Weekend review

Joy for United, but despair for Birmingham and Reading

By Chris Burton   Last updated: 12th May 2008  

Weekend review

United celebrate at the JJB

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A thrilling climax to the 2007/08 Premier League season provided the usual filling of thrills and spills.

The race for the title had never been so close heading into the final round of fixtures, while the battle at the bottom remained a three-horse race until the dying embers of the campaign.

There were tears of joy and despair in equal measure as the reality of success or failure after a long, hard slog began to hit home.

Ultimately it was Manchester United who got to crack open the champagne as they held off Chelsea's brave challenge to clinch their 10th Premier League crown.

At the other end of the table Fulham's miraculous end-of-season form saw them cling onto their top-flight status, meaning that Birmingham and Reading will be joining Derby in the Championship next season.

Elsewhere, Everton held off Aston Villa to take fifth spot while Middlesbrough racked up a cricket score against Manchester City.

Manchester United knew that victory away at Wigan would be enough to see them secure back-to-back titles and the Red Devils duly obliged as they claimed a 2-0 success.

Sir Alex Ferguson's men rode their luck at times during the first-half, but took the lead just after the half-hour mark when Cristiano Ronaldo coolly slotted home his 41st goal of the season from the penalty spot.

Ryan Giggs, who stepped off the bench to equal Bobby Charlton's all-time appearance record for the club, then wrapped things up 10 minutes from time to ensure that the party could finally begin.

Chelsea headed into their contest with Bolton at Stamford Bridge knowing that any slip-up by United could have seen them snatch top spot.

As it happens victory would have proven to be fruitless anyway, but the Blues could only a muster a 1-1 draw against a stubborn Trotters side.

Andrei Shenchenko grabbed a 62nd-minute opener for the hosts, before Matt Taylor compounded their misery with an injury-time leveller.

Avram Grant must now ensure that the disappointment of domestic failure is not allowed to disrupt their preparations ahead of a UEFA Champions League final with United on 21st May.

Just as the battle at the top ultimately saw no change in the standings, the same also proved to be true at the bottom.

Fulham, Reading and Birmingham all had realistic aspirations of beating the drop at 3pm on Sunday, but two hours later it would be the Cottagers who could breathe a huge sigh of relief.

Danny Murphy's 76th minute header away at FA Cup finalists Portsmouth ensured that Roy Hodgson's side ended the day as they started it, in the safety of 17th place.

For a long time it appeared as though Reading had done enough to claw their way out of trouble, as they inflicted a 29th defeat of the season on hapless Derby.

James Harper, Dave Kitson, Kevin Doyle and Leroy Lita saw the Royals cruise to a 4-0 win, but their efforts were all in vain.

Birmingham knew that they were always up against it, but produced an impressive display at an emotional St Andrews to see off Blackburn 4-1.

David Murphy, Fabrice Muamba and a brace from Cameron Jerome ensured that Morten Gamst Pedersen's lone strike was nothing more than a consolation, but the Blues eventually slipped back into the second tier after just a solitary season back in the big time.

With most of the action seemingly occurring at the extreme ends of the table, Everton's achievement in securing fifth place went largely unnoticed.

The Toffees had been on the fringes of the top four for the majority of the season and will have been delighted to book their place in next season's Uefa Cup after their position was threatened by a late surge from Aston Villa.

David Moyes' men suffered a slight wobble at home to Newcastle when Michael Owen cancelled out Yakubu Aiyegebni's opener, but free-scoring centre-half Joleon Lescott restored their lead 20 minutes from time and Nigerian goal-machine Yakubu wrapped things up with a third late on.

Aston Villa were forced to settle for an Intertoto Cup spot after they were held 2-2 away at West Ham.

Nolberto Solano gave the Hammers an early lead, before Ashley Young and Gareth Barry turned the game on its head.

However, with only two minutes remaining Dean Ashton restored parity and earned a share of the points.

With nothing else left to resolve the remaining three games of the weekend were dead rubbers between sides playing for pride.

Theo Walcott enhanced his growing reputation with the only goal of the game for Arsenal away at Sunderland, and the Gunners must now focus their attentions on keeping hold of their young stars.

Liverpool saw off Tottenham 2-0 at White Hart Lane with Andrei Voronin and the irrepressible Fernando Torres getting the goals, but the Reds know they have work to do over the summer if they are mount a serious title bid next season.

Saving the best for last, Middlesbrough produced the performance of the weekend as they stormed to an 8-1 rout at home to Manchester City.

The result will have done little to ease the ever-increasing pressure on Sven Goran Eriksson, and his side were never in contention once Richard Dunne received his marching orders just 15 minutes in.

Stewart Downing converted the resulting spot kick, and grabbed another later on, while Brazilian striker Afonso Alves notched his first hat-trick in English football.

Adam Johnson, Jeremie Aliadiere and a thunderbolt from Fabio Rochemback completed the scoring for Boro, while Elano got on the scoresheet for City.

So that's it for another year. Roll on August.

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