United retain league title
11 May 2008 - 17:42:28
Manchester United retained their Premier League crown in dramatic fashion with a 2-0 victory over Wigan Athletic.
The Red Devils wrapped up a tenth title of the Premier League era in a straightforward manner as Cristiano Ronaldo's first-half penalty - his 41st goal of a prolific season - and a late second from Ryan Giggs delighted the travelling fans at the JJB Stadium.
United rarely looked in trouble despite a spirited display from Wigan in a match where Giggs also equalled Bobby Charlton's club record of 758 appearances.
Chelsea looked like they would push United all the way, but conceded a 90th minute equaliser to Bolton Wanderers to end the season two points adrift of the champions.
Substitute Andriy Shevchenko opened the scoring for the Blues, before Matty Taylor slotted home a late equaliser to silence a disappointed Stamford Bridge.
Chelsea also suffered a further blow when captain John Terry was stretchered off in the first half with a suspected dislocated elbow, which puts his participation in the Champions League Final against Manchester United in doubt.
At the foot of the table, Fulham completed the great escape as Roy Hodgson's side clawed their way to safety with a 1-0 win at Portsmouth.
Danny Murphy's 76th minute winner made it three successive wins for the Cottagers and ensured their survival on a dramatic final day of the season.
Fulham had looked dead and buried in April, but their amazing fightback condemned Reading and Birmingham City to relegation.
Reading thrashed Derby County 4-0 at Pride Park but the three points were not enough to stave off relegation.
James Harper, Dave Kitson, Kevin Doyle and Leroy Lita ensured the Royals ended a six-match run without a goal, but they still exited the top-flight after a two-year stay.
Birmingham also won heavily, but lost their Premier League status despite a 4-1 win over Blackburn Rovers.
The Blues' stay in the top-flight lasted just one season as they finished 19th in the table despite securing three points through David Murphy, Cameron Jerome (2) and Fabrice Muamba.
Meanwhile, Everton ensured they and not Aston Villa will play in the UEFA Cup next season following a 3-1 victory over Newcastle United.
The Toffees wrapped up fifth spot in the table courtesy of two goals from Yakubu and another from Joleon Lescott.
Villa could only manage a 2-2 draw with West Ham United and ultimately finished five points adrift of Everton in sixth place.
Ashley Young and Gareth Barry scored for the Midlands club, with Nolberto Solano and Dean Ashton on the mark for the tenth-placed Hammers.
Sven-Goran Eriksson's probable final game as Manchester City manager ended in dismal fashion with an 8-1 thrashing at the hands of Middlesbrough.
The Swede is expected to be released by owner Thaksin Shinawatra following a post-season tour to Thailand and he signed off with a heavy defeat at the Riverside Stadium.
City lost Richard Dunne to a 15th minute sending-off before the floodgates opened and Stewart Downing (2), Afonso Alves (3), Adam Johnson, Fabio Rochemback and Jeremie Aliadiere put the boot into the former England coach.
Liverpool closed their campaign with a 2-0 victory over Spurs in a low-key meeting at White Hart Lane.
Andriy Voronin's sixth goal of the season and a second from Fernando Torres separated the two sides.
Third-placed Arsenal also finished up with a win as Theo Walcott's first-half strike secured a 1-0 success over Sunderland.