Birmingham and Blackpool down, Ancelotti sacked

When the dust settled on a dramatic final day of the Premier League season it was Birmingham and Blackpool who were left contemplating life in the Championship after an afternoon of nailbiting tension. And at the top of the table Manchester City held on to third place, condemning Arsenal to a Champions League play-off, while Chelsea boss Carlo Ancelotti was given his marching orders after the Londoners ended their campaign with a loss to Everton, and Spurs clinched the final European spot.

It took a last-gasp goal for Spurs at White Hart Lane to seal Birmigham's relegation as the Carling Cup winners lost 2-1. Elsewhere the Seasiders dream of a second season in the top flight was dashed as they were overrun by Manchester United, eventually losing 4-2 having led 2-1 in the second half.

At half-time in north London and with the score at 0-0 Birmigham were safe, but when Roman Pavlyuchenko gave the home side the lead the Blues were plunged into the bottom three. Other scores meant that even Craig Gardner's equaliser would not be enough to save them, unless goals flew in against their relegation rivals or they could conjure a winner.

But in the end, in the third minute of stoppage time Pavlyuchenko scored a second for Spurs to send Birmingham through the trap-door. The Bluenoses must now face up to life in the second tier of English football, while also playing in the Europa League thanks to their Carling Cup triumph.

Manager Alex McLeish was left ruing his side's performances earlier in the season. "It is difficult [to accept] the way things unfolded, but that has been the drama of this league this season... With 39 points you would normally be safe," he said. "[But] the quality in the lower half of the table was amazing."

At Old Trafford, Blackpool's mission impossible proved just that as they were well beaten by the champions Manchester United. Alex Ferguson fielded a relatively strong side and they took the lead through Park Ji-Sung in the first half, only for Charlie Adam to level.

Gary Taylor-Fletcher gave the Seasiders the lead in the second half and the Tangerine dream was still alive and kicking, but not for long. Anderson equalised five minutes later and Ian Evatt scored an own goal to give United the lead and after 81 minutes Michael Owen settled matters.

Manager Ian Holloway summed things up when he said: "It's been such a great trip but it just shows how cruel life can be."

He added: "It boils down to whether we as a club were ready for this. Probably not, but we gave it as good a shot as we could."

With Birmingham and Blackpool both losing and therefore finishing with 39 points apiece Wigan only needed one point to survive, but they took all three thanks to Hugo Rodallega's 78th minute goal against Stoke.

It also meant that the showdown between Blackburn and Wolves - who both started the day with 40 points - did not matter in the end, but the game was a belter. Blackburn scorched into a 3-0 lead at half time, but Wolves, realising goal difference could be crucial fought back and ended up losing 3-2.

At the other end of the table Carlo Ancelotti's reign as Chelsea boss came to an unspectacular end with a 1-0 loss to 10-man Everton, who had Seamus Coleman sent off early in the second half with the score at 0-0. But a fine solo effort from Jermaine Beckford after 74 minutes earned the Toffees all three points and sealed Ancelotti's fate.

Manchester City made sure of third place with an impressive victory over Lancashire rivals Bolton. City outclassed their hosts and goals from Jolean Lescott and Edin Dzeko either side of half time earned them the points.

City's challengers for third spot, Arsenal, saw their season splutter to a conclusion with yet another sloppy display at Fulham. It took a last minute equaliser from Theo Walcott to earn the Gunners a point against the Cottagers who were reduced to 10 men after 75 minutes when Zoltan Gera was sent off.

Before that, Steve Sidwell had given the home side the lead only for Robin Van Persie to equalise. Bobby Zamora restored Fulham's one-goal advantage in the second half but his side were denied the win when Walcott fired home after a driving run in the final minute.

Aston Villa ended their season with a 1-0 win over Liverpool thanks to Stewart Downing's 33rd minute goal while there were goals aplenty at St James's Park where Newcastle and West Brom fought out an entertaining 3-3 draw.

The final game of the day at Upton Park saw the already-relegated West Ham bow out of the Premier League in abject fashion with a 3-0 defeat to Sunderland. ·