An Exciting End To The Season....For A Neutral!

Saturday 14th May 2011, 3:19pm. A delightful cross by Canadian starlet Junior Hoilett was met by an exquisite volley by Brett Emerton. Blackburn 1 Manchester United 0....what could possibly go wrong?


That is until controversy surrounded United again, as they were rewarded a penalty deep into the second half. Rooney converted, meaning United inevitably got the point they have been striving for all week. Three crucial points turned to a miserable single as Rovers are left to fight it out on the final day of the Barclays Premier League season. in the words of the great Sir Alex Ferguson...it's squeeky bumtime!

Spence, 20, has impressed at Bristol City
this season.

Five teams face the dreaded drop this coming Sunday, making it an exciting end to the season, well, for a neutral that is. An excellent comeback by Wigan yesterday meant that West Ham United's six year stay in the PL came to a dire end, dropping to the second tier of English. It's not looking pretty for the Hammers. Big name stars like Scott Parker, Carlton Cole and Rob Green look to be leaving the club in the summer. The owners seem to have other things on their minds instead of the state of the club, and if you thought that wasn't enough, they face a trip to the New Den next season against bitter rivals Millwall. They're without a manager as well, as Avram Grant was inevitably sacked as manager of the club less than an hour after their tragic season ended in yet another defeat. However there are some glimmers of hope next season. Demba Ba is proving to be a class act up front for the irons, scoring seven goals in the eleven appearances he had this season. Jordan Spence also had a terrific season at Bristol City. After returning from his successful spell at City, Spence looks like a possible England star in the making. He and Ba could hold a crucial role if the Hammers want a instant revival next season. 

A single point separates 15th from 19th.

West Ham fill one of the three relegated teams this season, leaving us with two left. Wigan, Blackpool, Birmingham, Wolves and Blackburn can still all go down, meaning a stressful 90 minutes next Sunday for all fans concerned. Wigan travel to the Britannia Stadium to face a Stoke side still suffering from defeat to Manchester City at Wembley. Stoke will look to do Wigan no favours, as they will be looking to put that defeat way behind them. Blackpool travel to Old Trafford to face Manchester United, a team ready to lift the Premier League trophy for a record 19th time. With a trip to Wembley to face the might of Barcelona, United will look to rest key players ahead of their third Champions League final in four years, giving Ian Holloway's side a decent chance of clinching a second season in the top flight of English football. Birmingham City's glorious victory against Arsenal in the Carling Cup final is now a distant memory, as the sit above the relegation zone on goal difference. After slumping to 2-0 defeat at home to Fulham, the Blues will have to travel to White Hart Lane, to face a Spurs side looking to clinch a Europa League spot ahead of Merseyside rivals Liverpool. Birmingham will be without key players Lee Bowyer and Alexander Hleb, as City look to win at White Hart Lane for the first time since 2007. The tie of the afternoon looks to be at the Molineux, where Wolves face Blackburn Rovers. Both teams are on 40 points, and sit one point away from the relegation zone. Both teams can't and won't play for a draw, as three points will all but secure their place in the PL for another season.


 I don't want to make assumptions on who'll go down, but I know one thing, football is the most stressful-yet greatest game on earth.