom relegated it did have the feel of a testimonial match for Tugay after eight seasons at Ewood Park.
Tugay was given a standing ovation when he came off in the 85th minute and was replaced by Martin Olsson.
He responded by waving to all corners of the ground as his name was chanted loud and long by a grateful home support.

Fulham 0 Everton 2

Everton clinched fifth place in the Premier League and warmed up for next week's FA Cup final with a comfortable 2-0 victory over Fulham at Craven Cottage.
Two goals from Leon Osman, one in each half, was enough to earn the Toffees all three points against the Cottagers.
But the home side still ended the season on a high note as Tottenham Hotspur's defeat at Liverpool enabled them to finish seventh and secure a place in the new Europa League next season.
It was a remarkable transformation for the west London side who narrowly escaped relegation to the Championship last season.

Hull City 0 Manchester United 1

Hull City escaped relegation by the skin of their teeth despite slipping to a 1-0 defeat to an under-strength Manchester United side.
Darron Gibson fired the only goal of a tense encounter at the KC Stadium with a stunning strike midway through the first half.
Yet with Newcastle United losing at Aston Villa, the Tigers just managed to limp over the line to safety with 35 points.

Liverpool 3 Tottenham Hotspur 1

Liverpool claimed runners-up spot in the Premier League and denied Tottenham Hotspur European football after a season that produced an unbeaten home league record for the first time in 21 years.
Their unbeaten home stretch was extended to 30 matches as Sami Hyypia bid a tearful farewell to Anfield after 10 years at the club.
The ovations were for the veteran Finn and a Liverpool side who had pushed Manchester United close in the title race.
Their goals came from Fernando Torres, Yossi Benayoun and an own goal from Alan Hutton, with Robbie Keane scoring for Spurs on his return to Anfield.
Spurs, even though Fulham lost at home, could not take advantage and will not be in the Europa League next season.

Manchester City 1 Bolton Wanderers 0

Felipe Caicedo's eighth-minute goal sent Manchester City on their holidays on a high note, with a leisurely 1-0 victory over Bolton.
The Ecuador forward tapped home his eighth of the campaign following more impressive work from Stephen Ireland to end a run of three successive defeats and overcome a poor Wanderers outfit, who never really looked like hitting back.
The ambition now bubbling away under the Eastlands side means that a repeat of their 10th-placed finish in 12 months' time is not an option.

Sunderland 2 Chelsea 3

Sunderland survived a nervy final afternoon and will be the north-east's only representatives in the top flight next term despite a 3-2 defeat to Chelsea.
While rivals Newcastle and Middlesbrough were experiencing the trauma of relegation, Sunderland were succumbing to defeat in Guus Hiddink's final match as manager of the Blues.
But it was not a costly loss as events elsewhere ensured these two sides will meet again next season.
Substitute Salomon Kalou and England defender Ashley Cole struck inside the final 16 minutes to ensure the three points left Wearside with the visitors, despite Kenwyne Jones' 90th-minute header.

West Ham United 2 Middlesbrough 1

Middlesbrough's relegation from the Premier League was confirmed after Brad Jones' error gave meant they lost 2-1 at West Ham United.
Gareth Southgate's men needed a big victory and for results to go their way but they failed to do their part, with Junior Stanislas' weak shot sneaking past Jones for the winner at Upton Park.
Carlton Cole had given the Hammers a first-half lead but Boro were given encouragement when Gary O'Neil levelled and their relegation rivals were losing.
After Stanislas struck there was a resigned attitude to Boro as their fate was sealed.
Boro's stint in the top flight lasted 11 years and included a League Cup win and a UEFA Cup final appearance.

Wigan Athletic 1 Portsmouth 0

Striker Hugo Rodallega scored his third goal in four matches as Wigan Athletic ended a run of three successive defeats by beating Portsmouth 1-0 at the JJB Stadium.
The Colombia striker had the simplest of tap-ins from three yards after Sol Campbell completely missed Charles N'Zogbia's 27th-minute cross.
Victory ended a dismal spell that had seen the Latics take only one point from the previous seven matches and was only their fourth win since the turn of the year.
It was that form that put paid to their hopes of European football next season as they dropped out of contention for seventh place having secured their top-flight future at the end of March.
However, they finished 11th in the Premier League table, their best since the all-time high of 10th under Paul Jewell in 2005/06.