Survival Sunday - How it happened

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!

FA Barclays Premiership Report (7th - 9th May)

THE most decisive weekend of the Premiership season saw history being made at the top of the table and the battle to stay afloat in the top flight tighten up even more.

RECORD: The title looms large for Manchester United

    The title showdown at Old Trafford between Manchester United and Chelsea went United’s way.  They outfought, outpassed and outclassed Chelsea and deserved to win more than the 2-1 final scoreline suggests.  The win means the Red Devils only need one point at Blackburn on Saturday lunchtime to secure a 19^th league title, surpassing Liverpool’s long-standing record as the most successful club in English football history.  Sir Alex Ferguson’s side started in clinical fashion, as Javier Hernandez pounced on David Luiz’s slip inside 36 seconds to give United an unbelievable start.  Chelsea looked unrecognisable in the first half and didn’t turn up.  They went 2-0 down inside 23 minutes.  Nemanja Vidic powered in an easy header from Ryan Giggs brilliant cross.  Chelsea did get a glimmer hope with 22 minutes to go, when Frank Lampard touched in Branislav Ivanovic’s flick-on.  Ultimately, the men from West London end the season with nothing to show for their efforts, except question marks over Carlo Ancelotti’s future.  Speculation is rife linking Ancelotti with a return to Serie A with AS Roma.

    At the wrong end of the table, Mick McCarthy’s Wolves celebrated a huge 3-1 win over West Brom in the Black Country derby.  It is Wolves first win in six games against their great rivals and takes Wolves out of the bottom three, with their Premiership destiny now in their own hands.  Steven Fletcher took full advantage of West Brom’s horrendous defending display to score two goals and Adeline Guedioura celebrated his first goal in English football through some ditzy defending from their rivals in the Midlands.  Peter Odemwingie did pull a goal back from the penalty spot, but this was Wolves day.

     Blackpool dropped back into the bottom three, despite a battling draw at White Hart Lane against Tottenham on Saturday evening.  Charlie Adam, almost signed by Tottenham on deadline day in January had a dramatic match.  His crude challenge on Gareth Bale finished Bale’s season early with ankle ligament damage.  He then had a penalty saved by Hereulho Gomes when Michael Dawson handled in the box.  Seconds later, Gomes’s inconsistent form continued when he needlessly bundled over Gary Taylor-Fletcher for a second spot kick.  This time, Adam made no mistake.  In the 88^th minute, Jermain Defoe broke Blackpool’s hearts by earning the home side a point, but it made Champions League qualification pretty much impossible.  All those dreams died with a 1-0 loss at Manchester City last night, which secured City’s place in Europe’s premier club competition next season. 

GLOAT: Everton won the battle, but City recovered to claim 4th

     Before last night’s joy, City had a frustrating day at Goodison Park at the weekend.  In the ultimate game of two halves, they lost 2-1 at Everton.  The visitors had bossed the first half and deserved their first half lead, courtesy of Yaya Toure.  However, Everton turned the game around with two headers in the second half, through City old boy Sylvain Distin and a brilliant header by Leon Osman.  You could tell that it was a bad day for the blue half of Manchester, as manager Roberto Mancini attempted to pick a fight with Phil Neville at the final whistle.  Tottenham might miss out on Europe altogether next season, thanks to a revitalised Liverpool outfit.  In the final Monday Night Football of the season, Kenny Dalglish’s side ripped Fulham apart – winning 5-2 at Craven Cottage.  Maxi Rodriguez scored inside 30 seconds and went on to complete his second treble in three matches.  Dirk Kuyt and Luis Suarez scored too and now, if Liverpool beat Tottenham on Sunday at Anfield, they secure England’s final UEFA Europa League qualification place.

     Back in the scrap to stay up and time is rapidly running out for Avram Grant and West Ham United.  They needed to beat Blackburn on Saturday and they didn’t.  The 1-1 draw kept the Hammers rooted to the foot of the table.  Jason Roberts had the visitors infront on 12 minutes, which meant West Ham got that familiar feeling.  Although Thomas Hitzlsperger drilled in one of his specials, crucial blocks from Christopher Samba and another missed sitter from the misfiring Robbie Keane, it was a result West Ham needed to improve on.  At Villa Park, Wigan’s promising start did little to ease their relegation worries.  Although they remain unbeaten at Aston Villa since entering the Premiership in 2005, the 1-1 stalemate means Roberto Martinez continues to feel the strain.  For the second successive weekend, Charles N’Zogbia had Wigan infront inside of ten minutes, but Ashley Young’s free-kick seven minutes restored parity.  A tepid game was spiced up by a tantrum from Emile Heskey, who looked like he might punch somebody if he didn’t calm down.  Stand-in boss Gary McAllister wisely subbed Heskey at half-time.  This means the Wigan v West Ham clash on Sunday is quite possibly the game that will end up deciding one of their short-term futures.

     The other weekend matches saw Stoke City’s historic week began with a great 3-1 victory over an off-colour Arsenal.  Poor defending from the Gunners allowed Kenwyne Jones, Jermaine Pennant and Jonathan Walters to send Stoke to Wembley for the FA Cup final on a high.  It was Arsenal biggest defeat of the season and they haven’t frankly recovered from that late heartbreak in February’s Carling Cup final.  Elsewhere, Newcastle United beat Birmingham City 2-1 and Sunderland secured Premiership football for another season, as Sulley Muntari’s last-minute goal overcame Bolton 2-1 at the Reebok.  Two weekends to go and whilst the relegation scrap looks set to go to the wire, we can congratulate Manchester United on another Premiership title.  They deserve it!

FA Barclays Premiership Report (19th - 20th March)

THE final hurdles in the Premiership season have seen the whole of the bottom half engulfed by the biggest relegation scrap in the league’s history, whilst at the top, Manchester United regained control of their own destiny.

     Despite having Sir Alex Ferguson banned from the touchline for six matches, following his comments about Martin Atkinson after a recent loss at Chelsea, United had to work extremely hard to edge out Bolton Wanderers 1-0.  Ferguson was sat in the stands, but was on the phone half the time to the dugout, as his leaders struggled against Owen Coyle’s determined Wanderers outfit.  Manchester United’s defensive problems continued as Wes Brown limped off injured and Jonny Evans was sent off for a crunching tackle on Stuart Holden, which has left Holden on the sidelines for the rest of the season.  Despite playing very poorly, the home side nicked it through substitute Dimitar Berbatov.  The Bulgarian pounced on Juusi Jaaskelainen spilling Nani’s shot to score the most valuable goal of his career.

OOPS: Manuel Almunia made another blundering error at the Hawthorns

     It earnt the Red Devils a four point lead at the top of the table, after Arsenal dropped two more points, this time at West Brom.  The Gunners had to fightback from 2-0 to leave the Hawthorns with a battling 2-2 draw.  Steven Reid headed improving West Brom infront inside of four minutes, and the second Albion goal was indefensible as far as Arsenal concerned.  Manuel Almunia entered no man’s land, got into a horrible muddle with Sebastian Squillaci, which allowed Peter Odemwingie and easy goal.  Jens Lehmann has been bought out of retirement as a back-up may be needed sooner rather than later, especially as Almunia looks like a clown juggling away in a circus!  A brilliant hit from Andrei Arshavin bought Arsenal back into the game, before Robin Van Persie bundled in a late leveller.

     Chelsea moved into third place, as they comfortably beat a negative Manchester City 2-0 at Stamford Bridge.  City’s key threat Carlos Tevez was missing through injury and they failed to show any attacking intent whatsoever.  Meanwhile, Mario Balotelli was dropped after his Europa League kung-fu kick had seen him sent off against Dynamo Kiev three nights earlier.  Chelsea had to wait for their goals, and they came in the last ten minutes.  A David Luiz header and a brilliant solo effort from Ramires were the difference, as Fernando Torres continued to misfire badly at Stamford Bridge.

     Torres’s old club Liverpool closed to within four points of fifth placed Tottenham, after getting more than a friendly helping hand in a 2-0 success at Sunderland.  The main controversy came in the first half.  Jay Spearing was fouled by John Mensah, after the Ghanaian made an awful mistake.  Referee Kevin Friend gave a free-kick, but one of his linesman, 40 yards away from the incident amazingly decided that contact was made inside the box and consequently, a penalty was awarded.  Dirk Kuyt duly converted the spot kick calmly.  A dynamic finish from Luis Suarez with 13 minutes to go, helped by a poor piece of goalkeeping from Simon Mignolet sealed the result and to make matters worse for Sunderland, they only had one shot on target and Mensah was given a straight red card for fouling Suarez.  This red card has since been rescinded.  Tottenham missed their chance to close the gap on the top four, as they shared a belting 0-0 draw with West Ham United.  There were over 30 shots on goal, with Robert Green in inspired form.  Jermain Defoe, Gareth Bale and Roman Pavyluchenko were all denied spectacularly by Green, who showed form not seen since his England gaffe in Rustenberg.

     At the bottom, there were more questions created rather than answers given.  Everton reached the 40 point mark and probable Premiership safety, with a 2-1 victory over Fulham at Goodison.  David Moyes celebrated his ninth year in charge and with a potential takeover at Goodison Park being reported, life seems much better on the blue side of Merseyside.  Seamus Coleman made the breakthrough with a diving header in this match, with Louis Saha scoring against his former club, driving a free-kick in early in the second half.  Clint Dempsey did pull a goal back, but Everton deserved their victory.

OPENER: Charlie Adam strikes home the penalty at Blackburn

     The relegation battle at Ewood Park turned into the ultimate game of two halves.  Blackburn Rovers and Blackpool shared the spoils in a 2-2 draw; a result that helps neither side.  Luke Varney was denied a goal by the offside flag and then the Tangerines were given a dubious penalty.  Charlie Adam scored the penalty, and then produced a perfect free-kick to have Blackpool 2-0 up at half-time.  Christopher Samba pulled a goal back early in the second half after a spot of penalty pinball and in stoppage time, Richard Kingston flapped at a free-kick and Junior Hoillett turned in the equaliser for Blackburn.

     In the other matches, Stoke City recorded their biggest ever Premiership win, to all but guarantee their own Premiership safety.  They thrashed Newcastle United 4-0, who had a miserable day and still need at least two wins to follow Stoke’s survival state.  Birmingham are now second from bottom, after losing a crunch match at Wigan Athletic.  Maynor Figueroa produced a stunning late winner to earn the home side a 2-1 victory and throw a lifeline into their season.  Finally, Wolves first win at Villa Park in 37 years has thrown Aston Villa into serious trouble.  Matt Jarvis headed in the winner in a 1-0 win, resulting in a deserved England call-up.  Villa got booed off the pitch and the fans demanded Gerard Houillier to be sacked.  They are now only one point clear of the bottom three.  Two months remain, and who goes down, it’s still far too close to call.