Cristiano Ronaldo's penalty and a late goal from Ryan Giggs gave Manchester
United a 2-0 victory over Wigan at the JJB Stadium as they retained the Barclays
Premier League title.
The Portugal winger collected his 31st league goal to help Sir Alex Ferguson's
side lift their 17th league title which left them just one behind Liverpool's
haul of 18.
United were handed an opportunity to break the deadlock after Emmerson Boyce
brought down Wayne Rooney in the penalty area and referee Steve Bennett pointed
to the spot.
Ronaldo stepped up to take the 33rd-minute spot-kick and calmly side footed
the ball past goalkeeper Chris Kirkland who dived the wrong way.
Giggs, on as a substitute to equal Sir Bobby Charlton's record of 758
appearances for the club, added a second for United in the 80th minute although
the result mattered little after Chelsea drew 1-1 with Bolton at Stamford
Bridge.
Andriy Shevchenko scrambled the ball home in the 62nd minute to give the Blues
the lead but Kevin Davies equalised two minutes into injury team to leave them
two points behind United.
Manager Avram Grant's problems were compounded by the loss of captain John
Terry who was withdrawn after a collision with goalkeeper Petr Cech which could
make him a doubt for the Champions League final.
Fulham kept their Premier League status on goal difference after they claimed
a 1-0 win over FA Cup finalists Portsmouth at Fratton Park.
A header from Danny Murphy from a Jimmy Bullard free-kick in the 76th minute
was enough to give them victory over Harry Redknapp's side.
Reading finished their campaign with a 4-0 win over Derby at Pride Park but it
was not quite enough as they were relegated to the Coca-Cola Championship.
James Harper opened the scoring in the 15th minute before Dave Kitson, Kevin
Doyle and Leroy Lita also scored for the Royals while Birmingham were also
relegated despite a 4-1 home win over Blackburn.
Blackburn goalkeeper Brad Friedel fumbled David Murphy's 31st-minute strike
from 30 yards out which gave Birmingham the lead.
Morten Gamst Pedersen equalised three minutes after the break before Cameron
Jerome (73, 89) and an injury-time header from Fabrice Muamba.
Everton secured a fifth-placed finish and place in next season's UEFA Cup
after they recorded a 3-1 win over Newcastle.
Ayegbeni Yakubu opened the scoring in the 28th minute before Michael Owen
levelled from the penalty spot in the 47th minute after Joseph Yobo brought down
Charles N'Zogbia.
But Joleon Lescott (70) and an 82nd-minute penalty from Yakubu ensured
European football will return to Goodison Park next season.
Aston Villa finished five points behind David Moyes' side after a 2-2 draw
with West Ham at Upton Park.
Nolberto Solano gave West Ham an eighth-minute lead with a superb free-kick
but the lead lasted only six minutes as Ashley Young equalised.
Gareth Barry (58) put Martin O'Neill's side ahead but Dean Ashton equalised
two minutes from time.
Manchester City were reduced to 10-men as they thrashed 8-1 by Middlesbrough
on a miserable afternoon in what could be Sven Goran-Eriksson's last game in
charge.
City defender Richard Dunne was sent off for a foul on Tuncay Sanli inside the
penalty area in the 15th minute and Stewart Downing converted the resulting
spot-kick a minute later.
Downing grabbed a second in the 58th minute while a hat-trick from Afonso
Alves (37, 60, 90) along with goals from Adam Johnson (70), Fabio Rochemback
(80) and Jeremie Aliadiere (85) completed the scoring while Elano netted an
87th-minute consolation for City.
Theo Walcott's 24th-minute winner helped Arsenal to a 1-0 win over Sunderland
at the Stadium of Light while Andriy Voronin (69) and Fernando Torres (74) both
found the net as Liverpool cruised to a 2-0 win over Tottenham at White Hart
Lane.
