Final Day Drama - Premier League
Fulham completed the great escape on Sunday afternoon as Danny Murphy's late goal at Fratton Park helped them beat Portsmouth 1-0 and escape relegation on a dramatic final day. The Cottagers went into the last round of matches with their fate still in their own hands, but they looked nervy in the opening stages as Portsmouth played the ball around with greater confidence. However, as the match wore on and results elsewhere made victory essential, the visitors showed greater urgency and found the breakthrough via Murphy. Jimmy Bullard lofted an inviting free-kick into the area and Murphy rose highest to nod home and seal survival.
That meant that Reading needed to beat Derby by more than seven goals to avoid the drop, but they could only find four meaning Steve Coppell's men sunk back into the Championship after two seasons in the top flight. James Harper opened the scoring fifteen minutes in with a superb shot which curled into the top corner. Dave Kitson then converted Leroy Lita's cross to make it two on the hour mark before Kevin Doyle tapped in the third. Lita's powerful header from Stephen Hunt's cross made it four in the closing stages, but Murphy's goal at Fratton Park ensured the Royals are relegated due to Fulham's goal difference superiority of three.
In a similar situation are Birmingham, who finished in nineteenth position despite a commanding 4-1 triumph at home to Blackburn. An error from Brad Friedel gifted David Murphy the opener on the half-hour mark, but Morten Gamst Pedersen found the back of the net four minutes into the second half to level up. With Reading winning at Derby it seemed Birmingham would go down no matter what they did, but showing great character, Alex McLeish's side fought on and went ahead seventeen minutes from time through Cameron Jerome. The second half substitute then found his second a minute from time, before Fabrice Muamba headed the fourth seconds later to secure a fine result from what was nonetheless a desperate day for the Blues.
At the top of the table, Manchester United won the Premier League title for the second successive season thanks to victory at Wigan. Sir Alex Ferguson men started nervously as Wigan bossed the play and looked the more likely to score. However, the decisive moment came midway through the first half when Wayne Rooney was brought down in the area by Emerson Boyce. Cristiano Ronaldo stepped up and converted from the spot to send United into half-time ahead. A stronger looking United started the second half, but Wigan were still a threat and it wasn't until ten minuets from time that the game were secured as Ryan Giggs, who came off the bench to equal Sir Bobby Charlton's appearance record, hit home to claim the title for a jubilant Red Devils.
That meant that Chelsea would have to find the net over twenty times against Bolton to claim glory, but as it turned out they only scored once in a 1-1 draw at Stamford Bridge. Like United, the hosts started slowly and suffered potentially bad news when John Terry was taken off with a suspected broken arm which could rule him out of the Champions League final. The day briefly seemed to be turning in their favour midway through the second half when substitute Andriy Shevchenko put them ahead, but when news of Giggs' goal filtered through to London, heads dropped and Kevin Davies took advantage, equalising late on to ensure that United won the title by two clear points rather than goal difference.
Everton sealed their UEFA Cup spot with a comfortable 3-1 victory at home to Newcastle United. Needing just a point to finish ahead of Aston Villa, the hosts went ahead on 28 minuets through Yakubu's header, only for Michael Owen to convert from the penalty sport in the early stages of the second half following Joseph Yobo's foul on Charles N'Zogbia. However, Joleon Lescott continued his fine scoring form this season to make it 2-1 not long after with a fine header from Manuel Fernandes's cross, before Yakubu added the third to seal the points and that all-important fifth place.
Everton's win and Blackburn's defeat meant that Aston Villa were secure in sixth spot, but they still played out an entertaining 2-2 draw with West Ham anyway. The Hammers went ahead through Noberto Solano's stunning free-kick on eight minutes, but Ashley Young fired home from Nigel Reo-Coker's set-up shortly after. Gareth Barry set the visitors up for a closing day victory as he converted from Nigel Reo-Coker's parried effort on what could be his final appearance for Martin O'Neill's men, but Dean Ashton ensured the game finished level with a neat finish from just outside the area in the dying seconds.
Manchester City are also in Europe via the Fair Play League but they ended their season (and perhaps Sven-Goran Eriksson's brief reign) with a humiliating 8-1 defeat at Middlesbrough. Stewart Downing converted early on from the spot following a foul on Tuncay by Richard, for which the defender was sent-off. Boro dominated from then on and Afonso Alves made it two shortly after, before Downing hit his second for the third goal. Alves and Adam Johnson took the score up to five and Fabio Rochemback smashed home a free-kick to add the sixth. Jeremie Aliadiere's sixth goal was accompanied by a consolation from Elano for City, but Alves completed his hat-trick to secure a stunning win for his side.
Finally, Liverpool and Arsenal's final standings were already secured but they still closed their seasons with accomplished victories on their travels. Theo Walcott scored 24 minutes in at Sunderland to help the Gunners edge out a 1-0 win against Roy Keane's side, while Liverpool were 2-0 victors at Tottenham. Andriy Voronin and Fernando Torres found the net in the second half at White Hart Lane, meaning Rafa Benitez ended a turbulent campaign on a high.
