Source: Daily_Mail
Birmingham and Blackpool relegated, Wolves, Wigan and Blackburn stay up
ShareFinal relegation standings... [LNB]PositionPoints15 Blackburn4316 Wigan4217 Wolves40 18 Birmingham3919 Blackpool 3920 West Ham33This is the moment when the reality of relegation dawned on Blackpool defender Ian Evatt (below) as his team bid a dramatic and emotional farewell to the Barclays Premier League. [LNB]But they gave champions Manchester United the fright of their lives at Old Trafford before slipping to a 4-2 defeat which condemned them to the drop. [LNB]Ian Holloway's team join Birmingham and West Ham in the Championship next season after a final day that see-sawed until the closing moments. [LNB]Evatt gave away an own goal at 2-2 but proud Holloway insisted: 'These players will go down as (Blackpool) greats like the legendary Jimmy Armfield. What they have achieved for the little they are paid has been phenomenal. But I face a hard job now. [LNB]Survival Sunday: How the relegation drama unfolded on the final day of the season[LNB]Tangerine nightmare: Ian Evatt reacts as Blackpool are relegated from the Premier League [LNB] 'You are famous for two seconds in football, then you are gone. If you aim for the stars, you might hit the moon.[LNB]'The fat lady has finished singing and I do not like the tune.[LNB]'The Premier League have rung me up and said "we really love you Ian Holloway". But they have never helped me.[LNB]'It is a great league. But the people who run it shouldn't. There should be people above them telling them what to do.[LNB]'I have nothing but pride for my players and the way they have performed. I am ready for the fight to get us back.[LNB]The dream dies: Blackpool wave goodbye to their fans at Old Trafford[LNB]'The vultures will circle and how many of these players will want to stay and play with us in the Championship?' [LNB]At one point in the second half Blackpool led United 2-1 and looked set to pull off one of the greatest last-day escapes. But in the end, even a draw would have sent them down.[LNB]Elsewhere, Wigan managed to survive again as a goal from Hugo Rodallega in the 78th minute at Stoke City hauled Roberto Martinez's team from the jaws of the drop while a goal three minutes from time from Stephen Hunt helped Wolves survive, even though they lost 3-2 at home to Blackburn.[LNB] All over: Roman Pavlyuchenko celebrates scoring against Birmingham[LNB] [LNB] Tough day: Alex McLeish can hardly bare to watch Birmingham's demise[LNB] [LNB] In London, a late winner from Roman Pavlyuchenko ensured that Birmingham lost 2-1 at Tottenham. Hunt's goal for Wolves would have sent their Midlands neighbours down on goal difference anyway. [LNB]Birmingham are in Europe next season after winning the Carling Cup but that was little consolation for manager Alex McLeish. [LNB]'I'm obviously pretty gutted,' he said. 'When we got a goal I thought we'd done it. It's going to be a pretty horrible couple of days - or summer, I suppose - but I've got to work to get Birmingham back to the Premier League.[LNB] Sad day: A Birmingham fan (left) shares the pain felt by the Blackpool supporters at Old Trafford[LNB]'It's probably the worst moment of my career because I have been in charge of the team the whole year. They're my lads. I picked them. I built the squad and it's a low for me in my career but it's not a fail. I will bounce back.[LNB]'But had that goal not gone in at Wolves this would have been the greatest season in Birmingham's history.[LNB]'There will be a few that will leave but we have to build again.[LNB]'We have some players on long contracts. Whether we can hold on to them is something we will all have to wait and see about but to come back to the Premier League we need to hold on to the quality and maintain that quality factor.'[LNB]At Molineux, Wolves manager Mick McCarthy was perhaps the most relieved man of all. His team trailed 3-0 at half-time to fellow strugglers Blackburn.[LNB] Net gains: Hugo Rodallega powers home the crucial winner for Wigan at Stoke[LNB] Hero: Hugo Rodallega is mobbed by Wigan fans after his winner at Stoke[LNB]He said: 'We were in it, then we were out of it. We were up and then we were down. I was getting messages every couple of minutes on bits of paper. Some had swear words on, others said happy days.[LNB] [LNB]'I said all along that it would come down to May 22 and it might even be goal difference or goals scored. I do not even know the exact outcome now. All I knew at the end of the game was that we had stayed up.[LNB]'I am thrilled and I am very proud of the players. But I am shattered physically and emotionally.'[LNB][LNB]Flying start: Jason Roberts celebrates after putting Blackburn in front[LNB] Stephen Hunt scored the goal which guaranteed Wolves' Barclays Premier League safety and then admitted: 'That was the most stressful day of my career.'[LNB]Hunt struck the second goal with three minutes left in a 3-2 home defeat against Blackburn which edged them in front of Birmingham in terms of goals scored.[LNB]In the end Wolves had a point to spare as Blues were forced to gamble after Hunt's goal and were beaten 2-1 at Tottenham.[LNB]Delight: Wolves fans celebrate their club securing Premier League survival[LNB] Hunt, relegated previously with Reading and Hull, said: 'I'll enjoy the moment. Thank God we had the lap of the gods on our side.[LNB]'The couple of goals we got were vital because it changed the way other teams had to play.[LNB]'I heard the fans singing "we need one more goal" and we were mentally strong.[LNB]'Birmingham had shut up shop, and then they had to go for it and, in the end, got beaten and we got over the line.'[LNB] Staying up! Stephen Hunt (third left) celebrates scoring for Wolves[LNB]Hunt said: 'At half-time I couldn't look the manager in the eye. I don't think anyone could. We didn't know what to say.[LNB]'We were down in the dumps. But Mick (McCarthy) got us going again with his team talk.'[LNB]Rovers' victory also made sure of their top-flight status and they earned applause from manager Steve Keane for their end-of-season form.[LNB] Smiles better: Steve Kean (left) celebrates his side staying up with Ryan Nelson [LNB]He said: 'We have produced seven positive results from our last nine games. The team have come together as a group really well. We will be a better team and a better club for it.[LNB]The first half was the best 45 minutes of our season. It is just a shame that we left it until the last game.[LNB]'We had someone on the subs' bench with a lap top keeping us in touch with the other scores. Every five minutes we were getting updates.[LNB]'I was fully in touch with things anda few minutes from the end, Mick McCarthy gave me a look to say "that is it, we are both safe."'[LNB]Sealed with a kiss: Wolves fans mark their survival mission in style[LNB]Wigan, who had been in the bottom three for much of the campaign, stayed up after winning their final two games, snatching a late goal at Stoke. Manager Roberto Martinez said: 'It's like winning a trophy - that's the way I feel.[LNB]'We haven't chosen the easy route but it's a great feeling because we've been written off many times and we knew the talent we had.[LNB]'We were 2-0 down against West Ham and we needed a reaction and people with real responsibility.[LNB] Any chance of a loan? A jacketless Martinez celebrates with chairman Dave Whelan[LNB]'At the end of the season I feel we deserved to stay in the Premier League. We played some fantastic football and the players got their reward for that.'[LNB]The Spaniard celebrated by throwing his jacket into the crowd - only to realise his wallet was still in it.[LNB]He admitted: 'I was so thrilled I threw my jacket to the fans but I think Imight have left my wallet in it!' [LNB]Back at Old Trafford, United's comeback meant that Sir Alex Ferguson's team won the club's 19th title by nine points.[LNB] Survival Sunday live - how the final day of the Premeir League season unfoldedWatch all the Premier League goals every week on our brilliant video playerManchester United 4 Blackpool 2: Seasiders' great escape scuppered despite Old Trafford heroicsStoke 0 Wigan 1: Rodallega's the head boy as late goal keeps Latics in the big time Tottenham 2 Birmingham 1: Pavlyuchenko double sends Blues downWolves 2 Blackburn 3: Wanderers saved by Brum defeat and Rovers return, too[LNB] [LNB] Explore more:People: Roman Pavlyuchenko, Ian Holloway, Alex McLeish, Mick McCarthy, Roberto Martinez, Alex Ferguson, Jimmy Armfield Places: Birmingham, London, Europe
