YESTERDAY, the tightest relegation battle in the history of the FA Premier League took place and the nerves were intense. It was a day full of joy, agony, ecstasy and of course, tears. Here is how it all happened in the four affected games, as Wolves, Blackburn Rovers, Blackpool, Birmingham City and Wigan Athletic fought for survival in the top flight.
22 minutes: Manchester United 1-0 Blackpool
The first breakthrough of a critical afternoon comes at Old Trafford. Korean Ji-Sung Park pounces on some sloppy defending by Ian Evatt to have the champions infront. Blackpool face a huge battle now.
24 minutes: Wolves 0-1 Blackburn Rovers
Wolves are looking very nervous and deservedly fall behind at home. Jason Roberts turns in Michel Salgado’s shot from seven yards out. It’s a big goal for Blackburn, in their quest to beat the drop.
40 minutes: Wolves 0-2 Blackburn Rovers
Blackburn’s supporters can breathe a sigh of relief, as Brett Emerton fires the visitors into a deserved 2-0 lead. It’s a beautiful volley from outside the penalty area, but Wolves defending is simply comical.
41 minutes: Manchester United 1-1 Blackpool
Blackpool will not go down without a fight and their talisman is at it again. Charlie Adam’s well-placed free-kick leaves Edwin van der Sar, in his farewell Old Trafford appearance stranded. The Tangerines supporters begin to believe.
FIRST HALF STOPPAGE TIME: Wolves 0-3 Blackburn Rovers
Wolves will be relying on other results now, as their defence is showing more accidents that what a traditional episode of Holby City does! Junior Hoillett makes it 3-0 to complete Mick McCarthy’s nightmare scenario.
49 minutes: Tottenham Hotspur 1-0 Birmingham City
Disaster for Birmingham City, as Spurs substitute Roman Pavyluchenko curls home a strike past the despairing Ben Foster. As things stand, Birmingham will be heading for the Npower Championship.
57 minutes: Manchester United 1-2 Blackpool
Gary Taylor-Fletcher beats the offside trap to flick in David Vaughan’s cross and have Blackpool ahead at the Theatre of Dreams. The ‘Impossible Dream’ of survival for Ian Holloway is now looking like the ‘Probable Dream.’
63 minutes: Manchester United 2-2 Blackpool
Blackpool return to the brink, as Anderson pulls Manchester United level with a left-footed drive.
72 minutes: Wolves 1-3 Blackburn Rovers
Jamie O’Hara gives Wolves some hope at Molineux, not so much in the game, but more on the goal difference count. However, the home side still remain in the bottom three at this stage.
75 minutes: Manchester United 3-2 Blackpool
Ian Evatt will want the ground to swallow him up. He slices a clearance into the back of his own net, and with it, Blackpool drop back into the relegation zone. Is the fairytale dying?
77 minutes: Stoke City 0-1 Wigan Athletic
Roberto Martinez’s tactics have been spot-on, and now Wigan can have the security of a priceless lead at the Britannia. Maynor Figueroa’s beautiful cross is met perfectly by the head of Hugo Rodallega. The reaction from the Wigan players says it all.
78 minutes: Tottenham Hotspur 1-1 Birmingham City
Birmingham’s supporters are going wild at White Hart Lane, as Craig Gardner produces a stunning blot from the blue. Carlo Cudicini had no chance, and Wolves join Blackpool in the dreaded drop zone.
81 minutes: Manchester United 4-2 Blackpool
Blackpool’s high offside trap is exposed by the champions. Michael Owen’s cool finish, in his final game for the club seals the Seasiders fate. Despite winning over many neutrals, Blackpool will NOT be in the top flight next season.
87 minutes: Wolves 2-3 Blackburn Rovers
This is a goal worthy to keep any side up. Stephen Hunt produces curls one past Paul Robinson to send the Wolves supporters into delirium. On goals scored, Birmingham drop below Wolves again in this staggering drama.
STOPPAGE TIME: Tottenham Hotspur 2-1 Birmingham City
Roman Pavyluchenko produces the killer blow. Birmingham City, Carling Cup winners, will be playing in the UEFA Europa League, representing the Championship.
FT: Manchester United 4-2 Blackpool: BLACKPOOL ARE RELEGATED
FT: Tottenham Hotspur 2-1 Birmingham City: BIRMINGHAM ARE RELEGATED
FT: Wolves 2-3 Blackburn Rovers BOTH BLACKBURN AND WOLVES SURVIVE
FT: Stoke City 0-1 Wigan Athletic WIGAN SURVIVE
It was an incredible final day, and one of the most breathtaking seasons in Premiership history is completed. Commiserations to the fans of Birmingham City and Blackpool, who have to deal with the heartache of being relegated from the top flight, whilst congratulations to Wigan Athletic and Blackburn Rovers, for producing the results they required to keep themselves in the Premier League. Although they were lucky yesterday, Wolves’s victories over Chelsea, Liverpool and Manchester United over the course of the campaign means that ultimately, they deserve another crack next season. We only have to wait ten weeks for the drama to happen again! HURRY UP SUMMER!
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