Newcastle's Champions League hopes hit by Wigan, Arsenal held
Source: Agencies |
April 29, 2012, Sunday
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WIGAN Athletic dented Newcastle United's dreams of a Champions League place next season and boosted its own English Premier League survival hopes after a stunning 4-0 win at the DW Stadium yesterday.
Fourth-placed Newcastle, which had won its previous six league games, came crashing down to earth against Roberto Martinez's relegation battlers who continued their fight for safety following recent wins over Liverpool, Manchester United and Arsenal.
Arsenal drew 1-1 at Stoke City to stay in third place on 66 points while Newcastle is fourth on 62. Tottenham Hotspur, at home to Blackburn Rovers today is fifth on 59, while Champions League finalist Chelsea, also at home to Queens Park Rangers today, is sixth on 58.
Bolton Wanderers, battling against the drop, picked up a vital point in a 2-2 draw at Sunderland.
Aston Villa, also embroiled in the relegation fight, drew 0-0 at Midlands rival West Bromwich Albion but stayed 15th on 37 points, followed by Wigan (37), QPR (34), Bolton (34), Blackburn (31) and doomed Wolves (24) who hit back from 1-4 down to share the points at Swansea City in an eight-goal thriller.
Earlier, Southampton returned to the Premier League after a seven year absence when it beat Coventry City 4-0 to clinch second place in the Championship (second division) and back-to-back promotions.
West Ham United, which could have pipped Southampton if results had gone its way, finished third after beating Hull City 2-1 at Upton Park and will take part in the playoffs along with Birmingham City, Blackpool and Cardiff City.
Champion Reading, which clinched the title last week, lost 0-2 at Birmingham but finished top on 89 points. Southampton, which took the other automatic promotion spot, ended with 88 points and West Ham 86.
West Ham will now meet Cardiff in one semifinal playoff, while Blackpool will play Birmingham in the other. Those games will be over two legs with the final at Wembley on May 19.
Southampton, relegated from the Premier League in 2005 and then to the third tier of English football in 2009 after going into administration, was never going to lose its chance of a second successive promotion after taking an early 2-0 lead against relegated Coventry with goals from Billy Sharp and Jose Fonte.
Further strikes from Jos Hooiveld and Adam Lallana made sure of three points and Saints manager Nigel Adkins told the BBC: "A lot of people have put a lot of hard work in here - the players deserve all the plaudits they'll get as everyone at this club has worked their socks off since I've been here.
"Southampton are back in the Premier League, and I'm a happy man; I'm proud and honored."
Fourth-placed Newcastle, which had won its previous six league games, came crashing down to earth against Roberto Martinez's relegation battlers who continued their fight for safety following recent wins over Liverpool, Manchester United and Arsenal.
Arsenal drew 1-1 at Stoke City to stay in third place on 66 points while Newcastle is fourth on 62. Tottenham Hotspur, at home to Blackburn Rovers today is fifth on 59, while Champions League finalist Chelsea, also at home to Queens Park Rangers today, is sixth on 58.
Bolton Wanderers, battling against the drop, picked up a vital point in a 2-2 draw at Sunderland.
Aston Villa, also embroiled in the relegation fight, drew 0-0 at Midlands rival West Bromwich Albion but stayed 15th on 37 points, followed by Wigan (37), QPR (34), Bolton (34), Blackburn (31) and doomed Wolves (24) who hit back from 1-4 down to share the points at Swansea City in an eight-goal thriller.
Earlier, Southampton returned to the Premier League after a seven year absence when it beat Coventry City 4-0 to clinch second place in the Championship (second division) and back-to-back promotions.
West Ham United, which could have pipped Southampton if results had gone its way, finished third after beating Hull City 2-1 at Upton Park and will take part in the playoffs along with Birmingham City, Blackpool and Cardiff City.
Champion Reading, which clinched the title last week, lost 0-2 at Birmingham but finished top on 89 points. Southampton, which took the other automatic promotion spot, ended with 88 points and West Ham 86.
West Ham will now meet Cardiff in one semifinal playoff, while Blackpool will play Birmingham in the other. Those games will be over two legs with the final at Wembley on May 19.
Southampton, relegated from the Premier League in 2005 and then to the third tier of English football in 2009 after going into administration, was never going to lose its chance of a second successive promotion after taking an early 2-0 lead against relegated Coventry with goals from Billy Sharp and Jose Fonte.
Further strikes from Jos Hooiveld and Adam Lallana made sure of three points and Saints manager Nigel Adkins told the BBC: "A lot of people have put a lot of hard work in here - the players deserve all the plaudits they'll get as everyone at this club has worked their socks off since I've been here.
"Southampton are back in the Premier League, and I'm a happy man; I'm proud and honored."
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