Sky Sports casts an eye over the highlights from a dramatic final day in the Premier League.
Sky Sports casts an eye over the highlights from a dramatic final day in the Premier League
Team of the week
Game of the weekend
Manchester City v QPR
The Etihad Stadium encounter had all the ingredients needed for a nail-biting final day clash, with the outcome of the title and QPR's survival hopes resting on the match, and the showdown did not disappoint. It was a rollercoaster afternoon, with the first shock coming in the 48th minute as Dijbril Cisse cancelled out Pablo Zabaleta's opener, with news filtering through that Manchester United had taken the lead at Sunderland to pile pressure on the title hopefuls. Controversy then struck seven minutes later as Joey Barton was sent for an early bath after elbowing Carlos Tevez, and the hot-headed midfielder then tried to take a couple of other City players with him as he went. City had the advantage but what had started as a dream afternoon swiftly turned into a nightmare as Jamie Mackie fired the Rs ahead and the hosts' hopes of lifting the trophy began to look bleak. QPR poured everything into a battling defensive display but there was a final twist in the tale in stoppage time as Edin Dzeko grabbed a crucial equaliser before Sergio Aguero fired home the all-important winner to hand City their first title in 44 years.
Goal and moment of the weekend
Sergio Aguero's winner
It is impossible to look any further than Aguero's title-clinching stoppage time winner for Roberto Mancini's side. With the seconds trickling down and champagne corks already popping on the red side of the city, it looked like Mancini's men had blown their chance of Premier League glory. Then suddenly Dzeko equalised in the added minutes and there was a glimmer of hope for the hosts. Aguero saw an opening and made no mistake, scoring the most dramatic of winners with just 60 seconds left on the clock to bag the title and prompt an eruption of wild celebrations at the Etihad, while simultaneously writing his name into the club's history books. Mancini, drenched in bubbly after the final whistle, summed up the moment as "a crazy finish to a crazy season."
Villain of the weekend
Joey Barton
QPR captain Barton is never far from controversy but his moment of madness against City was simply jaw-dropping. The temperamental midfielder foolishly elbowed Carlos Tevez in the face in an off-the-ball incident to prompt referee Mike Dean to reach for his red card. Not one to go quietly, Barton further disgraced himself by aiming his knee into Aguero's thigh before appearing to direct a headbutt towards City skipper Vincent Kompany. He is now facing a possible nine-match ban and while QPR stayed up due to Bolton's draw at Stoke, Barton's misdemeanour left an unfortunate blot on an otherwise heroic Hoops display at the Etihad.
Gaffe of the weekend
Tony Hibbert own-goal
Everton ended Newcastle's hopes of UEFA Champions League football and completed an impressive run-in with an assured 3-1 victory at Goodison Park but Tony Hibbert put a dent in their performance when he nodded into his own net late on. A breakdown in communication between the defender and goalkeeper Tim Howard saw Hibbert head the ball back to the custodian from Cabaye's long pass only to realise Howard had already come out to collect. The duo could only watch as the ball rolled over the line to hand the Magpies a consolation goal.
Flop of the weekend
Martin Fulop
The curtain fell on Arsenal's season with the Gunners safe in the knowledge they had secured UEFA Champions League football for next season and the Gunners were given a helping hand on the final day by West Brom goalkeeper Fulop. The Hungarian, deputising for the injured Ben Foster in his first Premier League appearance of the season, committed a comical gaffe after just four minutes when he hesitated on the edge of the penalty area, allowing Yossi Benayoun to nip past him and roll the ball into an empty net. His afternoon spiralled from there as he let in further strikes from Andre Santos and Laurent Koscielny, with the North Londoners triumphing 3-2 to cement third place.
Save of the weekend
Michel Vorm
Swansea crowned an impressive maiden Premier League campaign with a 1-0 home victory over Liverpool and Dutch goalkeeper Vorm ended his season in style with a superb individual display. The shot-stopper's shining moment came against Reds frontman Andy Carroll, who attempted an audacious overhead kick which, had he pulled it off, could have been one of the goals of the season. However, Vorm put his lightning reflexes to good use, getting a hand to the powerful effort to keep the visitors at bay.
Farewell of the weekend
Bolton
There was heartbreak for the Trotters as they failed to keep hold of their Premier League status at Stoke. The Potters pegged them back in a 2-2 draw, with QPR staying up at their expense despite their defeat at City. Stoke's goals came in controversial circumstances, with Tony Pulis' side taking the lead in the 13th minute when Jonathan Walters appeared to knock the ball out of goalkeeper Adam Bogdan's hands and into the net. Bolton fought back as Mark Davies and Kevin Davies both got on the scoresheet but their hard work was undone in the second half when the Potters were awarded a dubious penalty after Peter Crouch took a tumble in the box, with Walters converting to seal Wanderers' slide into the Championship.
